“Pet” Staff Review by Haidee Cardoso, Youth Services
“Pet” is an eerie and thought-provoking tale about angels and monsters that shows readers to never judge a book by its cover. Initially, I had a tough time getting into this book, but Iām glad I stuck with it. I was captivated by its representation of characters and parallels to the world we currently live in. As an artist, I was fascinated by the idea of a book where a crazy-looking entity emerges to life from a painting. However, as I continued to read this slim book, I realized “Pet” also packed a punch.
Children in the city of Lucille are taught that monsters no longer exist. This is a lesson that Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have learned throughout their lives. But Jam is forced to reevaluate what she’s been told when she encounters a startling surprise. Enter Petāa creature composed of horns, feathers, and claws that materializes from her motherās painting and a drop of blood. Pet has come to hunt a monster, and Redemptionās home is haunted by a sinister presence. Jam has to battle to find the truth and the answer to the issue in addition to defending Redemption. If no one will acknowledge the existence of monsters, how can you save the world?
Both in terms of inclusivity and how it handles intersectional identities, the diversity in “Pet” is astounding. The protagonist is a trans adolescent girl whose parentsā response to her self-discovery was supportive. Jam also regularly uses sign language and is selectively verbal. Her best friend has three parents. Jamās favorite librarian, Ube, is a wheelchair user. The way in which the author incorporates this diversity is one of the shining aspects of this book. While none of the charactersā stories focus on their identities, they also acknowledge the ways in which these characteristics affect them.
Author Akwaeke Emezi handles the theme of good versus evil with grace and delivers one of the best stories I have read broaching the subject. I will not give any of the details away; however, I will say that this book calls you to question what makes a “monsterā monstrous? Is it the way they look, or what they do? Is it both? Is it neither? I loved this exploration and the way that Emezi brings these characters to life with such emotional depth.
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