A review by passionyoungwrites
The Library Thief: A Novel by Kuchenga Shenjé

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A story of self - exploration and acceptance. Florence really is living in the moment. Struggling  to figure out who she is and where she’s going. Taking the bookbinding job was a step forward from her current situation. Though the situation didn’t go exactly as she’d planned it. 

A big house, a dead wife, and nobody really knowing her cause of death. Florence used that distraction. Then that opened up a lot, good and bad. Meeting new people, traveling, learning truths of her boss and his family. Even being brought to light about her origins. 

But, snooping around is never good. Because just as she was watching them, they were watching her. Florence always seemed to be placed in a position where she had to make a choice, after someone else’s choice was made. 

The Library Thief is one that kept me on the edge of my seat. It made me wonder and of course the ending was unexpected. This novel explores race, gender, self - discovery and much “passing” in regards to race and physical appearance. 
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