Abby E

One of the most compelling elements of McBride's writing is its interconnectedness. The finale is a thrilling, Rube-Goldberg-esque sequence of events that culminates in a near perfect ending. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store shows readers that it is possible to connect with people who are radically different from you without relinquishing the things unique to your own experience. Love bursts from the pages of McBride's novel, shining its golden light on the miracles we can accomplish as

Both sisters, in a way, are searching for the same thing: themselves. They want to escape Bay Ridge and the pressure "to ditch [the] cutoffs and halter tops for a nice, modest abaya." Yet they struggle with a sense of fidelity to their family and culture, not wanting to abandon them as they feel increasing scrutiny from "those people, out there in the world, who didn't know us and despised us." Gawad challenges readers to recall their own teenage years, to remember the fight for self-discovery

Each character has virtues: Sylvie, the bookworm romantic with her head screwed on straight; Julia, the planner obsessed with finding and fixing all flaws; Cecelia, the sentimental artist; and Emeline, the nurturing caregiver. Yet, most importantly, they have major flaws. They run from challenges. They hurt easily and hold grudges. They are emotional, they are thrown into irrational decisions seemingly at a whim. They have egos and tempers. But at the forefront of all the conflict is the desire