Brown Girls

More about the book

This deeply moving story immerses you in the lives of a close-knit group of friends—girls growing up in Queens, New York, a vibrant borough filled with diverse cultures and aromas. Nadira, Mae, Trish, and Aisha pledge their lifelong friendship as they navigate the challenges of their environment, facing schoolyard bullies, indifferent teachers, and the unwanted attention of men. As daughters of immigrants from various backgrounds, they find common ground in Queens, where they sing Mariah Carey, dream of unattainable boyfriends, and grapple with the expectations of their families. Their fathers, exhausted from long work hours, rest in armchairs, while their mothers urge them to be dutiful daughters. As they approach adulthood, the girls confront pivotal choices about their futures. Tensions arise as some are lured by opportunities in distant cities, while others embrace traditional roles as wives and mothers. A few embark on a journey back to their parents’ homelands, seeking to understand the lives their families left behind for a better life in America. The story beautifully captures the complexities of identity, friendship, and the pull of different worlds.