What do you think?
Rate this book
Hold Tight, Don't Let Go
Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go follows the vivid story of two teenage cousins, raised as sisters, who survive the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. After losing the woman who raised them in the tragedy, Magdalie and Nadine must fend for themselves in the aftermath of the quake. The girls are inseparable, making the best of their new circumstances in a refugee camp with an affectionate, lively camaraderie, until Nadine, whose father lives in Miami, sends for her but not Magdalie. As she leaves, Nadine makes a promise she cannot keep: to bring Magdalie to Miami, too. Resourceful Magdalie focuses her efforts on a reunion with Nadine until she realizes her life is in Haiti, and that she must embrace its possibilities for love, friendship, and a future
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 6, 2015
23 people are currently reading
1657 people want to read
About the author
Laura Rose Wagner
1 book12 followersLaura Rose Wagner has a PhD in anthropology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She lived in Port-au-Prince from 2009 to 2012, and survived the earthquake. She travels to Haiti often, and founded a creative writing group for young people there.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
June 1, 2017
Hold Tight, Don't Let Go is a fictional story based on the earthquake that occurred in Haiti in 2010. Magdalie, our main character, resides with her aunt and her cousin, Nadine, whom she has lived with majority of her life. At the start of the story, the earthquake hits and Magdalie's aunt is instantly killed. (This is not a spoiler, it literally occurs in the first two pages.)
Magdalie not only has to deal with the death of her aunt, who raised her as a daughter, but now Nadine's father has sent a visa and wants her to come and reside with him in Miami.
Laura Wagner did a great job with this story. She used Magdalie to show readers the aftermath of the earthquake and how the people of Haiti, especially those affected by the event, attempted to put their lives back in order. As many know, this catastrophe destroyed many homes, many lives were lost and many were left desperately searching for food and means of ridding themselves of the illnesses that were claiming lives quickly, due to the sanitary conditions.
Wagner was very colorful with descriptions: the dialect of the characters, their emotions, and the scenery- were all captured very well and instantly will draw the reader in. What many may not know is that Wagner was working in Haiti on her PhD when the earthquake occurred and she sustained severe injuries. I am positive, her experience helped to bring life to the characters in this story.
Many themes are covered such as: separation anxiety, depression, and even rehabilitation and survival. It is pretty emotional at the beginning, but will definitely be one of those stories that when you finish, it will continue to pull at your heart. After reading this story, I felt like I was boarding a flight and leaving behind the inhabitants I had come to know and like.
I gave this book 4 stars, and I only deducted one star because there was a part in the story that became confusing because of the use of nicknames for the characters that were not introduced earlier on. Apart from that, the story line is easy to follow and there is growth for some of the characters.
I highly recommend this book- you will not be disappointed. I cover more details on my blog. Feel free to stop by there for more.
Magdalie not only has to deal with the death of her aunt, who raised her as a daughter, but now Nadine's father has sent a visa and wants her to come and reside with him in Miami.
Laura Wagner did a great job with this story. She used Magdalie to show readers the aftermath of the earthquake and how the people of Haiti, especially those affected by the event, attempted to put their lives back in order. As many know, this catastrophe destroyed many homes, many lives were lost and many were left desperately searching for food and means of ridding themselves of the illnesses that were claiming lives quickly, due to the sanitary conditions.
Wagner was very colorful with descriptions: the dialect of the characters, their emotions, and the scenery- were all captured very well and instantly will draw the reader in. What many may not know is that Wagner was working in Haiti on her PhD when the earthquake occurred and she sustained severe injuries. I am positive, her experience helped to bring life to the characters in this story.
Many themes are covered such as: separation anxiety, depression, and even rehabilitation and survival. It is pretty emotional at the beginning, but will definitely be one of those stories that when you finish, it will continue to pull at your heart. After reading this story, I felt like I was boarding a flight and leaving behind the inhabitants I had come to know and like.
I gave this book 4 stars, and I only deducted one star because there was a part in the story that became confusing because of the use of nicknames for the characters that were not introduced earlier on. Apart from that, the story line is easy to follow and there is growth for some of the characters.
I highly recommend this book- you will not be disappointed. I cover more details on my blog. Feel free to stop by there for more.
January 24, 2020
“Kenbe fem, pa lage.” Goodbye in Haitian Creole.... A story expertly woven with the rich textures of raw emotion and life...
PopSugar 2020 - Author with flora or fauna in name.
PopSugar 2020 - Author with flora or fauna in name.
April 2, 2015
A heartbreaking, yet hopeful, coming-of-age story unlike anything else I’ve ever read. Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go tells the story of Haitian teenager Magdalie and her cousin Nadine, whose lives are ripped apart following the earthquake of January 2010. Magdalie’s extraordinary resilience and determination drive her to seek a new life in America. But when Magdalie is forced to let go of her dreams and accept the harsh reality of her life, she opens her heart to new friendships and new opportunities to build a better future for herself in her home country.
Rather than exploit and sensationalise the tragedy of January 12th 2010, Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go captures the beauty and the ugliness of the everyday lives of Haitian people following the quake. Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go is described as ‘a love letter to a torn country’ and Wagner’s love and understanding of Haitian history and culture is clear in every word she writes. I was transported by Wagner’s vivid, lush prose as she took her readers on a journey from Magdalie’s tarp-and-plywood home in the temporary camp, to the streets of the poverty-stricken city of Port-au-Prince, and to the idyllic, isolated mountain town of St. Juste. While Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go focuses on the devastation caused by the 2010 earthquake, Wagner grounds the events of her story within the context of Haiti’s long and turbulent past and the novel is obviously impeccably well-researched.
Magdalie herself was a fantastic character - loving, intelligent, headstrong, and a teenage girl just like any other. In one of the most memorable and heart-warming scenes of Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go, Magdalie and her sister sit in their makeshift home, painting each other’s nails like ordinary teenagers, just days after the quake. Magdalie’s personal journey from grief, naivety and anger to hope, understanding and acceptance was poignant and expertly written. Some of Wagner’s supporting characters weren’t quite as memorable, but Nadine and Safira, a pregnant girl Magdalie reluctantly befriends, also left a lasting impression, despite their limited page-time.
Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go is Wagner’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. If you’re a fan of diverse contemporary realistic fiction, I highly recommend adding Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go to your shelves.
Publisher: Amulet Books
Rating: 5 stars | ★★★★★
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd
Rather than exploit and sensationalise the tragedy of January 12th 2010, Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go captures the beauty and the ugliness of the everyday lives of Haitian people following the quake. Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go is described as ‘a love letter to a torn country’ and Wagner’s love and understanding of Haitian history and culture is clear in every word she writes. I was transported by Wagner’s vivid, lush prose as she took her readers on a journey from Magdalie’s tarp-and-plywood home in the temporary camp, to the streets of the poverty-stricken city of Port-au-Prince, and to the idyllic, isolated mountain town of St. Juste. While Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go focuses on the devastation caused by the 2010 earthquake, Wagner grounds the events of her story within the context of Haiti’s long and turbulent past and the novel is obviously impeccably well-researched.
Magdalie herself was a fantastic character - loving, intelligent, headstrong, and a teenage girl just like any other. In one of the most memorable and heart-warming scenes of Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go, Magdalie and her sister sit in their makeshift home, painting each other’s nails like ordinary teenagers, just days after the quake. Magdalie’s personal journey from grief, naivety and anger to hope, understanding and acceptance was poignant and expertly written. Some of Wagner’s supporting characters weren’t quite as memorable, but Nadine and Safira, a pregnant girl Magdalie reluctantly befriends, also left a lasting impression, despite their limited page-time.
Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go is Wagner’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. If you’re a fan of diverse contemporary realistic fiction, I highly recommend adding Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go to your shelves.
Publisher: Amulet Books
Rating: 5 stars | ★★★★★
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd
September 30, 2015
A moving novel about the Haitian earthquake and a teenaged orphan's struggle to survive. Excellent classroom supplement, but the gritty realism might be a bit grim for the casual reader. Fine writing, solid research, strong sense of place with well developed characters. I'm pleased to see a book like this published. Full review on my blog: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2015/01...
Read
January 17, 2019By reading this book, I realized that there are many places that are actually very poor and in a lot more trouble. However, those people can be just as happy as we are. This book talked mainly about a poor girl who grew up in Port-au-Prince and all the problems she had to overcome. After reading this book, it made me think about a major theme:
It is important to accept all the bad things in life and appreciate all the good once. In the story, the protagonist, Magdalie, a poor teenager who's lost her mother and had her sister taken away from her, suffered from a terrible earthquake. Magdalie had been outraged every day after her sister and her mother left her. She thought that there was no way she would ever smile again. She focused so much on all the negative things that she started to hate everything. She hated her neighbors for trying to comfort her. She hated her uncle for he pays less attention to her. She hated the wealthy lady that her mother once worked for, for not helping them. She hated that fact that they were poor. However, when she left to go to the countryside, she started to realize that you don’t have to be rich in order to be happy. In the countryside, people barely had any money, but they were all very happy with their lives. Through this experience, Magdalie learns that there are many ways to be happy. She learns to appreciate all the good things in her life and accept the differences and troubles she had to overcome. She realized that there are actually many great things in her life that she had once ignored, and very soon, things started to turn out right again. I believe it is so important to accept the bad parts of life because it’s those negative experiences that make positive experiences so much better. And it’s those positive experience that makes life so much more meaningful.
It is important to accept all the bad things in life and appreciate all the good once. In the story, the protagonist, Magdalie, a poor teenager who's lost her mother and had her sister taken away from her, suffered from a terrible earthquake. Magdalie had been outraged every day after her sister and her mother left her. She thought that there was no way she would ever smile again. She focused so much on all the negative things that she started to hate everything. She hated her neighbors for trying to comfort her. She hated her uncle for he pays less attention to her. She hated the wealthy lady that her mother once worked for, for not helping them. She hated that fact that they were poor. However, when she left to go to the countryside, she started to realize that you don’t have to be rich in order to be happy. In the countryside, people barely had any money, but they were all very happy with their lives. Through this experience, Magdalie learns that there are many ways to be happy. She learns to appreciate all the good things in her life and accept the differences and troubles she had to overcome. She realized that there are actually many great things in her life that she had once ignored, and very soon, things started to turn out right again. I believe it is so important to accept the bad parts of life because it’s those negative experiences that make positive experiences so much better. And it’s those positive experience that makes life so much more meaningful.
December 30, 2015
Beware! You will cry while reading this book about the aftermath of Haiti's 2010 earthquake. Wagner's story of a girl who looses everything but regains her hope is beautiful and well worth a few tears.
December 26, 2015
Full Review from my blog Owl Eyes Reviews
It’s not everyday that you see a young adult book with a non-American black protagonist, so when I saw this book I was very attracted it it. The story wasn’t necessarily attractive to me, but I wanted to try the story simply to read about this different perspective.
I was surprised how I - a black, first generation Congolese American girl with parents who grew up speaking french - could find so many cultural similarities between myself and the characters in this book. That aspect was really comforting and was honestly what kept me interested in this book for so long. It was refreshing to read about something that was like my family in certain aspects.
Unfortunately, other than the cultural things, this book wasn’t my favorite. I have realized that I have a problem when books start with a really big things - like an earthquake - and we as readers don’t get the opportunity to now the characters before their lives change. We don’t have the time to fall in love with the things the main characters love. I really felt that way with this book. I wish the story would have started before the earthquake so I could have fallen in love with Port-Au-Prince and the people before the quake.
The end of this book felt rushed, which frustrated me because I felt like the story needed to be fleshed out more. Especially in the place where it ended.
In the end, this book wasn’t my favorite, but I’m really glad I read it. It gives a really raw and beautiful look into the life of a Hatian girl, which I haven’t ever read about before. :)
It’s not everyday that you see a young adult book with a non-American black protagonist, so when I saw this book I was very attracted it it. The story wasn’t necessarily attractive to me, but I wanted to try the story simply to read about this different perspective.
I was surprised how I - a black, first generation Congolese American girl with parents who grew up speaking french - could find so many cultural similarities between myself and the characters in this book. That aspect was really comforting and was honestly what kept me interested in this book for so long. It was refreshing to read about something that was like my family in certain aspects.
Unfortunately, other than the cultural things, this book wasn’t my favorite. I have realized that I have a problem when books start with a really big things - like an earthquake - and we as readers don’t get the opportunity to now the characters before their lives change. We don’t have the time to fall in love with the things the main characters love. I really felt that way with this book. I wish the story would have started before the earthquake so I could have fallen in love with Port-Au-Prince and the people before the quake.
The end of this book felt rushed, which frustrated me because I felt like the story needed to be fleshed out more. Especially in the place where it ended.
In the end, this book wasn’t my favorite, but I’m really glad I read it. It gives a really raw and beautiful look into the life of a Hatian girl, which I haven’t ever read about before. :)
June 5, 2015
4.5 stars.
Teenagers Magdalie and Nadine were raised as sisters and it never mattered that they were really cousins until the earthquake. Now Nadine's biological father can bring her out of Haiti to Miami, and Magdalie is left behind in the ruins of Port-au-Prince with an uncle -- and without a visa.
Strengths: Written by a cultural anthropologist (American) who was herself living in Haiti at the time of the 2010 earthquake, this book is intensely vivid in its depiction of tight-knit Haitian culture and families; the different textures of Haitian urban and rural poverty, with historical context; and Magdalie's life in the post-earthquake camp. The author's love for the land and people of Haiti shines through in all the fascinating details. Characters are rich and believable. The use of Haitian Creole lends authenticity (and was fascinating to me, a former French student -- I had to read it aloud to decipher the French roots obscured by the phonetic spelling) and flavor, and the glossary in back was helpful. As were the end notes.
Perplexing/unsatisfying: Temporary transition to rural life happened in a pretty quick cinematic-dissolve-montage way. I found the last sentence surprising and the epilogue intriguing and discussable but unsatisfying in an end-of-The-Giver kind of way.
Teenagers Magdalie and Nadine were raised as sisters and it never mattered that they were really cousins until the earthquake. Now Nadine's biological father can bring her out of Haiti to Miami, and Magdalie is left behind in the ruins of Port-au-Prince with an uncle -- and without a visa.
Strengths: Written by a cultural anthropologist (American) who was herself living in Haiti at the time of the 2010 earthquake, this book is intensely vivid in its depiction of tight-knit Haitian culture and families; the different textures of Haitian urban and rural poverty, with historical context; and Magdalie's life in the post-earthquake camp. The author's love for the land and people of Haiti shines through in all the fascinating details. Characters are rich and believable. The use of Haitian Creole lends authenticity (and was fascinating to me, a former French student -- I had to read it aloud to decipher the French roots obscured by the phonetic spelling) and flavor, and the glossary in back was helpful. As were the end notes.
Perplexing/unsatisfying: Temporary transition to rural life happened in a pretty quick cinematic-dissolve-montage way. I found the last sentence surprising and the epilogue intriguing and discussable but unsatisfying in an end-of-The-Giver kind of way.
September 24, 2015
1st Cap Choices 14+ book of the year. About a teenage girl's life in Haiti after the earthquake, but so much better than that description sounds to me! 3 1/2 stars.
December 6, 2014
HOLD TIGHT, DON’T LET GO by Laura Rose Wagner is an unforgettable young adult novel set in Port-au-Prince Haiti during and after the devastating 2010 earthquake.
The story begins with a chilling description of the Haiti earthquake through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old girl named Magdalie. As she searches through the rubble of her home, the stark aftermath of her collapsed world soon becomes clear. The chapters are named with months and years beginning with the earthquake on January 12, 2010 through 2011. The story concludes in January 2020, ten years after the disaster.
Wagner does a masterful job describing life for Magdalie including her frustration, resourcefulness, and hope. The author was working on an ethnographic study when she experienced the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Her experiences led to this compelling and realistic portrayal of Haitian culture.
While Magdalie’s experience with a vodou priestess and the funeral of her Manman may seem alien to readers, teens will empathize with her frustrations about lack of cell phone access and feelings of jealousy when her cousin leaves for America.
This beautifully written coming-of-age work of historical fiction would serve as an excellent focal point for a discussion of the human-impact of natural disasters. Consider building a literature circle containing books related to other recent disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
For background information, go to Encyclopedia Britannica at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t.... Wikipedia also has an excellent article about the 2010 Haiti earthquake that provides background information for readers. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Hai....
Time Magazine also has an excellent series of articles. Go to http://content.time.com/time/specials....
Based on ARC NetGalley
The story begins with a chilling description of the Haiti earthquake through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old girl named Magdalie. As she searches through the rubble of her home, the stark aftermath of her collapsed world soon becomes clear. The chapters are named with months and years beginning with the earthquake on January 12, 2010 through 2011. The story concludes in January 2020, ten years after the disaster.
Wagner does a masterful job describing life for Magdalie including her frustration, resourcefulness, and hope. The author was working on an ethnographic study when she experienced the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Her experiences led to this compelling and realistic portrayal of Haitian culture.
While Magdalie’s experience with a vodou priestess and the funeral of her Manman may seem alien to readers, teens will empathize with her frustrations about lack of cell phone access and feelings of jealousy when her cousin leaves for America.
This beautifully written coming-of-age work of historical fiction would serve as an excellent focal point for a discussion of the human-impact of natural disasters. Consider building a literature circle containing books related to other recent disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
For background information, go to Encyclopedia Britannica at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t.... Wikipedia also has an excellent article about the 2010 Haiti earthquake that provides background information for readers. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Hai....
Time Magazine also has an excellent series of articles. Go to http://content.time.com/time/specials....
Based on ARC NetGalley
November 11, 2014
Laura Rose Wagner's "Hold Tight, Don't Let Go" is a coming-of-age story set in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Nadine goes to the US leaving Magdalie behind. This is the story of Magdalie, a fifteen year old living in a camp with her uncle. Originally focusing on a reunion with her friend Nadine, a reunion that just wasn't in the stars, Magdalie has to come to terms with her life in Haiti. In her new environment, especially since she is no longer in school, Magdalie has to grow up quickly for a fifteen year old and many of the subjects dealt with in this book may be sensitive to some readers. For those readers who are willing to read about these subjects, this book deals with Magdalie's experiences in a very true-to-life matter. Sadly, in the part of the world Magdalie is from, her experiences are realistic for a young lady her age, and by incorporating them into her novel, Ms. Wagner made a more believable character and book.
I won this book from the Goodreads.com website. I would recommend it to anyone who could the adult themes, especially dealing with sex and prostitution, that are present in the book. I would not hesitate to read any of Ms. Wagner's works in the future.
I won this book from the Goodreads.com website. I would recommend it to anyone who could the adult themes, especially dealing with sex and prostitution, that are present in the book. I would not hesitate to read any of Ms. Wagner's works in the future.
December 29, 2014
Considering how close Haiti is to the U.S. few of us know much about this country, especially in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake which hit in 2010. The experience of the earthquake and life afterwards in the tent cities is painful to read. Magdalie and her cousin Nadine, lose not only their home, but their mother as well as she took Magdalie in at an early age. Their mother worked hard to support them and was sure to send them to school. Now they have no means of support and can no longer afford to attend school. Nadine's natural father sends for her from Miami and the 2 girls, as close as sisters, are separated. Magdalie now lives with an uncle but there is little money. She dreams of Nadine sending for her and puts all her hopes on moving to Miami but after spending time with family in a more pastoral part of Haiti realizes her life, and heart, are in Haiti. There is some mention of sex, especially as a way to get what one wants/needs. The last chapter of the book is more a hope/dream than reality as it takes place in the future. Still this is a powerful look at life in Haiti and useful for multi-cultural studies. The glossary was not included in this ARC and would have been extremely helpful. Recommended high school aged readers.
December 8, 2014
The 2010 earthquake in Haiti changed everything for teenaged cousins Nadine and Magdalie. The loving aunt and Manman, who supported them, has died in the rubble. Tonton Elie, assumes guardianship, but the destruction of buildings is total, and their Port-au-Prince home is now in a city of tents. Schools are closed; food and water are scarce; jobs are intermittent or nonexistent. Nadine is lucky as her father in the US obtains the correct immigration paperwork, and she heads off to Miami, with the promise to Magdalie that she will get her to the US, too. Month after month, Magdalie waits for the rare phone call from Nadine, but her character grows in strength, and comes to realize that Haiti is the place she needs to be. The plot ends with a projection in the near future, January 2020, where the author foretells of a future where past injustices and present failings of Haiti have been resolved. There is so much within the plot of this debut novel that adds to its authenticity, as does the “A Brief History of Haiti”, the glossary, and the acknowledgements. This is a huge contribution to realistic contemporary fiction set in the Caribbean.
December 27, 2014
Ms. Wagner has made a stunning debut to the fiction world; Hold Tight, Don't Let Go (HTDLG) is a surreal and gripping novel, and absolutely took my breath away. Having not much knowledge of Haiti before reading this, I went in not knowing what to expect. HTDLG not only introduces the reader to the vibrant community and history of Haiti, but it also shows every aspect of the devastating aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. HTDLG manages to tie in an enthralling and riveting story of a teenager's life in Haiti, to an already fascinating exploration of the earthquake's effect on the country. Following the main character, Magdalie, and her struggles to adjust to the devastation caused by the earthquake as well as teenage life is absolutely engrossing and compelling. This book has an interesting and heartbreaking plot, which kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through, and I would recommend it to absolutely everyone.
October 7, 2021
I enjoyed it! It was a small book but their was soo much happening! It was so sad but beautiful, the way they added creole and the culture was very much GIVINGG. It was hard to read at times but overall it was amazing! So happy Haitians have a book that is so authentic and you can really feel like your there.
January 5, 2021
This book really had me feeling like I was actually in Haiti eating a bunch of fruits under a tree.
It tells the story of immigration from the voice that usually gets left out, the voice of the people who get left behind. Be ready to cry.
It tells the story of immigration from the voice that usually gets left out, the voice of the people who get left behind. Be ready to cry.
January 8, 2015
A massive earthquake strikes Haiti, and leaves Magdalie Jean-Baptiste and her cousin, Nadine, without their Manman (mother) or a home. The 16-year-old girls have no choice but to live with their uncle in a makeshift camp in Port-au-Prince. Magdalie may be dirt poor and can no longer attend school, but at least she has her cousin's companionship. That familial situation, however, is short-lived when Nadine receives a visa to Miami, and leaves Magdalie with the promise of getting her to America someday. Time passes with no fulfillment of Nadine’s promise. Magdalie decides to take matters into her own hands, yet she is not aware of the danger that awaits her fiscal endeavors. It does not help that she is filled with anger because of her misfortune. Amid all the chaos in her life, Magdalie not only travels to St. Juste, a tiny village in the mountains near Jérémie, to participate in her Manman's wake, but also has no idea that returning to the place of her birth will be a critical turning point in her life.
Rising author Laura Rose Wagner based HOLD TIGHT, DON’T LET GO! on the devastating 2010 Haitian earthquake and aimed to undo the common stereotype of Haitians as victims of suffering. Laura lived in Port-au-Prince at that time and said, "contrary to the accounts by the international media of looting and lawless violence," the determined citizens “knew that it was up to them to save their own lives” --- and the lives of their friends and family members “where formal authority is weak.” And, indeed, Wagner has gone beyond this major feat through her portrayal of a fictional teenager who sought more out of life than living in constant despair.
The inspiration to create Magdalie comes from the stories and experiences of people Wagner knew during her three-year stay in Haiti, her personal experiences and figments of her imagination. Formatted as monthly journal entries, Magdalie writes well over a year's worth of her life after that fateful January 12th day. Her hope someday is to become a great doctor, or even a great writer. Determined to be successful in life against all odds, Magdalie, for example, resolves not to succumb to the sexual plight of girls her age. Nonetheless, that is the least of her problems since she is constantly faced with a plethora of conflicts at all sides. While there is no doubt that Magdalie's heroine role makes her a dynamic character, much of Wagner's characters are foils who force Magdalie to take a hard look at herself and her circumstances.
Aside from her unique casting, Wagner tightly weaves contrast, most often in the form of paradox, from one scene to the next. Good examples are Magdalie's discontentment compared to her friend, Safira, who is always optimistic and is graced with peace amid her unusual pregnancy, and the wealthy Mme. Faustin, who bullies Magdalie instead of facing her own fears. Wagner does it again describing various surroundings. Certainly, Wagner paints a grim picture of Magdalie's impoverished environs, but offsets that with St. Juste and Jérémie scenes replete with idyllic mountains and pristine beaches surrounded by trees filled with mouth-watering fruit.
A powerful coming-of-age story of survival, HOLD TIGHT, DON’T LET GO! is clearly earmarked to be an award-winning novel and an iconic favorite for teen and adult readers.
Originally posted on Teensread.
Rising author Laura Rose Wagner based HOLD TIGHT, DON’T LET GO! on the devastating 2010 Haitian earthquake and aimed to undo the common stereotype of Haitians as victims of suffering. Laura lived in Port-au-Prince at that time and said, "contrary to the accounts by the international media of looting and lawless violence," the determined citizens “knew that it was up to them to save their own lives” --- and the lives of their friends and family members “where formal authority is weak.” And, indeed, Wagner has gone beyond this major feat through her portrayal of a fictional teenager who sought more out of life than living in constant despair.
The inspiration to create Magdalie comes from the stories and experiences of people Wagner knew during her three-year stay in Haiti, her personal experiences and figments of her imagination. Formatted as monthly journal entries, Magdalie writes well over a year's worth of her life after that fateful January 12th day. Her hope someday is to become a great doctor, or even a great writer. Determined to be successful in life against all odds, Magdalie, for example, resolves not to succumb to the sexual plight of girls her age. Nonetheless, that is the least of her problems since she is constantly faced with a plethora of conflicts at all sides. While there is no doubt that Magdalie's heroine role makes her a dynamic character, much of Wagner's characters are foils who force Magdalie to take a hard look at herself and her circumstances.
Aside from her unique casting, Wagner tightly weaves contrast, most often in the form of paradox, from one scene to the next. Good examples are Magdalie's discontentment compared to her friend, Safira, who is always optimistic and is graced with peace amid her unusual pregnancy, and the wealthy Mme. Faustin, who bullies Magdalie instead of facing her own fears. Wagner does it again describing various surroundings. Certainly, Wagner paints a grim picture of Magdalie's impoverished environs, but offsets that with St. Juste and Jérémie scenes replete with idyllic mountains and pristine beaches surrounded by trees filled with mouth-watering fruit.
A powerful coming-of-age story of survival, HOLD TIGHT, DON’T LET GO! is clearly earmarked to be an award-winning novel and an iconic favorite for teen and adult readers.
Originally posted on Teensread.
May 21, 2015
3.5 stars
The first person narrative follows Magdalie from the 2010 earthquake through two years of survival. It feels real, her despair and anger at the loss of her mother (aunt who was her mother from a young age) to the earthquake and of her sister/cousin to immigration following the earthquake. Magdalie's life is shattered much the same as Haiti was by the earthquake and she must rebuild. The writing is good and gives a sense of place as the reader is taken from Port-au-Prince to the mountain village of Magdalie's relatives.
The book should have ended with October 2011, rather than the look into the future to 2020. It felt false. Also, the author says in her history of Haiti, that often stories don't explain how Haiti became poor, suffering, and violent. Well, I don't feel as though the author did that here either. You get glimpses that Magdalie's life before the earthquake was better but they were still poor and life was not easy. But there's not an explanation as to why. The author doesn't talk about French and American history in Haiti until her coda with comment about reparations.
The first person narrative follows Magdalie from the 2010 earthquake through two years of survival. It feels real, her despair and anger at the loss of her mother (aunt who was her mother from a young age) to the earthquake and of her sister/cousin to immigration following the earthquake. Magdalie's life is shattered much the same as Haiti was by the earthquake and she must rebuild. The writing is good and gives a sense of place as the reader is taken from Port-au-Prince to the mountain village of Magdalie's relatives.
The book should have ended with October 2011, rather than the look into the future to 2020. It felt false. Also, the author says in her history of Haiti, that often stories don't explain how Haiti became poor, suffering, and violent. Well, I don't feel as though the author did that here either. You get glimpses that Magdalie's life before the earthquake was better but they were still poor and life was not easy. But there's not an explanation as to why. The author doesn't talk about French and American history in Haiti until her coda with comment about reparations.
May 24, 2017
This is the best fiction about Haiti that I have read so far. A forthright straight-ahead story, written for young adults but interesting for everyone, it follows a young girl in the aftermath of the earthquake. The difficult conditions in Haiti become apparent, but without lurid violence or sex, and without a lecture the reader becomes aware of the problems that center around Haiti's history of French and American domination, its light-skinned elite, its lack of proper housing, health, education and everything else we deem necessary for a good life. Yet this is not accomplished at the expense of the basic humanity of Haiti's people. And Wagner has written a good story that keeps you turning the pages, wanting to know what happens next. People of all ages should read this book. They would understand Haiti from a human perspective.
August 11, 2015
"Hold Tight, Don't Let Go" takes readers to Haiti as the earthquake hits. Our guide, fifteen year old Magda shares her loss, frustration, hopes, fears, anger and desperation as she continues to deal with loss and struggles to find a way to keep living the the camps.
The authors love and hope for Haiti comes through in the beautiful jewel of a novel. My copy was a gift from Goodreads First Reads.
The authors love and hope for Haiti comes through in the beautiful jewel of a novel. My copy was a gift from Goodreads First Reads.
February 5, 2015
Oh my goodness, this was so realistic and, quite frankly, depressing. Very good, but not an easy read.
8th grade and up
8th grade and up
January 8, 2022
Exceeded my expectations. A very culturally accurate depiction of life in Haiti during and after the earthquake. I plan re-reading this again
March 17, 2017
In her debut novel, PhD Laura Rose Wagner writes a coming of age novel about the devastating 2010 earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti through the eyes of Magdalie and Nadine. Magdalie and Nadine are sisters, teenagers, born and raised Haitians, and lose their “Manman” that shocking January 12 day. They lean on each other in the aftermath of the wreckage, as they always have, but now without their mother, and while living in a refugee camp in a house made of plywood, sheet metal and plastic tarps. The conditions in the camp are rough, and together they deal with the rank lavatories, invasive police, and the occasional American photographer. When Nadine’s father in Miami arranges a visa so she can go to America, Magdalie is devastated but puts on a brave face, and sends Nadine off with the promise that Nadine will send for her as soon as she can. After Nadine leaves, Magdalie is in a spiral of confusion, depression, anger, sadness, and loss. Wagner’s depiction of this major disaster is told brilliantly, yet heartbreakingly. Infiltrated with poems, and the local Creole and French dialects, the reader will soar through the pages of stunning language. Originally from San Francisco, Wagner decided to travel to Haiti in 2009 to research her thesis. She is a survivor of the earthquake, making Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go that much more special.
November 24, 2019
I have read a lot of books about Haiti and this is by far one of the best. This fictional memoir esque story is so real. The tiny details that the author includes allowed the reader to actually see the scene and feel what it is like to be in the moment with magda if only in our imagination. For example cooking an egg for her and her uncle to share, the way the machete leans in the corner against the house, and the prestige bottle caps used to keep the tarp from tearing. Each of these descriptions allows the reader to visualize the level of poverty and what it is actually like to live in these deplorable circumstances rather than vague statements like less that a dollar a day poverty. The toilets evoke this sense in you, "what would I do if I always had to think about where I would go poop next?".
I am an American that lives in Haiti. I would say that this book was an easy read for me because I have a good grasp on kreyol. I think the kreyol words mixed together added to my enjoyment of the read and the feel of the book. However, if I didn't know so much about Haiti, idk if that would bother me. But I suspect the key audience for this book has some sort of tie to Haiti anyways. I can't give enough praise for it.
I am an American that lives in Haiti. I would say that this book was an easy read for me because I have a good grasp on kreyol. I think the kreyol words mixed together added to my enjoyment of the read and the feel of the book. However, if I didn't know so much about Haiti, idk if that would bother me. But I suspect the key audience for this book has some sort of tie to Haiti anyways. I can't give enough praise for it.
January 21, 2018
Magdalie and Nadine are cousins by blood but sisters by heart. The 2010 earthquake that had a devastating impact on Haiti, has taken away their mother - crushing her under the collapse of the house they lived in. Nadine's father, who is in Florida, has filed for her and she leaves promising to send for Magdalie so they can be reunited.
Having lost her mother and now sister and no longer able to afford to go to school, Magdalie must navigate new friendships, finding money to live, eat and afford a plane ticket for when Nadine sends for her. It's intensely tragic as the reader since we understand - especially as Caribbean folks - that it's not so easy to "send" for family, especially when it is a promise among two teenage girls. Even the notion that country-side, with its endless bounty of fruit, vegetables and meat, is continuous across the Caribbean.
Laura puts forth the heart and resilience of the Haitian spirit in this novel. A good read.
Having lost her mother and now sister and no longer able to afford to go to school, Magdalie must navigate new friendships, finding money to live, eat and afford a plane ticket for when Nadine sends for her. It's intensely tragic as the reader since we understand - especially as Caribbean folks - that it's not so easy to "send" for family, especially when it is a promise among two teenage girls. Even the notion that country-side, with its endless bounty of fruit, vegetables and meat, is continuous across the Caribbean.
Laura puts forth the heart and resilience of the Haitian spirit in this novel. A good read.
September 8, 2020
Magdalie was a small child when she was taken in by her aunt after the death of her mother. She was raised along side her aunt's daughter, Nadine. The two become so close they consider themselves sisters and lead a humble yet happy life in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Their lives are shattered on January 12, 2020 when the horrific earthquake kills the aunt along with thousands of others and changes Haiti forever. The cousins are soon separated - Magdalie stays in Haiti but ends up in a refugee camp with her uncle and Nadine ends up going to the U.S. to be with her dad. All Magdalie wants is to be reunited with Nadine who promised she will get her to the US but will it happen? This was an amazing book. Even though it is a YA novel it will appeal to adults. The author who actually survived the earthquake did a great job describing the horrors that the Haitian people went through. My heart went out to the characters in this book. Also, I loved the ending.
November 20, 2022
It is a beautiful story, no doubt. It manages to depict a world of hardships and a journey of healing, which is definitely not lineal not perfect.
Personally, I found myself getting mentally exhausted reading this book, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, and it probably had to do with everything else going on in my life at the moment. Still, as much as i appreciate this book, I can't say I enjoyed reading it. Yes, I'm glad I read it, and yes, it is an amazing book. It was my personal experience reading this book that led me to rate this 3 stars.
I do recommend it, but not without a disclaimer. It contains tons of emotional information coming from the narrator, and it can be quite mentally draining. It is a story that feels so real, so genuine, that the same tiredness the protagonist feels you will feel as well.
Personally, I found myself getting mentally exhausted reading this book, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, and it probably had to do with everything else going on in my life at the moment. Still, as much as i appreciate this book, I can't say I enjoyed reading it. Yes, I'm glad I read it, and yes, it is an amazing book. It was my personal experience reading this book that led me to rate this 3 stars.
I do recommend it, but not without a disclaimer. It contains tons of emotional information coming from the narrator, and it can be quite mentally draining. It is a story that feels so real, so genuine, that the same tiredness the protagonist feels you will feel as well.
September 3, 2021
This book is gorgeous. My chest felt heavy the whole time I read it. The descriptions of food and landscapes and buildings show so many angles of this country that doesn't often get to show its many angles in mainstream media.
The pacing is perfect, showing the buildup of depression taking its hold on a person. Magdalie is a fantastic narrator character -- her little romance is sweet and wholesome, providing a welcome emotional break after some really heavy stuff. Even all of her "bad decisions" I completely understand and root for her in, because this is so well-built-up.
Really, really beautiful. This is going on my "all time faves" list.
The pacing is perfect, showing the buildup of depression taking its hold on a person. Magdalie is a fantastic narrator character -- her little romance is sweet and wholesome, providing a welcome emotional break after some really heavy stuff. Even all of her "bad decisions" I completely understand and root for her in, because this is so well-built-up.
Really, really beautiful. This is going on my "all time faves" list.
March 10, 2018
I bought this book for my classroom, I teach upper elementary, and I was devastated to learn of the profanity and multiple sexual references in the story. Much of it the latter Was unnecessary, and hopefully it wasn’t true to the spirit of Haiti.
Yes, the more I researched it after reading it, I had to dig deep mind you, to find reviews that mentioned such things. I ordered the book based on reading levels I found on the website where I placed my order, there was no mention of it being SO YA—high school YA.
Yes, the more I researched it after reading it, I had to dig deep mind you, to find reviews that mentioned such things. I ordered the book based on reading levels I found on the website where I placed my order, there was no mention of it being SO YA—high school YA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2017
It's rare when a book touches you down to your core. You cry (maybe more than once), you read certain passages over and over, you find yourself thinking about the characters in those moments you're not reading it. This was one such book.
Hold Tight, Don't Let Go is the story of two 16-year-old cousins, Nadine and Magdalie, raised as sisters by Nadine's mother in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. The story opens during the first frightening moments of the devastating January 2010 earthquake, with the cousins losing their home, their aunt, and everything they own within several minutes. They eventually move into a makeshift camp with their uncle and scrape by, surviving through the oppressive heat, the lack of food, and the horribly unsanitary conditions there. Eventually Nadine's father in the U.S. sends for her and she leaves Magdalie behind, promising to send for her later.
From this point, this is really Magdalie's story. She hopes for Nadine to send for her, but as time passes it becomes obvious to our character that this is not going to happen. We follow Magdalie over the next two years as she makes a living in the Haiti that struggles to rebuild after the quake and the range of emotions she takes in the process--desperation, anger, and eventually hope. I don't want to give away the ending, but this is a beautiful book. The descriptions, the sights, the smells, the music, I really felt like I was there. It is clear that the author spent time in this place and her understanding of the culture of this land is evident.
5 stars. Do read this.
Hold Tight, Don't Let Go is the story of two 16-year-old cousins, Nadine and Magdalie, raised as sisters by Nadine's mother in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. The story opens during the first frightening moments of the devastating January 2010 earthquake, with the cousins losing their home, their aunt, and everything they own within several minutes. They eventually move into a makeshift camp with their uncle and scrape by, surviving through the oppressive heat, the lack of food, and the horribly unsanitary conditions there. Eventually Nadine's father in the U.S. sends for her and she leaves Magdalie behind, promising to send for her later.
From this point, this is really Magdalie's story. She hopes for Nadine to send for her, but as time passes it becomes obvious to our character that this is not going to happen. We follow Magdalie over the next two years as she makes a living in the Haiti that struggles to rebuild after the quake and the range of emotions she takes in the process--desperation, anger, and eventually hope. I don't want to give away the ending, but this is a beautiful book. The descriptions, the sights, the smells, the music, I really felt like I was there. It is clear that the author spent time in this place and her understanding of the culture of this land is evident.
5 stars. Do read this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews