Good Reads Challenge Book Review: The Black Girl Survives In This one
What’s up, “fam”..Welcome back to the blog.
“Seeing monsters on-screen validates our fears because they look like what we are feeling, whether they are sympathetic or terrifying” –Desiree S. Evans
Hello friends, and how are you? I hope you’re doing well, getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, focusing on your mental health, and giving yourself grace.
I always have good intentions. This translates to …I should have posted this (a while ago), but it sat in a draft because life happens. It’s an honor when publishers contact you about novels; you don’t have to be this big brand to get noticed. I want to present and promote stories that are good, and this collection of short stories fits that bill. Today, I’m reviewing The Black Girl Survives in This One by Desiree S. Evans.
The Review
Title | The Black Girl Survives In This One
Author | Desiree S. Evans
Format | Kindle
Pages/Hours | 360
Published | April 2, 2024
Publisher | Flat Iron Press
Genre | YA, Short Stories, Fiction, LGBTQ, Horror
GR Rating | 4.33
Purchase | Amazon
Storyline
Celebrating a new generation of bestselling and acclaimed Black writers, The Black Girl Survives in This One makes space for Black girls in horror. Fifteen chilling and thought-provoking stories place Black girls front and center as heroes and survivors who slay monsters, battle spirits, and face down death. Prepare to be terrified and left breathless by the pieces in this anthology.
My Rating (5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Quote from The Black Girl Survives In This One
“Aja dreams of broken girls.”
Thank you to Net Galley and Flat Iron Press for the advanced copy of this book.
How refreshing it is to see a book for us by us and we’re not the side-chick or the sacrificial best friend (which is described in the forward) because I can appreciate that.
This book has been on my radar because the story and synopsis piqued my interest. It’s our mannerisms, how we talk, what we think, and not someone else writing our stories trying to portray our tone and what we “should” sound or trying to dictate a narrative.
Quote from The Black Girl Survives In This One
“Grade-A certified bitch made liar, but proceed.”
While it’s a YA novel, I can appreciate that it’s still creepy, not gory, and mildly graphic.
I love how in the story “Ghost Light,” our young protagonist is describing how she is the stage manager and setting the scene by describing everything within her environment but not in so much detail that when you’re reading, you’re thinking, “ok, move on already.” We get down to it with the “the parts between her box braids got cold” description.
All of the female characters throughout these stories are smart and sharp. They are forward-thinking; they have their head on straight. They understand the perils of what’s happening within their existing environment, and they don’t enter these situations blindly. There is danger; some of these things aren’t possible in the natural sense, but still, they press on.
Quote from The Black Girl Survives In This One
“Senegalese twists that fell down her back in waves.”
There doesn’t always have to be one female standing. Why can’t several survive? Yes, I know the trope of the final girl, which has been done since horror movies began, but I’m ok with everyone walking away.
There’s also an underlying issue of race, but not in a militant sense. There’s a “woke’ awareness because, as black people, we deal with race on a daily basis. And even in today’s environment, it’s something that we feel, whether on the surface or just beneath it.
I also enjoyed how each story ties a young female to their ancestors and their strengths, ideals, and beliefs. The people who came before matter; to understand this is to understand their struggles through their stories.
Quote from The Black Girl Survives in This One
“Move! Now! It’s the freakin’ UNDEAD! It’s happening — the doomsday apocalypse!”
There is also a wide variety in the subgenre of horror. The paranormal, haunted houses, witches, zombies monsters, hoo-doo voodoo, and your strange brand of monster, and beyond.
I would also like to point out that while this is a YA novel, it goes beyond that. I would give it an age range from 16 to 25 I mean heck I’m older and I’m reading it because a lot of the stories resonate and they embody some experiences that you might have gone through.
So, if you’re looking for Ready or Not, Mystery, Horror, Thriller, or The Menu vibes, I would give The Black Girls Survives In This One a go. I’m all for having our Black Girls come through a story smarter, braver, wiser, and more spiritual with a warrior spirit.
Good Read Challenge Progress
What Moves the Dead (read)
Leslie F*cking Jones (read)
The Cousins (read)
September House (read)
The Echo Wife (read)
Her Lost Soul (ARC: read)
The Black Girl Survives This One (ARC: read)
The Bad Ones (ARC: read)
The Eleven (ARC: read)
The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar (read)
Kill The Boy Band (reading)
For my full Good Reads Challenge list ..check out this post. For all the other posted reviews, check my page. For the podcast of this review, check out my Spotify.
Thanks so much for visiting the blog today. Don’t forget to follow and subscribe, as I appreciate the support. — Peace
