My own Midwestern second-generation American heart beat right along with the poetry in this sweet, strong verse novel. This book is readable, relatable, and sure to drawn in readers with its pure storytelling magic.

This novel in verse was absolutely beautiful. The alternating storylines, the heartbreak, she hope, the coming-of-age aspect - it was all so well done! This is an immigrant story, and also the story of a child of immigrants.

The story focuses on Mary, a young Greek girl growing up in Detroit. There are also alternating POVs that take place at an earlier time period, and I enjoyed learning more about these characters and their connections as the story progressed. I really felt for Jeanne by the end, and I don’t think I ever stopped rooting for Mary and the life that she wanted.

More than anything, I loved that Mary held on to her dreams. And the note at the end from the author really helps to explain why this was so important.

This story is one that has such a deeply personal meaning, and it shows on every single page. It’s just outstanding. This is a perfect read if you like YA, historical fiction, or novels in verse. Everyone should read this book.

I chose this book on NetGalley on a whim and I was not disappointed! The story is told in verse and it’s an incredible way to watch the story unfold. It’s such a great way to learn about the intertwining stories and legacies left behind. It was such a great read and I’m so excited to have had the opportunity to read it.

I received an eARC copy from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit follows three intertwined stories, three protagonists who get closely connected. We meet Mary, a young woman living in Detroit in the 1930s, the period of the Great Depression that hit the city like a tsunami. The city's development revolved around the, at that time, narrowed manufacturing of Ford automobiles, and many workers lost their jobs; Mary struggles for her right to work and choose for herself. And we meet Gio and Jeanne, who met in the wind of World War I, a soldier and a nurse depicting a tiny love seed planted in devastated soil.

The reflection of the young love that sprouted in the middle of WWI, with all the struggles, uncertainties, death, and insecurities, is clearly visible in the yearning of young Mary to be independent, to have a right to work and a right to choose a life and a husband for herself, just like Jeanne had the opportunity to go for Gio. Her story is interspersed with learning about her background, tradition and heritage, identifying with them, and finding the courage to embrace them while at the same time building a modern life in modern society, balancing between two worlds.

This novel in verse is beautifully written, inviting us to dive into Mary's thoughts, doubts, insecurities, resolutions, sharing the WWI hardships and a small light in the tunnel, love that kept Jeanne and Gio going. From the first word, the novel felt heavy with feelings, heart wrenching words and exquisite writing. The historical references and the parallel drawn between two very different events that took place in two contrasting parts of the world with specific political and economic situations give a good background for deeper analysis and discussion.

What caught my attention was the title and its reference to Athena. She was the warrior goddess who, with her wisdom and strength, represented the matriarchy, independence and overall power. My expectations on reading more about Greek mythology from the somewhat modern perspective came flat; I wish that that connection was more expressive and pointed out.

Moreover, the comparison between Mary and Athena does not correlate. On the one hand, we have Athena, the goddess whose name, powers, strength, and deeds were well-known and respected. On the other hand, we have Mary, an American-born daughter of Greek and French immigrants who struggles to find her place in the society of 1930's Detroit. Mary's voice sounds muffled; she refuses to be a "Good Greek Girl" and tries to empower herself to break the patriarchy, all the social and political restrictions. These two are diametrically opposite.

Very lyrical, gorgeous cover, heartbreaking story, but at the same time, it felt very distant, lacking spirit; perhaps the fact that it is written in verse took away some of the depth, the lack of text affected conveying of the story. Nevertheless, a truly touching tale lies between these pages and verses.

An excellent novel in verse from multiple POVs. Was so complex that I was enthralled yet entertained at the same time! Great!

I picked this book up from Netgalley on a whim, because it was auto-approved and I needed something new to listen to. And whew am I glad I did. This story was beautifully written, impactful, and held so much heart. Smith depicts family dynamics, life as an immigrant, gender roles, and finding love from three dual perspectives during war-time and the Great Depression. Each of these characters stories held so much love, heart, and ache. You will root for the three main characters as they come of age during conflicts, famine, and economic disarray. This novel is written in verse, so it's a quicker read; however if you're not a fan of in-verse novels, the audiobook reads as a typical book, just with more flowery, beautiful language. Definitely come pick up a copy from Netgalley, both formats are currently "Read Now."

I started out reading this book as the ebook and couldn't connect well with the characters. But, once I got into the audiobook I felt like I could connect more with the characters and could follow the storyline a lot better. I really did enjoy following this family and seeing the characters grow as people. My heart was full and broken within these pages. This book was definitely eye opening to see different cultures and how they immigrated over to the US to have a better life for themselves. Also, I felt like this book had lgbtq+ vibes in a certain section but, it isn't clear if that was the case or not depending on how you interpret the writing.

My daughter really enjoyed this book! She is really into history and particularly women and how they fit into and participated in history. The book was written in verse and it follows three different narratives. Sort of a refreshing change of pace. An enjoyable read.

I have never been a fan of books written in verse but this story may have changed that. As someone who is half-Greek like the main character, it made me happy to see references that were relatable to my life and to stories my family has told me. Smith does a great job of weaving together the three story lines, giving each character a distinct voice while also clearly drawing parallels between their experiences and dreams. The amount of emotion and imagery that Smith was able to convey in just a few lines was truly phenomenal. The author also follows the story with her inspiration, including pictures of her family, which really drove everything home. This book is perfect for anyone who loves historical fiction or coming of age stories.

This book follows three characters from three different parts of the world who all end up connected in different ways. Mary in the 1930’s feels trapped by her gender and she discovers love letters documenting a love story from World War 1. Gio and Jeanne live in the time of World War 1 and their lives both unravel in ways they hadn’t expected. The three stories are woven together beautifully in verse to show a story of forbidden love, the constraints of gender expectations, the effects of war, and the life of immigrants in America.

It’s a really interesting book, but I wish Greek mythology would’ve played a bigger role in the story as that’s the major reason why I requested this arc. Regardless I did still enjoy this book and found it to be a powerful read. The women experience and how gender expectations are very limiting was so important to read about it. Despite it being a historical fiction book, this theme of the women experience is still ever important to read and learn about today as it still occurring in modern times.

It was heartwarming to finish reading this beautiful book and find that it was based on the author’s own family history. Her grandmother’s and great grandparent’s story will forever be preserved in this book and it is very sweet.

If you enjoy historical fiction or books written in verse, definitely check this one out.

I really enjoyed this book! I feel like the book was easy to get into and the story kept me interested the whole time. I love the plot and I enjoyed Mary’s story!

I finished Call Me Athena a few days ago, but I’m not sure how I feel about this one. Normally, I really like novels written in verse, but something about the narrative structure didn’t land with me. The writing some how communicated emotion, but didn’t elicit empathy. I didn’t feel connected to anyone, which is also strange for me, since I love family histories and immigration stories. This book was perfect on paper, but seemed to miss the mark.

This is such a beautiful novel in verse that is uniquely told from the perspective of three different narrators. It's a wonderful representation of a young woman who is desperate to create her own unique American identity, while still holding a place for her heritage and the culture of her parents and ancestors. The juxtaposition of her story against the flashbacks of her parents childhoods in France and Greece creates an illustrious and complex story of family and identity that will resonate with young people who are striving to be independent while respecting and honoring the cultural ties and bonds that exist within their families.

The writing of this book is beautiful. The poetry angle is refreshing and full of feeling.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the different couples and the dynamics between them and their families and how they intertwine.

I absolutely loved reading it

Me gusta el hecho que sean varios poemas de personas distintas.
Se nota que algunos son de distintas épocas que los otros por la forma en la que se expresan.

As a syrian immigrant I found this book easy to relate to. Although the book isn’t contemporary I still found it easy to apply to myself. The writing was beautiful and written in a way that it was east to understand. It’s lyrical and I felt as though I could not stop while reading this book... and I didn’t because I finished it in one sitting. The struggles of the characters in this book were absolutely heartbreaking and told beautifully. I will recommend this book to anyone who is willing to listen to me talk for more than two minutes.

I wasn't at all expecting this to be so good! I reminds me a lot of Elizabeth Acevedo's writing, which I love. The story is so interesting, following Mary, a girl who lives in Detroit in the time period of the 1930s. Her parents are immigrants, and along the course of this book, she grows to be no longer a girl, but a woman. It's also so good how her parent's story is in the book too, it really gives a feel of layered complexity! Also that cover is just gorgeous! Highly recommended!

*Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

Call Me Athena, written in verse, follows the story of Mary, a daughter of Greek and French parents in the 1930s Detroit. I have never read a book like this in verse where it follows 3 different perspectives: Mary, Jeanne, and Gio. Mary’s story is woven with flashbacks to her parents lives in Greece and France as they address the issues of arranged marriages, learning about independence, and yearning to grow beyond one’s own culture.

I love how this story is written. Smith takes her families history and writes it into this beautiful poetry telling of it. It reveals how Mary was a strong and independent young woman who never let any man dictate her life. It’s almost as if you feel like you know Mary through these words. (I’m sorry if my wording is a little bit off, but I hope what I’m trying to get at is there)

Call Me Athena
By: Colby Cedar Smith
To be published: August 16, 2021
Published by: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted this book by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review

When I saw this book on my Net Galley I was so intrigued! A novel in verse? I'm so glad I took the risk and read this!
The story starts with Mary in the 1930s in Detroit. She is the child of Greek and French immigrants and trying to navigate growing up. She faces challenges of her heritage, arranged marriage, independence, and just being a teenager. We also start to get the story if her parents, through letters, intermixed with Mary's own story. It adds such a level of depth and meaning as you see the similarities and differences, while watching her parents face their own struggles during the war.
Truly a work of art I would recommend to anyone looking for something new. Break outside your comfort zone and read this when it comes out!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A story bridging multiple generations together in beautiful short verses, surrounded around WWI, the Great Depression, and early 20th century American immigration.