Looking For Lucie by Amanda Addison. Thank you to @The_WriteReads @WriteReadsTours @NeemTreePress @AmandaAuthorArt for including Good Night To Read on this book blog tour for an interesting and thought provoking contemporary YA novel.Photo by Google DeepMind on Pexels.com
CHARACTERACROSTICS
Longing
Universally connected
Creative
Investigative
Explorer of heritage
Navigator
Analytical
Visionary
Torn
Obfuscator
Romantic
Image taker
Mathematical
Academic
Researcher
Youthful spirit
Asian
Mother
Diverse
Nature
Atoms
BOOK BITE
A contemporary story of identity, self-discovery, and newfound friendship.
I AM MY ANCESTORS DREAM Your ancestors did not survive everything that nearly ended them for you to shrink yourself to make someone else comfortable. This sacrifice is your war cry, be loud, be everything, and make them proud.
Nikita Gill
BOOK HAIKU
Lucie is fed up
of where are you really from
and people like you
casual phrases
spewing forth from strangers’ lips
so she looks for truths
exploring the worlds
of art and science to find
her identity.
BLURB
Looking for Lucie is a contemporary YA novel that explores identity, self-discovery, and newfound friendship as an 18-year-old girl sets out to uncover her ethnic heritage and family history.
“Where are you really from?”
It’s a question every brown girl in a white-washed town is familiar with, and one that Lucie has never been able to answer. All she knows is that her mother is white, she’s never met her father, and she looks nothing like the rest of her family. She can’t even talk about it because everyone says it shouldn’t matter!
Well, it matters to Lucie and-with her new friend Nav, who knows exactly who he is-she’s determined to find some answers.
What do you do when your entire existence is a question with no answer?
You do a DNA test.
The universe is one being. Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web of stories. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all in silent conversation.
Shams of Tabriz
BOOK TASTERS
“I only know fifty percent of my ancestry. Mum’s story. I have her story but I don’t have history. And that’s got me thinking about how the word history is usually about a man’s version of the world.” [LUCIE]
“We’re both more comfortable using mathematical language than English or emojis-all of which are poor and awkward substitutes for what we want to say.” [NAV]
“Family photographs can be considered cultural artefacts because they document the events which shape families’ lives. The recording of family history is an important endeavour.” [TORI]
BOOK BLOGGERS- SPOTLIGHT
Looking for Lucie is a pertinent, perceptive, and potent read, engagingly exploring themes of identity, heritage, family and culture and the very human emotion that we all have, of needing to know, who we are, as knowing this allows us to form a stable platform to discover, who we might become.”
Throughout the story there are lots of thoughts and discussions that characters have, and a lot of these will make you think about identity, cultural stereotypes and the world we live in. At times this felt like it slowed down the story, but it was good to hear the characters thoughts or frustrations over things as it can make you think about these issues which some of us may not always take the time to think about.
“The fact that the author tackles very important and sensitive issues head on, is great. If kids had access to more books such as Looking For Lucie, they may just understand more. Compassion and education are key in this harsh world we live today, and books such as this are excellent! “
Amanda Addison explores a myriad of themes in her debut YA novel and raises many thought provoking questions. The result is a melange of ideas twisting and turning like the strands of DNA.
Structured in the form of a diary, the book spans 18 year old Lucie’s journey of self discovery, the butterfly effect of her genetic investigations and how her newly acquired knowledge informs her creativity and artistry. Encouraged by the scientific and analytical Nav, who she has met by chance, she unearths family secrets.
Although Lucie and Nav’s views and inquisitive minds initially dominate the narrative, readers will be surprised by converging voices, conflicting opinions and flashbacks to the 1990s. Who has been lying to Lucie?
Addison’s writing philosophises about ancestry and heritage. She captures the frustration felt by mixed race British citizens when they are judged by strangers for the colour of their skin.
Looking For Lucie has a lot to recommend it. Addison has created multi faceted characters who are growing into their identities. Lucie’s half sister Maisie has a life choice to make and the adults also have lessons to learn. Addison shines a spotlight on the nature vs nurture debate while looking at the influences of art and culture, the patterns of language and mathematics, socio-politics and the science of DNA.
This is a read that is a hybrid of intellectual conversations, scientific facts and cultural musings. While the content is informative and intelligent, it overshadows the mystery at the heart of the story at times. Verging on the didactic at points it detracts from the suspense. Nevertheless, overall it does deliver an important message of diversity and inclusion. As Addison observes,
We need better stories around living as a mixed-race person.
What is significant is that we are all global citizens revolving around diasporic identities. Lucie’s art lecturer Roisin is both Irish and Gujarati. The book teaches young readers empathy and understanding with its overall message that we should be proud of who we are and celebrate our global ancestry.
GOOD NIGHT TO READ REVIEW RATING- 3.75 CHOCOLATE LIBRARIES
FIVE FACTS ABOUT AMANDA ADDISON
Amanda believes in the power of stories as a window on the world, and a mirror to better see ourselves and is passionate about stories which are empowering and inclusive.
Amanda’s picture book ‘Boundless Sky’, illustrated by Manuela Adriani, is an empathetic read about two migrations and was nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration in 2021.
She is interested in themes of art and science, home and belonging.
A graduate of Chelsea school of Art, her writing and artwork are inspired by travel, textiles, and the natural world.
Amanda’s body of work includes flash fiction, short stories, picture books and novels.
Amanda lives in Norfolk and enjoys wild swimming in the North Sea
Good Night To Read- A School Librarian's Book Blog 
Thank you so much for including a quote from my book review. I love your post especially the acrostic. 🙂
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