Ava Ashley’s Reviews > American Street > Status Update

I think that this book is serving as a window for me because it helps me see into the lives that other people around me could easily be living. When Fabiola goes to Kasim's house she realizes that "his house is bigger than Matant Jo's. His block is nicer too, with lots of big houses and even bigger driveways for the nicer cars" (Zoboi 279). I have never really thought of many people's homes like this.

I think that Fabiola is realizing how different life in America is compared to life in Haiti. She says that “here there isn’t even a slice of happiness big enough to fill up all these empty houses, and broken buildings…every joyous moment is swallowed up by…sadness” (Zoboi 247). Everyone imagines America to be this perfect, happy place but Fabiola realizes that is not the reality.

Fabiola has fallen into a distinct group with her cousins although she doesn't fully feel like she belongs. She says, "My mother is the one who will make my life complete here" (Zoboi 227). Fabiola imagined her life in America with her mother and until that really happens, she will never feel like she truly belongs. At the end of the day, she is different than her cousins and has different values.

When Q was at their house, Fabiola realizes, “My cousins. My cousins sold drugs. My cousins sold the drugs that killed the white girl. Madison” (Zoboi 205). The death of this girl is the one that the detective is investigating so she can get her mother back. I wonder if Fabiola will call her cousins out for this knowing she can get her mother back with this information.

I really feel for Fabiola and how she is adjusting to her new home because it must be really hard. Not having her mom makes the transition even harder. You can really tell that she is missing home because she says that she “misses rice and beans. [She misses] spicy stewed chicken and red snapper seasoned to the bone” (Zoboi 192). It’s little comments like these that make her feelings more clear.