You know those stories where a title just makes a book? That’s how I felt with Twice as Perfect. When the title clicked, it was like a light bulb went on and the whole thing clicked into clarity. If you love stories about the pressures of being the child of immigrant dreams, keep reading this book review.
Summary
For seventeen-year-old Adanna Nkwachi, life is all about duty: to school and the debate team, to her Nigerian parents, and even to her cousin Genny as Ada helps prepare Genny’s wedding to Afrobeats superstar Skeleboy (“Skeleboy me, Skeleboy this money, everything na Skeleboy…that Skeleboy!”). Because ever since her older brother, Sam, had a fight with their parents a few years ago and disappeared, somebody has to fill the void he left behind. Ada may never know what caused Sam to leave home, but the one thing she’s certain of is that it’s on her to make sure her parents’ sacrifices aren’t in vain.
One day, chance brings the siblings back together. Although she fears how their parents will react if they find out she and Sam are back in touch, Ada’s determined to get answers about the night Sam left—Sam, who was supposed to be an engineer but is now, what, a poet? The more she learns about Sam’s poetry, the more Ada begins to wonder if maybe her own happiness is just as important as doing what’s expected of her. Amid parental pressure, anxiety over the debate competition, a complicated love life, and the Nigerian wedding-to-end-all-weddings, can Ada learn, just this once, to put herself first?
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
As a fan of Like Home, I was excited for Twice as Perfect. One of the most meaningful elements of this book has to be the ways in which Ada navigates her feelings having to be twice as perfect. Not only in the ways in which BIPOC teens aren’t given second chances and the ways in which they almost have to be perfect examples. But also in how with her brother out of the picture – for some unknown reason – she has to be twice as perfect. The golden child carrying the burdens of two.
The ways she articulates the pressure of her parents on her shoulders? Heart wrenching. It’s about feeling like our parents have sacrificed for us – and they have – all for our chances and our future. But what happens when we want to deviate? When we might not be as perfect as they want? Not to mention the unresolved sibling tension and drama! Where is Sam and what happened to him? While the sibling complexities was one of my favorite elements, I felt like its conclusion was kind of hasty and I would have liked to see more resolution.
In general, the ending as a whole felt like we had been building up to a few conflicts – like between Ada and Sam, Ada and her best friend, and Ada and her family as a whole – which I wish had a bit more resolution period. These were moments in which I felt like Twice Perfect shined – the character tension. But when the resolution came, I found myself wanting just a bit more. However, Twice Perfect does a phenomenal job at examining the weight of other’s dreams.
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How we can navigate the world code switching and shearing off pieces of ourselves. Her experiences navigating her debate team, the conversations of cultural appropriation, and diasporic identity were amazing. So if you’re looking for a story that focuses upon those elements, pick up Twice Perfect. It also examines that it takes privilege to chase our dreams with a safety net. And what it means to find our dreams and our passions. Find Twice Perfect on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.