Center for Children's Literature Blog

Children’s Book Committee – October 2024 Pick

Bright Red Fruit
Author: Safia Elhillo

A modern telling in a variety of verse forms of the Persephone story gives motivation to the character caught between conflicting desires. Layered, believable, and compelling.

Bright Red Fruit is a young adult coming-of-age novel that will hook you from the very beginning. The story is told through multiple poems, which is a unique format that may take some getting used to, but is ultimately well executed and interesting.

The novel explores the idea of finding your identity while trying to appease those around you, as Samira navigates her relationship with Horus while trying to get her mother to understand her point of view.

This book will appeal to readers who understand what it’s like to sometimes feel trapped or those who want a change in pace in their reading format. Overall, Bright Red Fruit is a great story, and Elhillo will have you rooting for her sympathetic and endearing characters.”

–Leah, age 15, Westchester, NY.

Young people who are interested in reviewing are invited to do so as we welcome the individual perspective of our age appropriate readers. If you are interested in being a reviewer, contact youngreviewers@bankstreet.edu

See our Monthly Picks Archive 2012–2018, and our Monthly Picks 2019–present.