The Dragons, the Giant, the Women by Wayétu Moore

Wayétu Moore takes an unflinching look at survival in her unforgettable memoir, which traces her family’s journey fleeing Liberia on foot in the midst of a civil war to their experiences, years later, as immigrants living in Texas. Both life events prove full of emotional strife and turmoil, and Moore details them in lyrical and refreshing terms. Throughout, she shares her love for storytelling, demonstrating how the narratives we tell each other are often what keep us sane. This is true of her time as a young child, attempting to make sense of her crumbling world, as she imagines her father to be the “giant” protecting her from the “dragons.” Moore then describes what comes after as she navigates racism and dislocation in the United States. As she reflects on these years, the author emphasizes how love can endure despite increasing hardships.

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