Book: Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
Read From: 13th July - 14th July 2021
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Thirteen year old Genesis has 96 reasons to hate herself - she knows the exact number because she keeps a list. When she reaches number 100, will she continue on? Or will she find the strength to begin again?
Please, please do not be fooled by the fact I read this in two days. This book is extremely hard hitting and uncomfortable to read, but it is also such an important book. ‘Genesis Begins Again’ explores colourism within the black community - something I haven't personally come across in my reading before. It was extremely emotional and eye-opening to follow Genesis’ story, my heart absolutely ached for her the whole way through.
No person deserves to feel this way about themselves, let alone a thirteen year old girl. The narrative was so haunting - the writing style felt as though you were truly inside the mind of a young teenager which was incredibly heart-breaking because this is the reality for many young people who feel they don’t ‘fit in’ with society’s beauty standards. Genesis is such a loveable character, there were so many times I wanted to reach through the book and shake her, telling her that she is beautiful inside and out just the way she is. Particularly because where she should have had a support network, she had to suffer in self-loathing due to horrifically racist ‘friends’ and family who thought she wasn’t good enough because she was too dark.
I am genuinely struggling for words with this book because it completely blew me away. Yes it's a middle grade, but it's one of the most impactful and heart-breaking books I think I've ever read. Being inside Genesis' mind is far from pleasant, even less so when you remind yourself that this is real life for a whole host of Black children in modern society. Instead of giving this book to your child, read it to them. This is a novel that should be read by everybody - adults and young people alike. I don't think I will ever forget reading this book.