Crown Publishing, August 1, 2017.
Five Stars
In the middle of the night, Ma pulls thirteen-year-old
Alex out of bed after one too many arguments with Alex’s father. Alex is
dragged to the car, and the two of them set out on a road trip with no
explanations. Alex only ever saw her as Ma, but suddenly she becomes a real,
complex person with a rich, dangerous past. Mother and child follow a cryptic
map of Ma’s childhood in foster care and as a teenager on the run – they travel
across the United States and eventually to Canada, keeping old promises and
tying up loose ends from Ma’s tumultuous past.
The story is told from Alex’s perspective, and it is
complicated further by Alex’s own coming-of-age story – Alex is gender neutral,
identifying as neither male nor female. The novel contains a realistic and
sensitive portrayal of Alex’s sexual awakening – Alex is undecided yet
unconfused about gender identity, and surprisingly self-assured for such a
young person. Alex’s identity develops alongside Ma’s past, highlighting the
contrasts between the two stories. The pilgrimage to the past is necessary to
move forward and face an uncertain yet hopeful future.
Ma’s past includes several women named Laura, hence
the title – the Lauras are friends, mentors and lovers, but all of them are an
integral part of the mother’s development. Each location to which she brings
Alex requires the telling of stories and secrets that complicate Alex’s view of
Ma. However, after years of travel and life on the run, Alex also has unfinished
business to attend to, including a reconciliation with the father that was left
behind.
Both Alex and Ma have lived hard, heartbreaking lives
– but their reactions to life’s struggles showcase strength and resilience. The
mother is tough, gritty and often seems insensitive, but she supports Alex
completely. Their entire journey is an exploration of identity, and it
questions how much of who we are comes from a parent, and how much comes from
lived experiences. Alex has always been gender neutral, but Ma’s stories and support
allow Alex to be completely secure and comfortable with the decision to not be
just a boy or a girl.
There are many complex stories to be told on this
journey, and they are sometimes overwhelming or distracting from the main
narrative, or seemingly told as a vehicle to interject certain beliefs into the
novel – but mostly Ma’s digressions are interesting and worthwhile for Alex’s development.
The language is stark yet emotional, with lyrical prose that finds beauty even
in the darkest moments. I completely enjoyed this immersive journey with Alex
and Ma, both of whom are the kind of characters we need to read about in the
world today.
I received this book from Crown Publishing and
NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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