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Minding Ben (2011)

by Victoria Brown(Favorite Author)

3.08 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1401341519 (ISBN13: 9781401341510)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Hachette Books

review 1: Another coming-of-age story - I seem to be attracted to those - and a very good one. 16-year-old Grace Caton leaves her family in Trinidad to live with a cousin or aunt in New York City. That arrangement falls through, but she is befriended by the local Trinidadians who help her. She finally gets a job taking care of Ben Bruckner, the three-year-old son of Jewish parents.As Grace navigates between two entirely different worlds, she narrowly avoids many pitfalls with her wit and humor. Very nicely done.
review 2: “What makes this title stand out from other nanny fiction is the author’s focus on Grace’s island culture and the West Indian nannies and friends with whom Grace spends time. Revealing New York’s melting pot at its most complicated, this inte... moreresting first novel is told from the perspective of someone who has been there and done that. Brown drew from her personal experience as a young immigrant nanny, and her story is fascinating, tender, and heartbreaking.” --Library Journal, starred review“Refreshing...What gives this story its momentum is Grace’s endearing personality and strength of character.” --The Baltimore Times“One great book.” --People “Part of the novel’s appeal lies in Grace’s spirited voice, but the fascinating insider details on the nanny life also add an extra dimension...Although a social satire in some ways like The Nanny Diaries, Minding Ben is also a moving immigrant story. Brown vividly depicts the vibrant and diverse West Indian communities of Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood...Especially notable is the author’s knack for the colorful patois that distinguish various Caribbean nationalities...Brown was...not afraid to tackle the thorny issues of race, religion, and class.” --Library Journal, Editor's Pick Review“Troubling and touching...The language of the Caribbean sings through the pages.” --Publishers Weekly“Brown is a new voice with much to offer.” --Kirkus“Like The Nanny Diaries and The Help, Minding Ben probes the racial and class dynamics between nannies and their wealthy employers ...Brown, herself an immigrant who worked as a nanny, brings alive both Grace’s quest to be independent and her resourcefulness in dealing with the condescension of Manhattan’s elite. ” --Booklist"A realistic and utterly compelling immigrant story that is also hopeful and witty. I look forward to more from Victoria Brown, who is a lyrical, arresting writer and a fresh new voice in fiction." --Amy Sohn, New York Times bestselling author of Prospect Park West“Grace Caton’s pursuit of the American Dream is a story of courage and elegance in circumstances that are not always easy or even kind. Brown’s writing is at once gritty and big-hearted, full of deep pathos and, also, celebration. Like Jhumpa Lahiri, Brown chronicles the immigrant experience with affection, grace, and depth.” --Caitlin Shetterly, NPR contributor and author of Made for You and Me“A fresh, new look into the life of the American landscape...Interweaves the sensibilities of several ethnicities seen through the eyes of an immigrant...It's a story about an interwoven, complex society with rituals, prejudices and insecurities...A peek into a world that we are not so familiar with...Refreshing and original.” --Hue-Man Bookstore“Wholly authentic...Kept me turning the pages eagerly.” --For the Love of Books Blog less

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