Calling My Name

My granddaughter is enjoying the book

This book!!! AHHHHH.It is absolutely amazing.Taja Brown is the kind of protagonist I love to read about. A Black girl in America who is trying to find herself! When I read books like this, I am always touched... deeply touched. I am Taja Brown. I was Taja Brown. She is the me I never saw in YA fiction growing up!The writing is so beautiful. This book reminds me of Jesmyn Ward in the way that the language is poetic and beautiful. It also reminds me of Tayari Jones in the way that the characterization just locks you in, makes you feel like you are walking in the protagonist’s shoes. Taja would get along with Esch and Dana. They would be friends who are close like sisters.There are so many great things about this book that I don’t even think I can adequately put into words. It has an amazing way of making you feel young again, but also aware of your age at the same time. It reminded me of high school and of family and bc I am an adult, I could recognize the beauty of the words on paper. Of the way the writing flows. Of the messages I think I would have missed over if I were younger. It works for young adult readers and adult readers!I would have loved to read a book like this in HS or college in an English class!

Okay,so when I first started reading this book I was not very intrigued until I got to the 3rd chapter haha but THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED....It was a very very relatable book for me...I told my mom that it was if I was reading my entire life story put into a book...(I am 14 btw) so it definitely hit close to home.Some parts were a bit "graphic" more toward the end but nothing serious.I would say to just be at least 12-13 before reading haha with parental/guardians knowledge of graphics/triggering subjects throughout ...But all in all it was a very interesting,intriguing,funny,heart warming,sad,happy,spiritual focaling read!!!100/10 would recommend and I wish this AMAZING writer nothing but the absolute best!!!!

Calling My Name is so relatable. Okay, my family is not so religious that they force us to act accordingly. I felt this on a deeper level, and Taja always feeling like her family doesn't understand her is something I know firsthand. I felt like I lived a double life growing up. My paternal and maternal families are so different, and I still wonder how my mom and dad ever crossed paths and created 3 children. LOLSeriously, I had some doubts about this book before I began. They were unfounded as soon as I started to read. Liara Tamani is very talented, and this debut is nothing short of beautiful. The writing is so on point, and I am so glad that I read this.

With grace and honesty, Liara Tamani has penned a remarkable debut novel that captures the beauty that is the struggle and gift of becoming a young woman during the transformative years in middle and high school. Taking us through those awkward moments of insecurity and self-doubt, first bras and first loves, obedience and rebellion, to self-discovery, identity, and purpose.Taja Brown takes in the world around her and considers her choices, under the light of her understanding of God and under the weight of the expectations and rules imposed by her loving parents. She’s on a journey that we all must take as we come into our own. Learning and growing from our mistakes as well as our successes. Hers is a story that will resonate with our teenage daughters just as much as it will stir up nostalgia in the hearts of mothers. I saw my teenage self in Taja, experiencing and celebrating the good and the bad of it all over again and it was a true joy. Calling My Name is a treasure to cherish.Shout out to the amazingly talented Vashti Harrison for the cover jacket design. It is absolutely stunning!

Purchased this book for my granddaughter she really enjoyed it. Thank You

Per my daughter.....this book was a good buy & she loved it

My 17 year old daughter who hardly ever reads read this book and loved it so she asked me to buy it for her. I bought it and she actually read it again and she was actually excited to describe it to me. Imo that's a 5 star book at least.