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Frying Plantain
Kara Davis is a girl caught in the middle — of her Canadian nationality and her desire to be a “true” Jamaican, of her mother and grandmother’s rages and life lessons, of having to avoid being thought of as too “faas” or too “quiet” or too “bold” or too “soft.” Set in “Little Jamaica,” Toronto’s Eglinton West neighbourhood, Kara moves from girlhood to the threshold of adulthood, from elementary school to high school graduation, in these twelve interconnected stories. We see her on a visit to Jamaica, startled by the sight of a severed pig’s head in her great aunt’s freezer; in junior high, the victim of a devastating prank by her closest friends; and as a teenager in and out of her grandmother’s house, trying to cope with the ongoing battles between her unyielding grandparents.
A rich and unforgettable portrait of growing up between worlds, Frying Plantain shows how, in one charged moment, friendship and love can turn to enmity and hate, well-meaning protection can become control, and teasing play can turn to something much darker. In her brilliantly incisive debut, Zalika Reid-Benta artfully depicts the tensions between mothers and daughters, second-generation Canadians and first-generation cultural expectations, and Black identity and predominately white society.
A rich and unforgettable portrait of growing up between worlds, Frying Plantain shows how, in one charged moment, friendship and love can turn to enmity and hate, well-meaning protection can become control, and teasing play can turn to something much darker. In her brilliantly incisive debut, Zalika Reid-Benta artfully depicts the tensions between mothers and daughters, second-generation Canadians and first-generation cultural expectations, and Black identity and predominately white society.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2019
About the author
Zalika Reid-Benta
2 books295 followersZALIKA REID-BENTA is a Canadian writer. Her debut novel RIVER MUMMA has been shortlisted for the 2024 Trillium Book Award and has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist Magazine. RIVER MUMMA is an Amazon Books Editors' Pick for Best Science Fiction and Fantasy and was selected a Best Book of the Month for
Apple Books in February 2024. It was the October 2023 pick for the CityLine book club and has been listed as one of the best fiction books of 2023 on numerous platforms, including CBC Books, Indigo Books, Kobo Books and The Walrus.
Reid-Benta's debut short story collection FRYING PLANTAIN won the Danuta Gleed Literary Award and the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize for Literary Fiction in 2020. FRYING PLANTAIN was longlisted for the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize, and it was shortlisted for the 2020 Toronto Book Award, the 2020 Trillium Book Award, the 2021 White Pine Award and the 2020 Evergreen Award.
Her picture book, TWELVE DAYS OF JAMAICAN CHRISTMAS illustrated by Mariyah Rahman, will be published in 2025.
Apple Books in February 2024. It was the October 2023 pick for the CityLine book club and has been listed as one of the best fiction books of 2023 on numerous platforms, including CBC Books, Indigo Books, Kobo Books and The Walrus.
Reid-Benta's debut short story collection FRYING PLANTAIN won the Danuta Gleed Literary Award and the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize for Literary Fiction in 2020. FRYING PLANTAIN was longlisted for the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize, and it was shortlisted for the 2020 Toronto Book Award, the 2020 Trillium Book Award, the 2021 White Pine Award and the 2020 Evergreen Award.
Her picture book, TWELVE DAYS OF JAMAICAN CHRISTMAS illustrated by Mariyah Rahman, will be published in 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 617 reviews
November 25, 2019
I don't think I've ever felt as seen in the world, as I have while reading this book. Sharing so many characteristics with the main character Kara: growing up a young, black, second-generation Jamaican teen in a priority Toronto neighbourhood, it was just a joy to read this book. Representation was at its highest and I felt hyperreal.
I loved that this novel was set in Toronto. It reminds me of my life when it came to high school and friends and the teenage struggle to become your own person; the little indignities that you suffer that aren't really that serious but you feel like it's the end of the world when you're like 14, 17, etc. It's an amazing feeling to see yourself and be taken back to memories and to ruminate through fiction... There was no intense trauma here, no rape, no stereotypical bullshit; many frustrations still existed and there was this existential curiosity that I loved. I loved this read.
I loved that this novel was set in Toronto. It reminds me of my life when it came to high school and friends and the teenage struggle to become your own person; the little indignities that you suffer that aren't really that serious but you feel like it's the end of the world when you're like 14, 17, etc. It's an amazing feeling to see yourself and be taken back to memories and to ruminate through fiction... There was no intense trauma here, no rape, no stereotypical bullshit; many frustrations still existed and there was this existential curiosity that I loved. I loved this read.
September 9, 2021
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3 ¾ stars
Frying Plantain presents its readers with a vibrant coming-of-age. Through the course of twelve chapters Zalika Reid-Benta captures a girl's transition from childhood to adolescence into young adulthood. But this is far from a conventional Bildungsroman as within each chapter Reid-Benta hones in on a particular moment of her protagonist's life, playing with perspective and style.
Kara Davis, a second-generation Canadian, feels divided between her Canadian nationality and her Jamaican heritage. Kara lives in Toronto with her hardworking single mother. Everyone Kara knows seems to find fault with her: her relatives, her mother in particular, scold her for her “impertinence”, while her peers often tease her for being too “soft” or a goody two shoes.
In most chapters Kara learns a lesson of sorts. In the opening chapter Kara, who has just returned from a trip to Jamaica, begins to tell a rather tall tale about a pig head to impress her classmates and her neighbourhood's children (who aren't as gullible as the white kids). As her story becomes increasingly fantastical, she lands herself in a spot of trouble. In the following chapter, which takes place a few years later, Kara becomes the victim of a cruel prank by her 'friends'. Another chapter revolves around a somewhat tense Christmas dinner at her grandparents house.
While the chapters can be read as a series self-contained narratives, read as a whole Frying Plantain provides its reader with a detailed and nuanced story of growing up. The fraught mother-daughter bond between Kara and her mother is present at each stage of Kara's life. This pressure to succeed, to excel, drives Kara and her mother apart. Kara's mother too has a troubled relationship with her mother. While the tension between these women often results in disagreements and fights, Reid-Benta conveys the love and affection that underlines their 'difficult' relationships (mothers wanting their daughters to achieve what they themselves couldn't).
Reid-Benta vividly renders family tensions, the gap between generations, the self-divide created by Kara's Canadian nationality and her Black identity. The realism of Reid-Benta dialogues was utterly captivating. During the first chapters I was struck by Reid-Benta's ability to so accurately portray a child's mind.
The last few chapters did loose me somewhat as I was more interested in Kara's early experiences.
Nevertheless this is a great debut novel and I look forward to reading whatever Reid-Benta will write next.
3 ¾ stars
“I wondered if all daughters fought with their mothers this way when they grew up.”
Frying Plantain presents its readers with a vibrant coming-of-age. Through the course of twelve chapters Zalika Reid-Benta captures a girl's transition from childhood to adolescence into young adulthood. But this is far from a conventional Bildungsroman as within each chapter Reid-Benta hones in on a particular moment of her protagonist's life, playing with perspective and style.
Kara Davis, a second-generation Canadian, feels divided between her Canadian nationality and her Jamaican heritage. Kara lives in Toronto with her hardworking single mother. Everyone Kara knows seems to find fault with her: her relatives, her mother in particular, scold her for her “impertinence”, while her peers often tease her for being too “soft” or a goody two shoes.
In most chapters Kara learns a lesson of sorts. In the opening chapter Kara, who has just returned from a trip to Jamaica, begins to tell a rather tall tale about a pig head to impress her classmates and her neighbourhood's children (who aren't as gullible as the white kids). As her story becomes increasingly fantastical, she lands herself in a spot of trouble. In the following chapter, which takes place a few years later, Kara becomes the victim of a cruel prank by her 'friends'. Another chapter revolves around a somewhat tense Christmas dinner at her grandparents house.
While the chapters can be read as a series self-contained narratives, read as a whole Frying Plantain provides its reader with a detailed and nuanced story of growing up. The fraught mother-daughter bond between Kara and her mother is present at each stage of Kara's life. This pressure to succeed, to excel, drives Kara and her mother apart. Kara's mother too has a troubled relationship with her mother. While the tension between these women often results in disagreements and fights, Reid-Benta conveys the love and affection that underlines their 'difficult' relationships (mothers wanting their daughters to achieve what they themselves couldn't).
Reid-Benta vividly renders family tensions, the gap between generations, the self-divide created by Kara's Canadian nationality and her Black identity. The realism of Reid-Benta dialogues was utterly captivating. During the first chapters I was struck by Reid-Benta's ability to so accurately portray a child's mind.
The last few chapters did loose me somewhat as I was more interested in Kara's early experiences.
Nevertheless this is a great debut novel and I look forward to reading whatever Reid-Benta will write next.
July 26, 2019
Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta is an amazing and wonderous debut novel that you will fly through and absolutely love- I promise you!
I sat down and read Frying Plantain in one sitting, it was utterly interesting and delightful. Frying Plantain is a collection of twelve interconnected stories that follows Kara Davis from elementary school to university. Kara Davis is a Canadian by birth, both her mother and grandmother are Jamaican. The neighbourhood she lives in is a melting pot of Caribbean people and cultures. Kara is trying to fit in with her Jamaican friends but they think she isn't a "true Jamaican", she also tries to find balance and friendship with the children she goes to schools with but they are from a different world.
Added to this is Kara's relationship with her controlling mother who seems to be trying to hold it all together and just want her daughter to finish school and go to university. There is also Kara's relationship with her grandparents which is also explored.
What I loved about this book is how truly authentic the narrative feels. Benta captures exactly what it feels like to be a teenager and all the fears that goes into growing up. More specifically Benta captures exactly what it feels to be a teenager from Caribbean parents who drill into your head "do not turn out like me". As much as Kara is a young girl from Caribbean heritage her story feels so relatable. For the girl who lives in fear of her Mom, who is constantly sneaking around or having to hide things and is always that person who cannot hang out with her friends because her Mom doesn't allow it- you know that girl- that is Kara.
This is such a rich collection of interconnected stories. The characters are well formed and you can relate to each of their story. For me, the Grandmother felt so much like my grandmother and I was so floored by that. I loved how Benta explored Grandmother-Mother-Daughter relationships- it was rich and fully formed- I could not get enough of it.
A truly amazing debut novel and I cannot wait to hear more from Zalika Reid-Benta.
I sat down and read Frying Plantain in one sitting, it was utterly interesting and delightful. Frying Plantain is a collection of twelve interconnected stories that follows Kara Davis from elementary school to university. Kara Davis is a Canadian by birth, both her mother and grandmother are Jamaican. The neighbourhood she lives in is a melting pot of Caribbean people and cultures. Kara is trying to fit in with her Jamaican friends but they think she isn't a "true Jamaican", she also tries to find balance and friendship with the children she goes to schools with but they are from a different world.
Added to this is Kara's relationship with her controlling mother who seems to be trying to hold it all together and just want her daughter to finish school and go to university. There is also Kara's relationship with her grandparents which is also explored.
What I loved about this book is how truly authentic the narrative feels. Benta captures exactly what it feels like to be a teenager and all the fears that goes into growing up. More specifically Benta captures exactly what it feels to be a teenager from Caribbean parents who drill into your head "do not turn out like me". As much as Kara is a young girl from Caribbean heritage her story feels so relatable. For the girl who lives in fear of her Mom, who is constantly sneaking around or having to hide things and is always that person who cannot hang out with her friends because her Mom doesn't allow it- you know that girl- that is Kara.
This is such a rich collection of interconnected stories. The characters are well formed and you can relate to each of their story. For me, the Grandmother felt so much like my grandmother and I was so floored by that. I loved how Benta explored Grandmother-Mother-Daughter relationships- it was rich and fully formed- I could not get enough of it.
A truly amazing debut novel and I cannot wait to hear more from Zalika Reid-Benta.
January 22, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this interconnected short story collection. The setting is Toronto and our main character , of Jamaican heritage, lives with her single mother. We follow Kara from childhood through to university age as she tries to fit in as a Canadian, but also retain her Jamaican roots.
To me this was an immigrant story, with a strong emphasis on mother - daughter relationships, whether between Kara and her mother Eloise or Eloise and her mother Verna. All mothers want their children to succeed, but I agree that often if you are the first generation, the pressure is greater. Kara’s Mom got pregnant at 17 yrs of age- Does she want this for Kara? Of course not- this means added pressures, emphasis on school, not associating with the wrong people and especially not boys.
I could relate to this book in many ways. I am a first generation Canadian of Italian heritage. My parents worked exceptionally hard so we could go to university and be successful. They, too, were very strict and did not allow us to make our own mistakes.
The first story in the collection”Pig Head” is about Kara being in Jamaica and finding a “fresh” pig’s head in her grandmother’s freezer. She goes back to Toronto and regales her friends with her bravery(NOT!) This story brought me back to my childhood- a food that I grew up on was rabbit. Even at the age of 8, I knew not to tell the kids at school as they would be repulsed. Even worse, my mother bought the rabbits at the market and slaughtered them herself- and being the oldest girl, I got to hold the rabbit while she skinned it.
Obviously, I could not relate to her experiences of being Black in a predominantly white society. But I do relate to being a first generation Canadian and all the expectations.
I loved watching Kara grow. The author deftly portrays mothers- daughters- the tensions, the fighting, but still the underlying love and respect.
I have never eaten a plantain, but this book has left me craving one!! Fried with brown sugar, of course!
To me this was an immigrant story, with a strong emphasis on mother - daughter relationships, whether between Kara and her mother Eloise or Eloise and her mother Verna. All mothers want their children to succeed, but I agree that often if you are the first generation, the pressure is greater. Kara’s Mom got pregnant at 17 yrs of age- Does she want this for Kara? Of course not- this means added pressures, emphasis on school, not associating with the wrong people and especially not boys.
I could relate to this book in many ways. I am a first generation Canadian of Italian heritage. My parents worked exceptionally hard so we could go to university and be successful. They, too, were very strict and did not allow us to make our own mistakes.
The first story in the collection”Pig Head” is about Kara being in Jamaica and finding a “fresh” pig’s head in her grandmother’s freezer. She goes back to Toronto and regales her friends with her bravery(NOT!) This story brought me back to my childhood- a food that I grew up on was rabbit. Even at the age of 8, I knew not to tell the kids at school as they would be repulsed. Even worse, my mother bought the rabbits at the market and slaughtered them herself- and being the oldest girl, I got to hold the rabbit while she skinned it.
Obviously, I could not relate to her experiences of being Black in a predominantly white society. But I do relate to being a first generation Canadian and all the expectations.
I loved watching Kara grow. The author deftly portrays mothers- daughters- the tensions, the fighting, but still the underlying love and respect.
I have never eaten a plantain, but this book has left me craving one!! Fried with brown sugar, of course!
April 29, 2023
At first, I really enjoyed Frying Plantain—the story of a teenage girl growing up in Toronto with her exceptionally strict Jamaican-born mother and grandparents. In fact, I loved that it started out so funny but, as it continued, I became more and more tense. This, I’m certain, is because… well, a person can take only so much criticism!! This was the problem for the main protagonist too! Kara’s mother and grandmother were constantly at each other’s throats—nitpicking about this, that, and every little thing! And as you might expect, Kara’s mother treated her the same way! (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, right?!) I really felt Kara's pain, especially as she was a really nice girl, but even she simply had to get up and leave at times, just to maintain her composure! The constant berating and bickering would have gotten to anyone! It really started to wear me down; thank goodness it wasn’t a long book!
At this point I should note that, although it reads just like a novel (though it does jump around a bit), the author insists in her Acknowledgements that it's not:
So, Frying Plantain was quite good; it just wasn’t 5-star good.
4 You’ll-have-to-settle-for-four stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
At this point I should note that, although it reads just like a novel (though it does jump around a bit), the author insists in her Acknowledgements that it's not:
I would like to thank my agent, Amy Tompkins, for taking a chance on an unknown writer with a short story collection (not a novel!), and for being my champion.O.K.—have it your way. It sure seemed like a novel to me, though, and because I'm not a fan of short stories, I wouldn't have picked it up had I thought that's what it was!
So, Frying Plantain was quite good; it just wasn’t 5-star good.
4 You’ll-have-to-settle-for-four stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 2, 2021
Frying Plantain is a series of connected short stories about Kara Davis, a young woman trying to balance her life in Canada with her Jamaican heritage. Kara has to deal with common pressures of being a teenager — boys, friends, school, as well as those of her family — A strict mom and grandmother who don’t always get along, plus ongoing strife between her grandparents.
I enjoyed this book and felt for all Kara was going through. Frying Plantain is an interesting look at family relationships and at identity.
I enjoyed this book and felt for all Kara was going through. Frying Plantain is an interesting look at family relationships and at identity.
May 30, 2019
Growing up Black, and a child of immigrants can be tough. This is a collection of interconnected stories rooted in the Toronto neighborhood of Eglinton West and Marlee. Kara Davis who is caught in the middle of being a true Jamaican like her mother and growing up in Canadian.
I am a child of Caribbean immigrates so I know Kara’s story all too well.
Growing up in two different worlds is not an easy task. Kara and her mother butt heads at times but the friction between Kara’s mother Eloise and grandmother is something else (sheesh!).
How this book is laid out it feels more like a memoir than a collection of short stories. The characters are complex and well developed and the pace worked for me. There are a few LOL moments and if you are from Caribbean heritage, then some of Kara’s encounters will be like walking down memory lane. Overall I thought this was a solid read 3.5 out 5 stars.
Thank you, Netgalley Astoria Publishing, for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am a child of Caribbean immigrates so I know Kara’s story all too well.
Growing up in two different worlds is not an easy task. Kara and her mother butt heads at times but the friction between Kara’s mother Eloise and grandmother is something else (sheesh!).
How this book is laid out it feels more like a memoir than a collection of short stories. The characters are complex and well developed and the pace worked for me. There are a few LOL moments and if you are from Caribbean heritage, then some of Kara’s encounters will be like walking down memory lane. Overall I thought this was a solid read 3.5 out 5 stars.
Thank you, Netgalley Astoria Publishing, for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2023
Hi all! I just wanted to let you know that Frying Plantain has five playlists on spotify. Here is Kara's:
https://cutt.ly/frying-plantain-kara-...
https://cutt.ly/frying-plantain-kara-...
March 28, 2024
Solid little collection of stories that take you from Kara's childhood to her early adulthood. I liked the way Kara evolved and how nuanced everything was. By the end I was really loathe to part way with her.
The characters often use Patois (though it's easy enough to understand what they say), if you're the kind of reader who gets upset about that stuff this one might not be for you.
The characters often use Patois (though it's easy enough to understand what they say), if you're the kind of reader who gets upset about that stuff this one might not be for you.
November 11, 2019
“This likkle girl here, she love the plantain, yuh know,” she tells Sister Bernice. “It nah Christmas food but mi cook it on Christmas for her. I bring she back to Hanover last year for my niece's wedding, must've been Kara's second visit to Jamaicar. Nothing troubled her when she visit the first time but last year? Lawd. She had a sickness inna her belly that make she chrow up. Only thing she could keep down was plantain and she nah want Bredda's wife plantain, she only want fi eat what mi fry.”
Frying Plaintain is marketed as a collection of twelve interrelated short stories, but as they are primarily narrated in the first person, by the same main character, and follow a straightforward chronological timeline, this reads like a novel. Further, the chapters don't have that completeness of thought or sudden swerve that one encounters in finely written short stories – I can't imagine any of these chapters standing on their own in a magazine – and honestly, the writing itself is fairly basic. What Frying Plantain does well is to serve as a bildungsroman for a first generation Jamaican-Canadian daughter navigating her single mother's demands and expectations in downtown Toronto (more than anything, this has the feel of a lightly fictionalised memoir; I have no idea how closely these stories match the lived experience of author Zalika Reid-Benta), and although the writing doesn't get very deep, it does shine a light on one of Toronto's largest and most vibrant immigrant communities.
I could tell she knew I was lying but she didn't ask me any more questions, she only turned the volume back up on the TV. She had to know what I'd only just now discovered: that peace could only exist in this family when we lied about everything, at least to each other.
Frying Plantain is primarily a domestic tale and explores the relationships between three generations: Kara is the main character, born in Canada and strictly controlled by her mother, but under pressure from her friends in their Caribbean-rich neighbourhood to let loose sometimes; Eloise is Kara's Jamaica-born single mother, working and putting herself through university, doing whatever she can to ensure her daughter doesn't compromise her future through teen pregnancy as she did; and Verna is Eloise's Jamaica-born mother (speaking in the dense patois above), who works two jobs to keep her little bungalow (which Verna keeps spotless, down to the plastic-covered furniture), and whose husband, George, steps out with other ladies. There are secrets and lies, screaming, slaps, and stoney silences, months gone by without visiting the grandparents, and everyone seems more worried about how things look to outsiders than any individual's happiness. Much is written about how to avoid frizzy hair and ashy skin; what level of affected accent is acceptable and what appears false; and Kara is warned to neither act like the faas girls from their old neighbourhood or to believe that she can get away with the common acts of rebellion that the white students in her new high school engage in – these stories aren't quite about race, but her hair, her skin, her connection to her culture, and her mother's expectations are challenges that Kara needs to navigate every day. Nothing very surprising happens in this collection, but it was an easy and interesting read.
August 13, 2019
Every so often a book captures your life experiences so acutely that you feel an intense connection to the story, seeing yourself reflected so clearly on the pages that it almost feels a bit frightening. Frying Plaintain, a collection of interwoven stories featuring a main character named Kara whom we follow from early childhood to her late teen years, did just that for me. Kara and I share a lot of similarities: children of Jamaican immigrants who grew up in working class Toronto neighbourhoods, living in single-mother driven households, with complex familial relationships to mostly-absent fathers and overbearing, miserable, but mostly-loving grandmothers. Reading this book was like revisiting a time in my life that was complicated, but shaped me in every possible way.
Zalika Reid-Benta captured this unique upbringing with honesty, tenderness and a profound love for being a diasporic child and teen in inner city Toronto. And while we see Kara grappling with a split cultural identity, and shouldering the impossibly high expectations of her Jamaican mother and grandmother, there was still something so beautifully universal in this collection. Kara was the ultimate protagonist, and these stories resonated with me in the best ways. I would read more from this author in a heartbeat.
Zalika Reid-Benta captured this unique upbringing with honesty, tenderness and a profound love for being a diasporic child and teen in inner city Toronto. And while we see Kara grappling with a split cultural identity, and shouldering the impossibly high expectations of her Jamaican mother and grandmother, there was still something so beautifully universal in this collection. Kara was the ultimate protagonist, and these stories resonated with me in the best ways. I would read more from this author in a heartbeat.
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January 16, 2022A coming of age novel in short stories, giving snippets from the life of a Jamaican Canadian struggling with racism, sexism, misogynoir, the difficulty of falling between two stools culturally speaking, and her very screwed up, controlling and abusive family. Well written and powerfully conveyed, but I was left a bit unsatisfied by the lack of resolution. (Yes, I know life doesn't give resolution, that's why I like fiction better.)
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August 29, 2020When a book has glowing reviews from @reads.and.reveries, @bookofcinz, @end.notes and @ns510reads, I KNOW I'm in for an excellent read. Frying Plantain just proved that! This was my second interwoven short story collection of August, although this one is a lot more direct. All of the stories follow Kara Davis as she grows up in 'Little Jamaica' in Toronto. It's like the bookish equivalent of a film highlights reel, as we get to see some of the defining episodes of Kara's upbringing.
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So we start from a story set in Jamaica where Kara is visiting family and she comes across a pig's head in the freezer. Although she's shaken by it, once back home she begins to reconstruct different narratives of the event with her friends at her mostly-white elementary school and her friends in her neighbourhood. This is the beginning of Kara trying to get to grips with her identity as a girl growing up in the Jamaican diaspora.
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As she moves up through the education system and to university, she grapples with her identity constantly. To her white friends she is decidedly not 'Canadian enough', but her Black friends don't see her as 'Jamaican enough'. Reid-Benta perfectly captures how casually cruel 14-year-old girls can be, and the complex dynamics of their friendships.
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Motherhood is the other key theme of this collection, as Kara is raised by her single mother and her grandmother. I love reading anything to do with familial relationships, especially mother/daughter ones and Frying Plantain more than delivers on that front. We're privy to tensions around first boyfriends, independence, and family ties, but also to the small acts of everyday love and kindness that make a family.
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I think this is a great choice for anyone who's not too sure about short stories because it doesn't have that fragmented feel of a random collection - it's all cohesive. We really get to know Kara through these stories, and I was sad to let her go by the end!
.
So we start from a story set in Jamaica where Kara is visiting family and she comes across a pig's head in the freezer. Although she's shaken by it, once back home she begins to reconstruct different narratives of the event with her friends at her mostly-white elementary school and her friends in her neighbourhood. This is the beginning of Kara trying to get to grips with her identity as a girl growing up in the Jamaican diaspora.
.
As she moves up through the education system and to university, she grapples with her identity constantly. To her white friends she is decidedly not 'Canadian enough', but her Black friends don't see her as 'Jamaican enough'. Reid-Benta perfectly captures how casually cruel 14-year-old girls can be, and the complex dynamics of their friendships.
.
Motherhood is the other key theme of this collection, as Kara is raised by her single mother and her grandmother. I love reading anything to do with familial relationships, especially mother/daughter ones and Frying Plantain more than delivers on that front. We're privy to tensions around first boyfriends, independence, and family ties, but also to the small acts of everyday love and kindness that make a family.
.
I think this is a great choice for anyone who's not too sure about short stories because it doesn't have that fragmented feel of a random collection - it's all cohesive. We really get to know Kara through these stories, and I was sad to let her go by the end!
April 25, 2022
i LOVED this.
zalika reid-benta's writing is so compulsively readable, and frying plantain strikes a chord not only with its literary form but also kara's coming-of-age, at once ubiquitous (relatable to all) and individual (particular to reid-benta's storytelling and kara's narrative). the stories in this collection reminded me at times of the books i devoured as a kid and made me fall in love with reading (judy blume, for example), but infinitely richer, better, because these stories are by and about BIPOC - specifically, jamaican canadian immigrants - living in toronto. what's more, reid-benta deftly weaves emotional nuances and fleshes out her characters with love and complexity, and the way she does it seems so fluid and compellingly simple.
i seriously can't wait to read more of her work.
zalika reid-benta's writing is so compulsively readable, and frying plantain strikes a chord not only with its literary form but also kara's coming-of-age, at once ubiquitous (relatable to all) and individual (particular to reid-benta's storytelling and kara's narrative). the stories in this collection reminded me at times of the books i devoured as a kid and made me fall in love with reading (judy blume, for example), but infinitely richer, better, because these stories are by and about BIPOC - specifically, jamaican canadian immigrants - living in toronto. what's more, reid-benta deftly weaves emotional nuances and fleshes out her characters with love and complexity, and the way she does it seems so fluid and compellingly simple.
i seriously can't wait to read more of her work.
August 13, 2020
Frying Plantain is a debut anthology of twelve interlinked short stories about Jamaican-Canadian girl Kara Davis who is trying to reconcile her life and the culture of Toronto with that of her Jamaican heritage. It centres on her coming of age growing up in the Eglinton West neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, known colloquially as Little Jamaica and specifically focuses on a ten year period from childhood and elementary school right through to high school graduation and her admission to University. It's a nuanced, solid and highly engaging set of stories and each builds up into a cohesive whole despite them working perfectly on their own; each one gives us a little more insight into Kara’s life at that point in time, including exploring the feeling of being trapped between two distinctly different cultures, as well as between first-generation and second-generation immigrant expectations, the friction between mother and daughter, and her attempts to come to terms with being black in a predominantly white world.
This is a stunning collection of stories that each contribute further to the reader getting to know Kara, her life experiences and her family, and although it is usual for you to enjoy some of them more than others I was surprised that I loved every one of them. They were captivating, engaging and provided plentiful food for thought about the immigrant experience and the feeling of being torn between two cultures that both have a special place in your heart. Beautifully written with intelligence, perceptiveness and a subtle sophistication, this is a compendium worthy of your time should you have an interest in the issues explored in these pages. The cast of characters was really what made this book stand out. They are complex but relatable and come alive on the page; also the relationship between Kara and her mother, Eloise, is an interesting one. Exploring identity, family, culture, expectations, friendships and both spoken and unspoken rules, this is a compelling and memorable read. Many thanks to Dialogue Books for an ARC.
This is a stunning collection of stories that each contribute further to the reader getting to know Kara, her life experiences and her family, and although it is usual for you to enjoy some of them more than others I was surprised that I loved every one of them. They were captivating, engaging and provided plentiful food for thought about the immigrant experience and the feeling of being torn between two cultures that both have a special place in your heart. Beautifully written with intelligence, perceptiveness and a subtle sophistication, this is a compendium worthy of your time should you have an interest in the issues explored in these pages. The cast of characters was really what made this book stand out. They are complex but relatable and come alive on the page; also the relationship between Kara and her mother, Eloise, is an interesting one. Exploring identity, family, culture, expectations, friendships and both spoken and unspoken rules, this is a compelling and memorable read. Many thanks to Dialogue Books for an ARC.
June 28, 2019
This was a great debut. A collection of short, interconnected stories following Kara and her navigation of the in-between. In-between Jamaican and Canadian. In-between girl and woman.
The stories explore Kara's rather fraught relationship with her iron-willed and controlling mother, her very intense grandmother and detached grandfather. As a first generation Canadian, Kara is unsure of how she should exist, how she should portray herself to the white kids at her elite school and how to balance her Caribbean side with her friends, all of whom either have a connection through parentage to other Caribbean islands or have just immigrated to Canada.
Kara's mother has certain expectations of her and for her. The best education for the best career and the best behaviour so as not to fall into the pit of teenage pregnancy. Her grandmother too is very hawk-eyed when it comes to Kara's interactions and socializations. In Jamaica, the socialization of boys and girls is very different and it remains so even in adulthood. Boys can behave however they like and will only get a 'oh a boy pikney' or boys will be boys; while girls will get 'a so she did wild' or 'di gyal bring shame to her family'. Reid-Benta has depicted this oh so subtly and frankly at the same time. The reader is expected to read between the lines when presented with a younger Kara's perspective of the relationship between her grandmother and grandfather, as well as the simmering hostility between her mother and grandmother.
In every short story, a certain aspect of the familial relationship is revealed as well as Kara's interplay with her friends and 'friends'. We see Kara evaluate and discover herself, figuring out why it was that she was so quiet and would only speak up and out for herself when a situation became too much. Reading Kara find her voice and question certain aspects of her life was familiar.
A book of stories that immigrant parents and their children alike will be able to relate to.
The stories explore Kara's rather fraught relationship with her iron-willed and controlling mother, her very intense grandmother and detached grandfather. As a first generation Canadian, Kara is unsure of how she should exist, how she should portray herself to the white kids at her elite school and how to balance her Caribbean side with her friends, all of whom either have a connection through parentage to other Caribbean islands or have just immigrated to Canada.
Kara's mother has certain expectations of her and for her. The best education for the best career and the best behaviour so as not to fall into the pit of teenage pregnancy. Her grandmother too is very hawk-eyed when it comes to Kara's interactions and socializations. In Jamaica, the socialization of boys and girls is very different and it remains so even in adulthood. Boys can behave however they like and will only get a 'oh a boy pikney' or boys will be boys; while girls will get 'a so she did wild' or 'di gyal bring shame to her family'. Reid-Benta has depicted this oh so subtly and frankly at the same time. The reader is expected to read between the lines when presented with a younger Kara's perspective of the relationship between her grandmother and grandfather, as well as the simmering hostility between her mother and grandmother.
In every short story, a certain aspect of the familial relationship is revealed as well as Kara's interplay with her friends and 'friends'. We see Kara evaluate and discover herself, figuring out why it was that she was so quiet and would only speak up and out for herself when a situation became too much. Reading Kara find her voice and question certain aspects of her life was familiar.
A book of stories that immigrant parents and their children alike will be able to relate to.
June 12, 2020
FRYING PLANTAIN by Zelika Reid-Benta, 2019 by @houseofanansi
#ReadCaribbean
#ReadtheWorld21 📍 Jamaica / diaspora
Big fan of interlocking short stories - I like following the progression of characters or a larger story at different stages and angles.
Frying Plantain follows teenager Kara Davis, a second generation Canadian of #Jamaican descent living with her mother in Toronto. Female relationships and dynamics are a primary focus here, specifically mothers and daughters across generations, and friend/enemies.
The first story opens in Jamaica, as Kara visits family on holiday. She returns to school in Canada and begins exaggerating some of her experiences, and gets caught in her tall tales. Other stories introduce her "friends" who unfortunately are quite hurtful, the strains between her mother and grandmother, experiences with first boyfriend, memories of time spent with her grandfather, and her the shift to adult relationships with parents.
There was also a thread of the mental health in many stories. Traumas that beget fears, mistrust, anxieties, anger. One of my favorite stories, "Before/After" employs a group therapy session for students to discuss, and learn from each other... But it doesn't quote Tomas planned. This one really stood out to me because it encapsulated that tenderness / harshness of the teenage years.
Such a rich debut - coming-of-age short stories with heart, authenticity, and the realities of family love and trials.
This novel was longlisted for the 2019 Giller Prize, Canada's top literary prize. What a way to start a writing career! I look forward to seeing what Reid-Benta will do next!
#ReadCaribbean
#ReadtheWorld21 📍 Jamaica / diaspora
Big fan of interlocking short stories - I like following the progression of characters or a larger story at different stages and angles.
Frying Plantain follows teenager Kara Davis, a second generation Canadian of #Jamaican descent living with her mother in Toronto. Female relationships and dynamics are a primary focus here, specifically mothers and daughters across generations, and friend/enemies.
The first story opens in Jamaica, as Kara visits family on holiday. She returns to school in Canada and begins exaggerating some of her experiences, and gets caught in her tall tales. Other stories introduce her "friends" who unfortunately are quite hurtful, the strains between her mother and grandmother, experiences with first boyfriend, memories of time spent with her grandfather, and her the shift to adult relationships with parents.
There was also a thread of the mental health in many stories. Traumas that beget fears, mistrust, anxieties, anger. One of my favorite stories, "Before/After" employs a group therapy session for students to discuss, and learn from each other... But it doesn't quote Tomas planned. This one really stood out to me because it encapsulated that tenderness / harshness of the teenage years.
Such a rich debut - coming-of-age short stories with heart, authenticity, and the realities of family love and trials.
This novel was longlisted for the 2019 Giller Prize, Canada's top literary prize. What a way to start a writing career! I look forward to seeing what Reid-Benta will do next!
May 9, 2021
More like 3.5 stars. A solid collection of interconnected stories that made her an author to keep my eye on
Watch me discuss it here: https://youtu.be/UjQQc19Y9SE
Watch me discuss it here: https://youtu.be/UjQQc19Y9SE
April 5, 2022
For once I could find myself in the same world as the characters. For one - the city. Majority of books I read are based in the U.S. While I’ve visited quite a few American cities it is a stark difference from growing up in one.
This book had me remembering my childhood, teen years and university days as a young Black woman born to Jamaican parents and having grown up in a suburb outside of Toronto. The author expertly weaves in Toronto life - the subway and its stops; the malls (Yorkdale! Eaton Centre!) down to the Yonge-Dundas Burger King, a spot I’d sometimes stop in for a Whopper in between university classes. I finally read a book based in my city; my city seen through the eyes of a young Black Jamaican-Canadian girl.
The emotional weight that this book left me with. It’s heavy and it is sad for those who had a Jamaican mother like Kara’s. The war, the abuse, the anger that Kara would endure from her mother was all too relatable. Being told to “suck it up, tap cry!” from a Jamaican mother means “show no emotion, you’re weak”. The meanness of a Jamaican mother. The constant accusatory tone of a Jamaican mother (speaking with a male friend about homework would bring about “pregnancy” talk....completely asinine). Nothing was ever good enough.
Nothing.
And while I’ve known about “Di Avenue” (Eglinton Avenue West) I’ve never once walked the stretch of road that houses a historic part of Toronto’s Jamaican businesses. One day. One day.
This book had me remembering my childhood, teen years and university days as a young Black woman born to Jamaican parents and having grown up in a suburb outside of Toronto. The author expertly weaves in Toronto life - the subway and its stops; the malls (Yorkdale! Eaton Centre!) down to the Yonge-Dundas Burger King, a spot I’d sometimes stop in for a Whopper in between university classes. I finally read a book based in my city; my city seen through the eyes of a young Black Jamaican-Canadian girl.
The emotional weight that this book left me with. It’s heavy and it is sad for those who had a Jamaican mother like Kara’s. The war, the abuse, the anger that Kara would endure from her mother was all too relatable. Being told to “suck it up, tap cry!” from a Jamaican mother means “show no emotion, you’re weak”. The meanness of a Jamaican mother. The constant accusatory tone of a Jamaican mother (speaking with a male friend about homework would bring about “pregnancy” talk....completely asinine). Nothing was ever good enough.
Nothing.
And while I’ve known about “Di Avenue” (Eglinton Avenue West) I’ve never once walked the stretch of road that houses a historic part of Toronto’s Jamaican businesses. One day. One day.
October 23, 2023
So relatable and familiar as a once young Jamaican-American first generation girl and granddaughter. This was another audiobook “read” for me, but even though it was a collection of short stories, it read as a chronological novel for me.
December 20, 2020
I‘m always amazed when an author‘s debut is so well developed. Frying Plantain are 12 interconnected stories following Kara Davis, who is Canadian born and of Jamaican heritage, from elementary school through high school into university. Since each of the stories follows Kara and her immediate family (her mother Eloise, her Nana, and her grandfather) and some friends, there was enough room for character development and I felt like I got to know Kara really well. Some of her struggles felt very familiar and are likely experienced by a lot of girls growing up. Others are specific to being Black in predominantly white spaces and a child of immigrants. I appreciated all of those nuances. The author‘s writing felt fluid and effortless, and thus the collection an enjoyable read. I would love to pick up a novel by Zalika Reid-Benta.
February 16, 2020
The characters are so loveable, and they do hit right in the feels sometimes. I loved the writing, and honestly, interconnected short stories are my absolute favourite! Plus, this book takes place in my city, Toronto, which was just a bonus for me since I recognized most of the areas it took place!
If you're looking for some kind of diverse book to read for Black History Month (but also, throughout the entire year), then hop on this one immediately!
If you're looking for some kind of diverse book to read for Black History Month (but also, throughout the entire year), then hop on this one immediately!
June 26, 2020
As an Indian, the image of plantain cooking in grease is not alien to me. An incredible debut collection Frying Plantain is as flavourful as its name suggests; a flavour that's easy to take in and yet stays long after every bit has been consumed with relish.
Almost novelistic in effect, this beautiful collection of 12 interlinked stories follows Kara Davis — a second-generation Canadian of Jamaican descent — from elementary school to high school graduation, negotiating family, control, friendship, and her own Canadian and Caribbean identity growing up in suburban Toronto.
Indeed, growing up takes up so much of this book, especially between immigrant households that do not allow (and cannot afford) children to learn by making their own mistakes. Kara is brought up with strict discipline and control exerted by her single mother and reinforced by unyielding grandparents, her upbringing assessed continually in her appearance, her obedience, her interactions (or lack thereof) with boys. She grows up understanding layers of racial experience: the different textures of prejudice, from white men or cosmetic companies; the dynamics of birth, skin colours and accents within the Island community; the pressures and fears of failure and loss of tradition; of class and the disparate selves she dons between her home, school, and neighbourhood. It's little things — like Kara and her friends choosing whether to listen to Ja Rule or Eminem — that make these stories so relevant, so relatable, so evocative. Growing up also means growing out of things — the author explores the intricacies of female friendships throughout Kara's journey — their cruelty and jealousy, but also their caring — as they wane and transform over the years; Kara slowly sheds the protective mould cast around her by her mother as she gets ready to depart for college, to a world of her own.
On a much deeper level, however, Frying Plantain draws an intimate portrait of mother-daughter relationships and their struggles over generations, be it Kara's own relationship with her mother to that shared by her mother and Nana. These are relationships of protectiveness, frustration, anger, control, and of love, talked about in a way that they rarely are. These are relationships strengthened by their exclusion of men — the absentee father, the womanising grandpa, the boyfriend kept a secret. I found the author's exploration of the turbulent relationship between Kara's grandfather and her Nana to be one of the strongest aspects of this book, her ability to show their pettiness, their respective loneliness, the fact that they're bound together, in spite of everything, by having come this far both literally and otherwise. Similarly, the way Kara's mother, who gave birth at 17, celebrates the latter's 18th birthday may be a simple story, but one that grants so much insight into her relief and her pride.
The strength and realness of Kara's voice resounds; the approachability and evocativeness of her stories is such that it brought me to tears by the last one. I finished this book in complete awe (and in record time), contemplating Kara's onward journey as well as the brilliance and artistry with which Reid-Benta has brought it to life.
Almost novelistic in effect, this beautiful collection of 12 interlinked stories follows Kara Davis — a second-generation Canadian of Jamaican descent — from elementary school to high school graduation, negotiating family, control, friendship, and her own Canadian and Caribbean identity growing up in suburban Toronto.
Indeed, growing up takes up so much of this book, especially between immigrant households that do not allow (and cannot afford) children to learn by making their own mistakes. Kara is brought up with strict discipline and control exerted by her single mother and reinforced by unyielding grandparents, her upbringing assessed continually in her appearance, her obedience, her interactions (or lack thereof) with boys. She grows up understanding layers of racial experience: the different textures of prejudice, from white men or cosmetic companies; the dynamics of birth, skin colours and accents within the Island community; the pressures and fears of failure and loss of tradition; of class and the disparate selves she dons between her home, school, and neighbourhood. It's little things — like Kara and her friends choosing whether to listen to Ja Rule or Eminem — that make these stories so relevant, so relatable, so evocative. Growing up also means growing out of things — the author explores the intricacies of female friendships throughout Kara's journey — their cruelty and jealousy, but also their caring — as they wane and transform over the years; Kara slowly sheds the protective mould cast around her by her mother as she gets ready to depart for college, to a world of her own.
On a much deeper level, however, Frying Plantain draws an intimate portrait of mother-daughter relationships and their struggles over generations, be it Kara's own relationship with her mother to that shared by her mother and Nana. These are relationships of protectiveness, frustration, anger, control, and of love, talked about in a way that they rarely are. These are relationships strengthened by their exclusion of men — the absentee father, the womanising grandpa, the boyfriend kept a secret. I found the author's exploration of the turbulent relationship between Kara's grandfather and her Nana to be one of the strongest aspects of this book, her ability to show their pettiness, their respective loneliness, the fact that they're bound together, in spite of everything, by having come this far both literally and otherwise. Similarly, the way Kara's mother, who gave birth at 17, celebrates the latter's 18th birthday may be a simple story, but one that grants so much insight into her relief and her pride.
The strength and realness of Kara's voice resounds; the approachability and evocativeness of her stories is such that it brought me to tears by the last one. I finished this book in complete awe (and in record time), contemplating Kara's onward journey as well as the brilliance and artistry with which Reid-Benta has brought it to life.
December 18, 2020
I love it when novels take the form of interconnected short stories. I think this episodic style of narrative can feel more impactful because it only focuses on crucial moments in the lives of the main characters. Books such as “Anything is Possible” or "All That Man Is" tell stories about a range of characters whose tales cross over with each other to build a bigger picture of a community. But “Frying Plantain” focuses solely on the perspective of Kara Davis, a Canadian teenager of Jamaican heritage who comes of age and encounters conflicts with her family, friends and boys. Because each story centres around a particular incident from her development, this novel has a retrospective feel even though it's narrated in the present tense. It also forms a distinct impression of the community as Kara grows up in Toronto's 'Little Jamaica'. I really felt for her as someone who others label as “quiet” and who often feels alienated from those around her – even her closest friends and family. This novel movingly captures the way Kara gradually comes into her own, asserts her individuality and learns to overcome the limited way people view her.
Read my full review of Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta on LonesomeReader
Read my full review of Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta on LonesomeReader
June 30, 2020
A really nice coming of age short story collection about a Jamaican-Canadian girl. It spans from elementary school to high school graduation. And all the mischief that evokes. It deals with Kara's relation to her volatile family (especially her mother and grandmother), her friendships with the girls in her neighborhood and how it contrasts to her friendships at her predominantly white high school, the messiness of her first kiss, etc. I loved reading about how every character evolved as the stories moved further and further into the present. Enjoyed this one.
February 14, 2021
A collection of short stories all interconnected about a teenager named Kara who is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants.
We basically just see her become her own person while experiencing teenage growing pains. There was no major drama here, which makes this a very pleasant read.
We basically just see her become her own person while experiencing teenage growing pains. There was no major drama here, which makes this a very pleasant read.
July 4, 2020
!!! book blog review: https://africanbookaddict.com/2019/07...
September 5, 2021
A thoroughly enjoyable and very relatable novel in stories by a talented Canadian-Jamaican writer.
These stories all concern the coming of age of Kara, who we follow from age 10 to 19. From page one we find Kara caught between cultures; the opening story sees her cast as an outsider on a trip back to Jamaica from Canada, fearful of a pig's head in the freezer and taunted for not being able to climb and hang from trees like her cousins. We then follow Kara's journey through her teens in Toronto, through friendships with others from Islands families, her relationships with her fractious family and her first experiences with boys.
There is so much in this novel that will be relatable to everyone who can still remember their teenage years. But what really makes it stand out are the details particular to Kara's (and I assume the author's) experience; the twin pressures of fitting in to Canadian society while retaining her Jamaican heritage. The way this plays out with ger friends and family are at times heartbreaking but extremely well rendered. It's an excellent read.
These stories all concern the coming of age of Kara, who we follow from age 10 to 19. From page one we find Kara caught between cultures; the opening story sees her cast as an outsider on a trip back to Jamaica from Canada, fearful of a pig's head in the freezer and taunted for not being able to climb and hang from trees like her cousins. We then follow Kara's journey through her teens in Toronto, through friendships with others from Islands families, her relationships with her fractious family and her first experiences with boys.
There is so much in this novel that will be relatable to everyone who can still remember their teenage years. But what really makes it stand out are the details particular to Kara's (and I assume the author's) experience; the twin pressures of fitting in to Canadian society while retaining her Jamaican heritage. The way this plays out with ger friends and family are at times heartbreaking but extremely well rendered. It's an excellent read.
August 4, 2019
It was my first time reading this style of book (a collection), and I actually found it refreshing!
It means something to me, to read a book in which I feel seen. I was able to see myself in many of Kara’s lived experiences, and most times, identify wholeheartedly.
I chuckled here and there while reading this collection, just hearing my own mother or grandmother saying the very things that Kara’s mother and grandmother would say. Even the things that weren’t said were so easy to understand in their silence, because of my own lived experiences, being Canadian-born but raised by Jamaican parents in the city of Toronto.
I totally recommend! Diaspora kids living in the city will see themselves in this book.
It means something to me, to read a book in which I feel seen. I was able to see myself in many of Kara’s lived experiences, and most times, identify wholeheartedly.
I chuckled here and there while reading this collection, just hearing my own mother or grandmother saying the very things that Kara’s mother and grandmother would say. Even the things that weren’t said were so easy to understand in their silence, because of my own lived experiences, being Canadian-born but raised by Jamaican parents in the city of Toronto.
I totally recommend! Diaspora kids living in the city will see themselves in this book.
May 17, 2020
Frying Plantain is a story that depicts being an immigrant, Canadian, and tying to fit in. I found Kara, the main character to be charming and just trying to figure out things as she goes. This is a familiar tell of inter generational conflict.
Conflicts arose with Kara and friends (who I did not like). Kara and boys who did not believe her body to be her own. Kara and her Jamaican cultural identity. Was she Jamaican enough? Kara relationship with her grandmother, mother, and grandfather.
It was just realness. Through ever word and thought. I just wanted more from her. Only to realize it was tribute to her grandmother and she said what she said!
Conflicts arose with Kara and friends (who I did not like). Kara and boys who did not believe her body to be her own. Kara and her Jamaican cultural identity. Was she Jamaican enough? Kara relationship with her grandmother, mother, and grandfather.
It was just realness. Through ever word and thought. I just wanted more from her. Only to realize it was tribute to her grandmother and she said what she said!
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