Melissa Coss Aquino

3.75] Aquino’s debut novel explores the strong but complex bonds between two cousins, shedding light on a myriad of issues that include childhood trauma, poverty, violence and survival. The author puts faces on the underground drug trade, creating a cast of intriguing characters – albeit a cast that should have been reduced in size. My biggest issue with this unique coming-of-age tale set in the Bronx’s Puerto Rican community involves its structure. The dual timelines paired with the dual points of view make for an occasionally choppy ride. That being said, “Carmen and Grace” offers a gripping peek into the lives of two girls who are embroiled in a world of fractured relationships, drugs and violence.… (més)

I received an advance copy of this book. Thank you

This book is griping and gritty, but also hopeful.
It's written in somewhat of a circular way. It is told from the viewpoint of both Carmen and Grace. Carmen starts the book as she's getting ready to leave prison, and then works backwards, coming back to the present time. This made the book hard to get into because, all the characters are there, and slowly as you continue with the story, do you find out who they are and how they became involved. Keep reading, you'll figure it out eventually. Both Carmen and Grace are smart girls/women who didn't have much in the way of support, but they did have dreams. Both of their mothers were drug addicts. The girls are cousins and best friends. Circumstances leads Grace to live with Dona Durka. Dona Durka is the brains behind a large drug empire, but she also gives Grace stability, a family, and dreams. Dona Durka and later Grace end up being quite remarkable. Both see that education is key to survive and thrive. As Grace enters Dona Durka's world, she's given a lot of freedom to do as she sees best. As she gathers her crew, she has rules. You get educated, not just in school things, you should know about art, crafts like knitting, meditation, you should learn how to drive, how to swim etc, All these things lead her crew to gain access to places other street runners can't. Of course, all these rules lead to the team feeling indebted to Grace and the feeling of being trapped. These aren't bad girls, but they are. They are a family, the one most of them didn't have.
There are so many things going on in this book, that I can't begin to explain it all: Family, sisterhood, poverty, ignorance, pride, jealousy.… (més)