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There are currently 46 member reviews
for Minding Ben
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Trezeline B. (Columbia, MD)
Minding Ben
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The complicated relationships that Grace finds herself involved in, make for an interesting story. The challenges that Grace must face and the many disappointments cause the reader to become to not want to put this book down. This is a page turner. The re adder becomes very involved thinking "what would I do in that situation." I highly recommend this book and am sure anyone who reads it will become aware of the problems immigrants to this country face.
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Mary Lou F. (Naples, FL)
Appreciating What You Have
This book points out the disparity between U.S. citizens and immigrants and what they go through to try and fit into this society. Dialect was a little difficult to interpret at times but all in all, very good writing.
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Susan S. (Lakeville, MA)
I can't get this book out of my mind.
I stayed up late and woke up early to read this fascinating, true tale. I think I was done in less than two days. It was a bit tough to get into because of the Caribbean patois, but it was worth the effort. You can read the plot summary anywhere, so I won't bother recounting it here. What I want to tell you is that I cared about the characters in the book. They were three-dimensional; they were real. The author made me wonder what made her people tick; why did they do what they did? Hopefully, she will do a sequel, I really want to know what happened to Grace -- since this is the true story of the author's experiences as a nanny in NYC, I am optimistic that she won't leave me hanging.
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Bess W. (Marlton, US)
A story of survival
I loved the book. The author uses her personal experience to create unforgettable characters. I couldn't put the book down, I just wanted to know how Grace was coping with her emotional journey and how she would survive. Making a life in New York is not easy for anyone especially a 16 year old. Even with all her ups and downs Grace still believes. I can't wait for Victoria Brown's next book. This is a perfect choice for book clubs--there are so many social issues to discuss.
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Victoria (California)
Captivating, Bittersweet
I found Minding Ben to be a captivating, bittersweet read. Fans of The Nanny Diaries will enjoy this book. While often amusing in her reflections on the Manhattan nanny scene, Brown is equally capable of capturing the homesickness and family burdens felt by her immigrant protagonist, Grace. Readers will laugh at the occasionally absurd demands of Grace's employers, but ultimately empathize with the young girl trying to negotiate her place between two very different worlds.
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Laura A. (Jeremiah, KY)
Eye-Opening
I enjoyed "Minding Ben" by Victoria Brown. It was an eye-opening book about the treatment of people living in New York that do not have their green cards. It is a sad and depressing look at how the privileged take such advantage of the people in that situation because they know they can. My heart went out to Grace in her experiences here in the U.S. I would definitely recommend this book to others especially book clubs as there is many themes to discuss within the book.
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Jean N. (New Richmond, OH)
Minding Ben
I enjoyed this book. I felt like I was reading a memoir. This was a book that I had a hard time putting down. I had to know what was going to happen next, and how things were going to turn out for Grace. Little Ben touched my heart.
The dialect was difficult to read at first, yet it did add to the realism. I felt that the story went at a steady pace, but that the ending was almost rushed and too abrupt.
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