My Name is Maame by Jessica George tells the story of Maddie Wright, a young woman living in London. At 25, she cares for her father, who has Parkinson's Disease, while her mother spends most of her time in Ghana. Maddie's life is full of responsibilities until she moves out to live on her own and faces new challenges that help her grow.
The first time I picked up this book was in late 2023 after seeing a review of it by a dear friend on Instagram. In her words, ‘LEAVE EVERYTHING YOU’RE DOING AND READ THIS BOOK NOW’. And oh, she didn't lie! Every word that made a sentence in the book was there for a reason. Powerful. Relatable. Reassuring. Assertive.
I felt a strong connection to Maddie's journey. She deals with a lot of pressure from her family and work, much like some of my own experiences as a first daughter in an African home. Her struggle to balance everything and find happiness really touched me.
This book is both touching and uplifting. Maddie’s efforts to find her own path while dealing with her family and work issues are shown with great honesty. The book also discusses important topics like subtle racism and friendships. I especially liked Maddie’s list (the new Maddie) of things she wanted to do to feel more independent. It was inspiring to see her FINALLY take control of her life.
One line that stood out to me was: "We grow up fast. Not by force, but because we are needed." This line really captured Maddie’s life and made me think about my own experiences.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a story about personal growth and resilience. I have also added this book to the list of books I must read every year to remind myself of who I am and who I hope to become.
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