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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Greenville: A Collection of Short Stories by Jayla Hall Cabrera is a captivating collection of interconnected short stories that touch upon the challenges of growing up, sisterhood, parenthood, friendship, and more. Narrated in the first person, each story illustrates the joys and sorrows of childhood following the experiences of an unnamed protagonist. The narrator recalls why every time she has soup, it reminds her of her older sister. She discovers her hero is vulnerable like everyone else after she sees her father cry for the very first time. Going to the beach can be a scary experience for a child. A homeless drunk talks to the narrator about his lost love. Feeling guilty, a woman tries to take care of her mentally unwell sister. The narrator sees her school teacher as a mother figure.
Author Jayla Hall Cabrera masterfully captures the complicated feelings and emotions of growing up as a child comes to terms with the rigors of life in this absorbing anthology. Inspired by her own life experiences, Cabrera paints a vivid portrait of life in these stories, offering readers a window into the perspective of a child as they see the world around them slowly change in their adolescence. Much like real life, these slice-of-life stories are bittersweet and poignant. If you enjoy coming-of-age tales rooted in realism, this is the book for you. Greenville is one of those books that readers will want to revisit over and over again for years. Cabrera's prose is not only engaging but also thoroughly immersive. I enjoyed the book very much and highly recommend it.
