Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi. Alred A. Knopf, 2022. 9780593309032

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5

Format: Hardcover

Genre: Magical realism

What did you like about the book?  Bitter lives at Eucalyptus, an art school presided over by the unusual, gray-eyed Miss Virtue. After a lifetime in foster homes, the teen finally feels cherished and able to paint. But outside the school’s walls, students in the resistance group Assata face down injustice and rubber bullets, and Bitter feels increasingly torn about retreating to safety while her friends risk their lives. Pouring her anger and fear into her work, she creates a massive painting of an avenging monster and brings the creature to life with drops of her own blood. Vengeance (as it calls itself) can’t be controlled and soon the otherworldly being is rampaging through Lucille, intending to murder those responsible for the violence and corruption engulfing the city. Ultimately, Bitter must step outside of her fear and rethink her simplistic view of Assata’s members and mission, facing down Vengeance in a pitched battle and reshaping her own future and that of her city.

This highly creative, absorbing, and spare novel is a prequel to Emezi’s well-received earlier book, Pet. As in Pet, they present a world that celebrates queer youth and uses magical realism to bring the author’s native Nigeria to readers. The first novel seemed more like a middle-grade read, but Bitter focuses on existential issues, such as the role of individual responsibility and the morality of righteous anger. Those who loved Pet will recognize Bitter and her new boyfriend, Aloe, as Pet’s parents, and the beast that Pet will eventually liberate as Vengeance. Emezi’s writing is just right for this allegorical and mysterious story; its straightforward style and quick action anchors the bizarre elements, which includes acts of witchcraft,  a host of bloodthirsty “angels” created by the Eucalyptus students, a nightmarish execution, and a final battle between supernatural forces. All the main characters are Black.

Anything you didn’t like about it? No. I would probably recommend reading the books in the order in which they were published, but readers who start with Bitter will feel inspired to check out the first book.

To whom would you recommend this book? Readers who can appreciate Emezi’s subtlety and will be satisfied exploring questions with no easy answers. I thought the discussion of the role of artists in revolutionary action was fascinating, unusual, and likely to appeal to students interested in creating art to support social change. I would recommend this book for students in grades 9 and up.

Who should buy this book? High schools and public libraries

Where would you shelve it? YA fiction

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? If you read Pet and loved it, definitely put this on top of your pile.

Reviewer: Susan Harari, Keefe Library, Boston Latin School, Boston, MA

Date of review: March 3, 2022