Akwaeke Emezi

In a near-future society that claims to have gotten rid of all monstrous people, a creature emerges from a painting seventeen-year-old Jam's mother created, a hunter from another world seeking a real-life monster.

How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist? She stumbled backwards, her eyes wide, as the figure started coming out of the canvas ... She tried to be brave. Well, she said, her hands only a little shaky, at least tell me what I should call you. ... Well, little girl, it replied, I suppose you can call me Pet. There are no more monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. With doting parents and a best friend named Redemption, Jam has grown up with this lesson all her life. But when she meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colours and claws, who emerges from one of her mother's paintings and a drop of Jam's blood, she must reconsider what she's been told. Pet has come to hunt a monster, and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption's house. Jam must fight not only to protect her best friend, but also to uncover the truth. In their riveting and timely young adult debut, acclaimed novelist Akwaeke Emezi asks difficult questions about what choices a young person can make when the adults around them are in denial.

Lindsay

How do we know we’re doing the right thing? she asked.

There is no right thing, Pet replied. There is only the thing that needs to be done.

At least he’s not freaking out, Jam said.

I might have preferred that, Pet replied, a trace of a sulk in its voice.

It has its advantages when you are a thing that does not fit.

Although perhaps you will become a little unseen, since you see unseen things now, especially after you see more of them.

There is the unseen, waiting to be seen, existing only in the spaces we admit we do not see yet.

(because, as the angels pointed out, you shouldn’t use a nation as a basis to choose which deaths you mourn; nations aren’t even real),

Pet is here to hunt a monster. Are you brave enough to look? There are no monsters anymore, or so the children in Lucille are taught. Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with the lesson that the city is safe for everyone. But when Jam meets Pet, a creature who some might call monstrous but, in reality, is anything but, she must reconsider what she's been told. Pet has emerged from one of her mother's paintings to hunt a true monster--and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption's house. No one has encountered monsters in years, though, and Jam's quest to protect her best friend and uncover the truth is met with doubt and disbelief. This award-winning novel from a rising-star author asks: What really makes a monster, and how do you save the world from something if no one will admit it exists?

Cloey Yerger

They don’t make evil like they used to.

   Politicians make policies putting children in cages and allow big companies to pour poison into our air and water. But they will say they are just doing it to support business, and that we’ll all reap the benefit of the poison eventually. There are people who scream their hatred to the skies, burn torches and mock those who are different from themselves. Even they have their excuses, usually something about protecting a “way of life.” There are no villains anymore.

this book already has so many amazing quotes.

“Good and innocent, they not the same thing; they don’t wear the same face.”

“Monsters don’t look like anything, doux-doux. That’s the whole point. That’s the whole problem.”

“You know that’s what a lot of religion was, right? Just made-up things used to scare people so they could control us better.”

Marz 

4.25 

Pet was a fascinating read unlike anything I'd ever read before, the plot was so interesting. I think it asks a crucial question of whether evil can truly be eliminated, or do we turn away after a while cos it's easier to believe it's gone rather than acknowledge that it's something we continuously need to work against. I  find myself fascinated with the world building and I'm curious to know more about it.  I appreciate the trans and neurodivergent representation in this book, it was nice to see the entire point of Jam's character wasn't the fact she was trans, she just was. I enjoyed the writing style, it was unsettling and created a sense of unease. My only gripe is, that I feel like the author could have done more with this concept, the envelope could have been pushed further. While the book had a good pace, I felt like the middle and ending could have benefited from being a little longer so they could be further developed. While the storytelling made sense it felt a bit simplistic for such a unique story. 

Nonetheless, this is a unique and fascinating read and I look forward to reading the author's other works.

“Good and innocent, they not the same thing; they don't wear the same face.”
--
An incredibly impactful, beautifully written, and thought-provoking YA debut.
Imbued with a dark, dream-like surrealism, Pet was a surprisingly captivating read that feels like a dream that toes the line to a nightmare. The whole story was like looking at a divine light, beautiful and terrible at the same, full of so many emotions.
I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy magical realism.

erin

We start with an almost unbearably diverse and accepting world. The kind
of checks-every-box utopia that strains credulity in 2020. I almost
closed the book because it felt a little contrived. The world is a bad
hard place and it is kind of a struggle to read otherwise right now. But in the end, the cynicism of the present was the perfect lens for taking in this little book!

I was primed to look for cracks in the
facade of this seemingly perfectly safe and perfectly diverse world,
just as Jam, the main character, resists seeing them herself. It’s a
great juxtaposition. Jam’s optimism and resilience played against the
brutal realism of Pet’s quest left me, by the end, hoping to one day
have a future worth protecting-one that’s imperfect but still full of
love and care, as Lucille is. All the characters were richly drawn and a joy to read about.

As an aside, Ube is a babe and I’d totally read a book about a what a revolutionary librarian gets up to after the revolution.

4/5, great writing, going to seek out Emezi’s novels for adults.

This book was so unique and unbelievably original. I was gripped by the story and fell in love with the characters even in a short 200 ish pages. I will definitely be reading more of this author & the prequel to this particular title!

Angie Van Sprang

Alexa M

"Forgetting is how the monsters come back."

WOW. this was so so good. such a uniquely told story of an important topic and Akwaeke's writing style is so captivating. i did not want to put this down, even cried a lil bit at the end ngl.

Midori Kobayashi

4/5stars



What does a monster look like? Jam asked.
Her mother focused on her, cupping her cheek in a chalky hand. "Monsters don't look like anything, doux-doux. That's the whole point. That's the whole problem.



The only two things I regret after reading this book are: a. NOT reading it back when it came out in 2019 and b. it not being a full novel but a novella. Rest assured, the plot setup, the world, the development the execution everything was on point. Emezi does a brilliant job once again showing (and not telling, which is def something i really really love) how Jam struggles to find the answers to the greater questions about justice and right and wrong and redemption, and I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THEIR WRITING STYLE. It's so powerful, so engaging. 



The truth does not change whether it is seen or unseen, it whispered in her mind. A thing which is happening happens whether you look at it or not. And yes, maybe it is easier not to look. Maybe it is easier to say because you do not see it, it is not happening. Maybe you can pull the stone out of the pool and put the moon back together.



For those who don't know, Pet is set in the town of Lucille -- a sort of utopian future where there are no more monsters and societal injustices have been remedied. Jam has been raised with the repeated adage that monsters are a thing of the past and she has little cause to question otherwise until she awakens a creature that crawls out of one of her mother's paintings. The creature, Pet, says that it is in Lucille to hunt a monster and leads Jam on an engrossing journey. 
The author draws such a portrays such heavy topics with a very light and calm story line and the way things progress, even tho the subject matter is quite dark, we feel not so uncomfortable reading about. It is rather a very realistic depiction of a world. Even in a utopia where a trans character is normal and so accepted have the "monsters" really left?



What if you didn't think about what you wanted, what you hoped? What if you thought about what was happening instead? How does that change your wants?



I WOULD LOVE (SO SO MUCH) TO READ THIS PREMISE AS A FULL NOVEL. This seems like teasing, it finishes as soon as it starts and leaves me wanting more. The un-satisfaction of that want might have brought this rating down a notch, but all things considered I DEFINITELY HIGHLY SUGGEST THIS BOOK. PLEASE READ IT. 




  CWs for the book: blood, eye mutilation, (view spoiler)[pedophilia, child abuse (hide spoiler)], mentions of intimate partner violence, school shootings, rape, sexual assault, police violence, graphic violence

Phillip Santiago

This is a great manifestation of the discussions I've observed regarding representation in modern YA. To clarify on my rating, I think it's a great book that every young person should have the opportunity to finish. From the perspective of a privileged adult, it's two stars short of a masterpiece in part because it's clear Emezi wrote this in a crunch and as something of an experiment. I respect their motivations for doing so and what they accomplished, but a more polished version of this story would have involved less a less simplistic resolution to the mystery and a more challenging exploration of the "blind spots" in Lucille. But Jam as a protagonist is a revelation and this definitely motivates me to seek out Freshwater.

Satya Nelms

I said it after I read Freshwater and I’ll say it again now. Akwaeke Emezi is extraordinary. I could barely put Pet down. I can’t wait for their sophomore adult novel to come out in 2020.

Amanda

Malissa Kelly

3.5 stars
Would have rated higher because it was a unique and thought provoking novel, I just wish there was more detail and that it was longer. Great content, storyline, and inclusive storytelling, just not my style of writing.

I think this is 4.5 stars!

This book is brilliant! It's so smart and so well written I'm honestly so sad that it's a pretty short middle grade - it's honestly the only reason this isn't full 5 stars - I am too old for it and it was so short.
But it has a great message and I want all the kids to read this even if it's what I call a horror for kids.
Do I recommend it for us older kids? Absolutely! It is so good.
The only thing that makes me sad, as an international reader, is that if this gets translated I think it might lose some of its magic and I really want all the readers to enjoy it the way it's meant to be read.

I read this like five minutes ago and I already want to reread it to see if I've missed something.

Pick this up now! 
I guess I'm gonna read everything else Akwaeke Emezi writes. They are so talented!

Clara Moore

This book was so powerful. It is told in such a unique voice and I was sucked in from the very start. It brings up important social issues told in a way that has never been done before. I think everyone should read this book.

Ingrid 

Wow, just wow. I cried. One of my new all time favorite books for sure. This was incredible. Im at a loss for words

An absolutely amazing story with amazing representation and an amazing lesson. This story is about a girl who goes monster hunting with the help of a creature who crawled out of her mother’s painting. Except monsters don’t look like monsters, monsters look like regular people, and that’s part of the problem. This story teaches that monsters can be anyone, even people you’re close with. The writing was great and the pacing was perfect. I can’t wait to read the next book! 

Flavia Louise

I really enjoyed this book. It has an amazing premise and very interesting explorations.

priya

2.5 stars for a short, casually queer book where kids learn about life and morals.

CW: (view spoiler)[very vague discussion of physical child abuse from a family member, depiction of anxiety symptoms (hide spoiler)]

  "Monsters don't look like anything, doux-doux. That's the whole point. That's the whole problem."

i don't know how to rate Pet. it's definitely a kids book -probably for 10 to 12 year olds? it has a really simple story with a cast of diverse, queer characters from two families set in Lucille. Lucille is an utopia of some kind, as there aren't supposed to be any monsters after the revolution where the angels saved the city. yeah, the 'good' and 'bad' people are actually called 'angels' and 'monsters'. i don't know, i feel like that's too on the nose, even for this age group.

Pet is told from the perspective of Jam, a loving, curious maybe 16 year old girl who loves reading and hanging out with her best friend, Redemption. Jam is trans and since Lucille is an utopia, transphobia and homophobia and polyphobia don't exist, she's really supported by everyone.


  Aloe has shaken his head and picked his daughter up, locking her flailing limbs against his body. "Sorry, sorry," he'd murmured against her head. "Ewela iwe, eh?" We didn't know." He'd patted her head until she calmed down, and then took her home and Aloe started researching puberty blockers and the hormones she might need.


Jam usually communicates through sign language, which most of the people she interacts with know, and sometimes voices with very familiar people. Jam lives with her mother, Bitter, who's a painter, and her father, Aloe, who is a paramedic. it's also really nice to see Redemption's parents, Beloved, Malachite and Whisper, interact with Jam, Redemption and the rest of his family.

one day, Jam goes into Bitter's studio to sneak a look at her latest finished painting and accidentally cuts her hand on a razor blade that's been embedded in the painting. later that night, she hears unfamiliar noises coming from the floorboards of her house. Jam follows these to find that the creature in Bitter's painting has come alive and is straining to come out. Jam sets the huge, strange creature free and they get sucked into the hunt for a monster that's supposedly in Redemption's house.

through the hunt, Jam finds out that monsters can actually look like angels and even be regarded as angels, while true angels can look monstrous.

  That's precisely the point, little girl. Your knowing, you think it gives you clarity, sight that pierces. It can be a cloud, a thing that obscures.

i immediately knew who the monster was and found the whole plot predictable. i think younger readers would find it pretty obvious too, and they might even find the moral messaging more annoying. Emezi is pretty unequivocal in highlighting the differences between appearance and contrast, the importance of rehabilitative justice and believing victims.

overall, Pet was an okay read -didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Emezi's adult fiction novel, The Death of Vivek Oji or their memoir, Dear Senthuran.

Marisa S. Pan 

I honestly loved the message this book was trying to convey and I really want to read more by Akwaeke Emezi in the future. Such an amazing idea and world.

I'm just "sad" that I couldn't connect/feel with the characters since it seemed they were just there. Maybe its because I wanted more (length) or maybe cause I wanted to see of how this "utopia" world is actually hurting people rather than being told by a third person.

Still highly recommend this book for the message. It was a me problem more than anything 

Mack Hargrave

This book is a tough read. But also amazing and so endlessly beautiful. I don’t have words to explain how important this book is, but the power of friendship, love, and community ring through each page.

Melissa Minshull

THIS BOOK! THIS SHORT BRILLIANT BOOK! I don't have the words to express how much I loved it. There was not a single wasted word, it was an emotional rollercoaster, and the message was so important and done so impactfully. The way this book dealt with some really heavy topics in a way a younger audience would not only understand but really recieve was so masterfully done. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut in the best way possible after finishing this book and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. I loved Jam and Pet so much. This book really was just amazing. And as always please check the trigger warnings before going into this one. 

Candyce Kirk

Alex Hill 

No rating // read for class

But seriously if you haven't read this please do because wow.It has trans rep, the main character doesn't prefer to voice so she signs, the author is non binary and poc, and also there's talk about sexual assault/abuse but it's not super obvious.

Jelke Lenaerts

This book has content warnings for pannick attacks and child abuse.

I didn't really know what to expect when I picked this book up. I just heard a lot of things about it and it peaked my interest because of that. I don't think anything could have really prepared me for what this book is. It just blew me away. It deals with so many important topics in such a nuanced and subtle way. It tackles so many social issues and gives such an interesting perspective of it all. The writting is easy to understand and the characters are amazing. The book just takes you on this ride and everytime you put it down you're left thinking and thinking about what happened. It's not the most action packed of books but you're never left bored. This book is so unlike anything I've ever read before and it's just so good and thought provoking. It's an important book to read, especially for the YA audience. Just, highly recommend!

Kath Lau

"The first step to seeing is seeing that there are things you do not see."

Jam lives in a utopian city called Lucille where monsters don't exist anymore. There used to but they have been eliminated by angels long time ago. Until one night in her mother's studio, Jam accidentally cuts herself and drops blood on one of her mother's painting. A horrifying creature named Pet emerges from it. Pet has come to hunt a monster who apparently lurks in her bestfriend's house. Jam agrees to help Pet with the haunt and at the same time, trying to convince herself and other people that monster still do exist.

This was my very first experience with Emezi's work. This was an incredible read! I loved the representation in this book. Jam is trans girl and Black with selective mutism. She frequently uses sign language to communicate. There's also a polyamorous relationship and one of them is non-binary. It's also refreshing to read a book featuring a queer main character but the story didn't center around the MC's gender identity. Like it's not used as a plot twist or something.

The setting itself is very interesting. A world or community that fully accepts and embraces everyone no matter what or who they are. Jam's family and friends are very supportive and loving. Pet was also a delightful character. He is terrifying but I also felt like he's sweet and gentle. If that makes sense. He reminded me of Ryuk from Death Note. I think it's pretty obvious what the "monsters" symbolizes in this book. And the writing is on-point and this book has a lot of great lines. The writing definitely fits the middle-grade audience but the content is more for young adult. The end is heavy and dark though not in a very graphic way. But I would recommend parental supervision for middle grade readers.

Pet is such a thought-provoking read. It reminds us that monsters exist. We don't really know what they look like and we don't see all of them but they're there.

Trigger warning: child abuse, sexual abuse

Pet

Reviews

Highlights