Read this one if you’re craving a modern, fantastical fairy tale or if you need a dose of bravery to keep fighting the monsters. Pet is a quick read, but one that will stick with me. What does it mean that a monster-like creature has come to hunt a monster in Lucille, a supposedly monster-free city? And how does one save the world from monsters when no one will admit they exist? Those are just two questions that are explored deeply in this powerful novel. Emezi doesn’t skim the surface of Jam’s thought process, but dives deep into her concerns. After Jam’s parents tell her to send the monster back, she struggles with her decision to let him stay. Angels can appear as monsters, monsters can look like angels, and “the truth does not change whether it is seen or unseen.”Īlso, the story is thoughtful yet thought-provoking. Yet, Pet reminds us of the importance of paying attention, no matter if the times are troubling or (seemingly) calm. Jam lives in Lucille, a city free of monsters, but we don’t know where that city is, or when she’s living, or if it’s even in our world. It encapsulates many genres at once, while still being thoroughly modern. Pet is both mystery and fantasy, but reads like a timeless fairy tale. A Timeless Fairy Tale With A Timely Message To protect her best friend, Jam hunts the monster alongside Pet, uncovering a terrible truth that haunts her seemingly-perfect city. Jam’s parents tell her to send the creature back, but instead, she hides Pet. The gold-feathered being-who asks to be called Pet-has come to hunt a monster, one that lurks in the house of Redemption. When a drop of Jam’s blood lands on the painting, a creature emerges. One afternoon, Jam ventures into her mother’s studio to look at her latest painting, and accidentally cuts herself. The Wall Street Journal A riveting and timely work answering the questions about how you go about. They existed once, well before Jam and her best friend, Redemption, were born. Essence ' Brilliant.' The Washington Post 'With great tenderness, Pet questions a society silenced by denial.' Observer By far the most striking of the National Book Award finalists is PET, a sinister morality tale by Akwaeke Emezi. In Lucille, monsters are a thing of the past. 76 “Pet” Is A Creature Born Of Paint And Blood

Pet by akwaeke