This is my second Taïa book. I was surprised to love the first one because I am not a fan of lyrical prose. However, Taïa’s use of the French language reflects his mother tongue, Arabic. It’s a very specific melody, and a warm, emotional vocabulary. Everything I don’t like: and yet…, because his voice is so authentic, reading Taïa’s books is like speaking to a friend who has a very different personality. You admire them for their difference and you cherish the confidence they have in you. Taïa opens up his heart through characters who are at a critical moment in their lives. That moment where you see clearly. 
Moreover, it is a better depiction of colonialism than any theoretical book out there.