3 out of 4 stars
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‘’A mother might boast to her friends that constant beating kept her daughter quiet all day. A daughter might feel suffocated because every little thing triggered rage in her father. And that daughter might despair, realizing that in the end that daily punishment was inevitable, whether she did one thing, the opposite or nothing at all.’’
The book Melissa & Kasho was published in 2018 and it is about a college student who eagerly wants to escape from her parents and their high society. The rich and mighty society dislikes anything mediocre, from people to things. Wealth, behavioral norms and standards are required to be part of this high-class society. Through physical, mental and emotional abuse, these beliefs and values are forced on children by their parents. This heartless, emotionless and abusive society teaches children not to admit to physical and emotional pain. Melissa is the complete opposite of her parents; she enjoys interacting with average people. She has managed to maintain her purity and sensitivity by escaping to the spirit world to communicate with other spirits including her deceased brother and Kasho. Her brother’s spirit and Kasho has helped her see value in feeling and expressing her emotions. Through Kasho’s help, she is able to successfully transition to the lifestyle she hopes for, however, her parents will not allow Melissa to go ‘’astray’’. They have their money and time invested into ensuring that Melissa is transitioning to who they want her to be.
I liked that the story was written in the first-person narrative, this enabled the writer to express Melissa’s thoughts and feelings excellently. The book was well organized, chapter titles and pages were well indicated and each new chapter was a continuation of the last, so it was easy to follow through and understand the story. The book is written in simple English language, which is the most important since teenagers, young adults are the main audience, and it is very important to write in the level of understanding that matches that of your audience. Melissa’s character is relatable and not too exaggerated.
I did not like Christopher’s response after he had been physically overcome by Melissa on page 214, especially the part where he calls out for his mother ‘’this room is full of danger. Mummy, mummy, help me! Where are you?’’. Christopher’s description is that of a forceful, abusive and heartless young man. He had learned and adhered to the behavioral standards and attributes of the society which both his and Melissa’s parents belonged to. Therefore, his response was out of character and unrealistic.
I rate this book wonderful book by 3 out of 4 stars because of Christopher’s unrealistic and out of character scene. I did not notice any grammatical or spelling errors.
This wonderful book by Camilla Chance would be suitable for teenagers and young adults. Many young girls can find this book very interesting and relatable. As a young adult, Melissa & Kasho has helped me focus on positive things and have faith in God. Any person who is going through emotional and physical abuse might find this book emotionally uplifting and very helpful.
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Melissa & Kasho
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