Bibliographic Information:
Title: Pet
Author: Akwaeke Emezi
ISBN: 978-0593175446
Publisher: Random House Children's Books (reprint)
Copyright Date: 2019
Reading Level / Interest Level: Min/Max grade levels 7-10 (Novelist).
Genre / Format: Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism, LGBTQ+ / Book
Themes: Identity, Friendship, Justice
Awards or Honors: YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2020); School Library Journal Best Books: 2019;
Rainbow Lists (2020)
Plot Summary: A transgendered girl named Jam lives in a town called Lucille, some time in a utopian future. This takes place after “angels” have gotten rid of all “monsters” in the world. Our protagonist cuts herself, on blades embedded in her mother’s painting, causing her to bleed all over it. The blood triggers a transformation in the painting and a creature with golden feathers emerges from it. This being begins to communicate with Jam telepathically, letting her know that it came through a portal to hunt down monsters. But weren't all the monsters exterminated? The threat is still present and Jam must team up with the creature from the painting, named Pet, in order to fight off the monsters that remain.
Author Background: Akwaeke Emezi was born in Umuahia and raised in Aba, Nigeria. Emezi has sold screen rights to her romance debut, You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty, to Amazon Studios and her autobiographical debut, Freshwater, is in early development as a TV series on FX. Emezi will be an executive producer in both films and a writer for her TV series (Emezi, n.d.).
Critical Evaluation for Books and Non-Print Items: Jam is a selective mute who lives in a utopian town where all monsters (abusers) have been vanquished. Jam comes in contact with a creature who telepathically communicates with Jam and lets her know its name, Pet. Pet enters this utopian town and shatters the peaceful world by informing Jam that it has come to hunt monsters. Not only that, but there is a monster living in her best friend's home. I highly recommend this book; Jam is a courageous protagonist who overcomes her fears in order to bring the monsters to justice.
Creative Use for a Library Program: Paint your “Monster” Bodyguard
In the book Pet, the main character's mother creates a live painting: the creature within the painting is awoken when Jam's blood touches the canvas. The creature, who calls itself Pet, becomes a guardian for Jam and is hunting down the monsters in the community. The creature has golden feathers and other animal parts. People can use their imagination to create their bodyguard.
Speed-Round Book Talk or Short Book Trailer: In a perfect town where everyone has been told evil no longer exists, Jam releases Pet from another dimension after bleeding all over her mother’s painting. This creature is here to protect Jam, but shatters her perfect world as she is told that a monster lives among them in the town. As Pet starts hunting, it informs Jam that this monster is hidden in her best friend’s home. Jam must race to find the monster and get rid of it. Who is the monster?
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation: One of the main challenges that this book may face is that there is a transgendered main character. As a book aimed for young adults, parents are still very much involved in the materials that are aimed for their children. Many great books have been challenge solely for having a positive message about LGBTQ+ community. I would argue that the author, Akwaeke Emezi, purposefully wrote this book so that people would not revolve around the fact that the main character is a transgendered girl. The fact that the main character is a transgendered girl does not define her actions in this story. Jam’s story is created so that being a transgendered girl is absolutely normal in her community. Just like this story, parents should not feel threatened by having their children read about a character fighting monsters who also happens to be a transgendered girl.
Reason for Inclusion: As the author herself states, it is important to have youth exposed to a diverse collection of books. While the main character is a transgendered girl, she also lives in a town where everyone treats her like a girl, without referencing the fact that she's transgender; this helps normalize the character and moves away from treating a person as "other." This simple fact makes the world of books more inclusive. It is great to read a book where the character's transgender identity isn't the sole focus of the book and where that main character is courageous, monster-hunter determined to save her friend.
Enhancements
Interview with Akwaeke Emezi