Summary: This enchanting novel in verse captures one young woman’s struggle for independence, equality, and identity as the daughter of Greek and French immigrants in tumultuous 1930s Detroit.
Sixteen-year-old Mary lives in a tiny apartment with her mother, father, her older brothers, and her twin sister. Every day, she questions why her parents came to America when they insist on living in the ways of their old countries. Mary years for true love, to have a career of her own, and to become a modern American woman — much to the chagrin of her immigrant parents, who just want her to behave like a “good Greek girl.”
Through Depression-era hunger strikes, joblessness, and violent riots, Mary struggles to create her own identity as the American-born daughter of immigrants living in the 1930s. Loosely based on author Colby Cedar Smith’s paternal grandmother, Call Me Athena is written from the shifting perspectives of three vividly drawn narrators and delivers a timeless message of love and loss, tradition and heritage, freedom and equality, courage and, most importantly, hope.
(Summary from back of book – Image from simonandschuster.ca)
My Review: ‘Good Greek girls know better than to dream.’
Mary doesn’t know why her parents moved to America, only to live in a tiny apartment and struggle to make ends meet. She chafes against the confines of the role she is expected to fill and longs for a future that holds more than babies, housework, and abject poverty — a life where she can run her own business and marry for love, rather than being forced to wed the man her parents have chosen out of desperation. She wants to know that her dreams could be more than just dreams. One day, while rummaging in the cellar, Mary finds a wooden box filled with letters between two people identified only as Petit Oiseau and Le Loup, which opens up an entirely new perspective for both Mary and the reader.
Call Me Athena is a historical fiction novel told in brilliant verse, based loosely on true stories from the author’s family history. The narrative alternates between Mary’s perspective and two correspondents whose identities are revealed as events unfolds. Mary’s story is set in Detroit during the 1930s, interspersed with narratives from Greece and France, set a few decades earlier. Through these settings and the correspondents’ perspectives, the author was able to incorporate various historical and cultural elements. From a structural standpoint, it has a striking aesthetic, with bold colors. arresting artwork, and — the pièce de résistance — a delicate ribboned bookmark. Although the book is rather thick, the novel-in-verse format makes for quick read that should be easy for young adult readers to understand.
Call Me Athena was absolutely marvelous. I felt swept away by both the setting(s) and the storyline, and thought the blend of French, Greek, and American culture and traditions was fascinating. I don’t know much about 1910-1930s history, but I gleaned a lot from context and loved the different historical and social elements (ie. immigration, war, workers’ rights, unemployment, women in the workforce, inflation) that were woven throughout the story.
I love Mary’s fierce determination and was rooting for her to find happiness. Her rebellious spirit sang to mine, and I’m certain that her story will resonate with any reader who has ever felt boxed in by a future that they didn’t choose. It was easy to become invested in the outcome of the individual storylines, to root for any romantic relationships that developed, and to imagine being present for certain moments in history. There was also one moment (involving sour cherry liqueur) that made me want to throw a parade. All I will say is that it was priceless and incredibly satisfying.
Call Me Athena is a vibrant, moving tribute to the immigrants who built this nation and an acknowledgment of the challenges that they and their children face. It’s about familial love, hopes and dreams, roots that run deep, and serves as a stirring reminder to get to know our parents while we can. I read the tail end of this book by the light of a candle during a power outage. It was tricky, but worth it. The three perspectives come together beautifully in the end — brilliant, poignant and lovely in a way that just lifts the heart. If you revel in historical fiction, novels in verse, or are just looking for a really great read, I highly recommend Call Me Athena.
My Rating: 5 Stars
For the Sensitive Reader: Some innuendo and kissing (M/F). An attempted sexual assault, non-graphic, and brief mention of suicidal ideations. Character death.
