ARC Review: “Dear Haiti, Love Alaine” by Aika Moulite & Maritza Moulite

“Dear Haiti, Love Alaine” by Aika Moulite & Maritza Moulite

Publishing Date: September 3, 2019

Genre: YA, Fiction, Contemporary

Page Length: 384 (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

When a school presentation goes very wrong, Alaine Beauparlant finds herself suspended, shipped off to Haiti and writing the report of a lifetime…

You might ask the obvious question: What do I, a seventeen-year-old Haitian American from Miami with way too little life experience, have to say about anything?

Actually, a lot.

Thanks to “the incident” (don’t ask), I’m spending the next two months doing what my school is calling a “spring volunteer immersion project.” It’s definitely no vacation. I’m toiling away under the ever-watchful eyes of Tati Estelle at her new nonprofit. And my lean-in queen of a mother is even here to make sure I do things right. Or she might just be lying low to dodge the media sharks after a much more public incident of her own…and to hide a rather devastating secret.

All things considered, there are some pretty nice perks…like flirting with Tati’s distractingly cute intern, getting actual face time with my mom and experiencing Haiti for the first time. I’m even exploring my family’s history—which happens to be loaded with betrayals, superstitions and possibly even a family curse.

You know, typical drama. But it’s nothing I can’t handle. (description from Goodreads)

Review:

In this novel the main character, Alaine,aspires to be a great journalist like her mom, Celeste, who is a famous political TV anchor. Alaine admires her work, but feels estranged from her since shes always busy with work. One day everything falls apart as her mom has an outburst on live TV. After an incident (prank gone wrong) where she tries to restore her mom’s name at school she is suspended and shipped off to Haiti to complete her final project. Will she be able to reconnect with her mother and heritage?

As Alaine tries to bond with her mom and her aunt she finds it difficult. She learns more about her heritage, but finds it hard to connect to a world that seems so different from where she grew up. Things are especially difficult since her mom is suffering from a illness. She tries her hardest to stay strong to reconnect because they have been so estranged for so many years.

Reading the book through Alaine’s perspective is entertaining. She has a lively personality with her heavy sarcasm and humor, but readers see how she uses it cover up how she struggling with all the recent events. She’s a talented writer with great wit and use of words. The final project is a great challenge for her and through researching the history of Haiti she becomes more connected to her heritage.

This book was such a fantastic read from start to finish. It paints a vivid portrait of Haiti’s rich culture, people, language, and history. While the story is heartwarming, it’s a bit bittersweet at the same time. Alaine uses her voice best way she knows how to express feelings in her writing. In Haiti she become more connected to family but also learns about her heritage falls in love, and learns more about herself. The journey has its ups and downs Alaine comes out even stronger in the end.

I loved the way the book is written in a mixture of narrative, letters ,diary entries, and emails. It kept me engrossed into the story and it also helped to show multiple sides of the story. This is a beautifully written novel with a very strong narrative about family, growing up, and feeling connected to your heritage.

*Trigger Warnings: Illness, Death

Final Verdict: