It has been a while since I read a short story, as most of the books I have read so far are over 300 pages. At just 147 pages, When Life Gives You Mangoes seemed like a quick weekend read, and I was quite curious to see what kind of “amazing story” the author could deliver in so few pages.
Aside from its length, I was intrigued by the creativity of the title, When life gives you mangoes. ‘Mangoes’? I wasn’t sure what to expect, though I know the saying “when life gives you lemons, you make a lemonade”. Ha.
Of course, I checked online reviews beforehand, because I didn’t want to spend my weekend reading a book that wasn’t worth it. The review ratings online were great, so I decided to give it a try. Here’s my personal review…
ABOUT THE BOOK
“When Life Gives You Mangoes” by Kereen Getten is a psychological fiction novel, published in 2020. This book delves into themes of friendship, loss, family, community, and secrets, set in a small village.
The story follows the life of a 12-year-old Clara, who suffers from memory loss after a traumatic event that took place last summer. This ‘memory loss’ has deeply affected her, challenging her emotionally and socially, making her seem different, abnormal, or even “sick”.
Clara lived in a small village where everyone knew each other almost like family. Apparently, Clara spends her day with her best friend, Gaynah, though their relationship feels a bit tense.
The village itself is usually quiet and uneventful, having a rumor that a witch doctor resides there, making people rarely come in. However, the arrival of a new girl named Rudy, who quickly becomes Clara’s friend, sparks jealousy in Gaynah and adds more tension to their dynamic.
What begins as an ordinary summer in a small village slowly reveals deeper layers of hidden truths and unresolved emotional wounds. As Clara tries to piece together her lost memories, the story unfolds to show that everything isn’t as it seems.
The novel takes a straightforward, linear narrative approach from Clara’s perspective, allowing readers to experience her confusion and gradual self-discovery. As her lost memories slowly unravel, a sense of mystery builds, keeping readers curious about what really happened and how it shaped her current life.
As she confronts her forgotten past, she gains insights into herself, her friendships, her family, and her community.
What happened to Clara last summer? Why can’t she remember? Will she ever heal and make peace with her past? What secrets does the village hold? Is there really a witch doctor?
MY THOUGHTS
One thing I love about the book is the storyline which is quite psychologically based and unique. It isn’t a common plot, and that gives it a distinctive quality. I also appreciate the themes of the book, which are educational in many aspects.
To be honest, I was unaware that the book was meant for children and teens. After reading the first two chapters, I sensed something was off, but as an optimist, I decided to continue in hopes that it would get better.
After a few more chapters, it was clear that the writing style wasn’t for me. While the storyline was solid, the narrative felt too simple. I enjoy books with immersive descriptions, but this one was overly “mid”. The character development lacked depth, with emotions that weren’t fully explored, and dialogue that was often stilted. The interactions didn’t add much to the characters’ personalities, and the paving was somewhat off.
Midway through, I looked up more information about the book and discovered that it was indeed intended for young readers. Nevertheless, I had started and I decided to finish it.
The “big reveal”, although an interesting twist, didn’t deliver the emotional punch I expected. It felt rushed and didn’t linger long enough to leave a lasting impact on the reader.
From my point of view, I enjoyed the storyline itself, which earns it points, but the writing style, character development, and emotional depth are minuses for me. However, I wouldn’t place blame on the book but rather on myself for not being the target audience
Overall, When Life Gives You Mangoes is an amazing book that explores friendship, family, grief, loss, healing, and community. I would rate it 2.6 out of 5, mainly because I wasn’t the target audience.
From a young reader’s point of view, however, it deserves a solid 4 out of 5. It is an excellent and suitable book for young readers who may be navigating loss or difficult emotions.
❀
❀
Thumbnail designed using Canva. Image is a screenshot from my books
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
The cover looks awesome. I like cover with that tone.
Oh. Nice
This sounds like a weekend appropriate reads when you want to read something light and fills your time. From the graphic, it seems like the target audience is mostly teenager?
Yeah. I agree.
Looking at it, yes. I have seen books with this kind of graphics,probably made for teens, but a young adult like me can also enjoy them.
I didn’t pay attention to it. Lol. I just wanted something short to read.
😄That's what I'd pick just in any case I wanted to read something short.
Yeah. Definitely:)
You did well narrating the story with your thoughts about it. Books always targeted at young readers are always with simple storyline and writing style because they want them to understand those terms used, unlike one being targeted at adults.
Thank you.
Yeah. The writing style is for them to understand better.
I will try to read the book but you have summarized it already. When life gives you mango is a cool title ready to draw the interest of readers.
Ha. I do my reviews without spoilers. So you can still enjoy it well.
I agree
How interesting your review! I think it's great that you explored a different book, even if it wasn't quite your style. Sometimes it's good to step out of the usual and see what young adult literature has to offer us. Thanks for sharing your perspective! 🍑📚
Thank you.
Well.. it is nice to explore