I read this book as part of my quest to read a book written by an author from all 169 recognized countries in the world. The author of this book is an 18 year girl of Algerian parents who grew up in the projects of northeast Paris.

This book introduced me to some of the poorer sections of Pairs - when one thinks of Paris, they think of the Eiffel tower and the wealthy residents. This book describes the suburb of Pantin, where many poor immigrants from North Africa reside.

Doria is a daughter of a single mom - her father left them because he wanted a son instead of a daughter. This is a coming of age book, as Doria struggles to find a purpose in her life and to find optimism in her disheartening situation.

Had to study this for A level French, wasn't a fan then, but having given myself the time to read it properly and understand it, it's not too bad of a book. I'm not a fan of the use of slang but it's good to read it in big chunks as the chapters are quite short. I don't really like the main character, but the story is interesting

I read this book for French class. It wasn't a bad book, but there were some parts that I didn't understand. The book was good and I really love the ending of it

Vinkkauspakkiin sopiva kasvukertomus viisitoistavuotiaasta Doriasta, köyhyydestä, sossuista, Pariisin lähiöistä ja arkisesta erilaisuudesta. Suoraviivainen tyyli, lyhyet luvut, samastuttava ihana kuspääpäähenkilöteinix.

Quite a different style, a unique voice that to read, feels like it might be to spend an afternoon with Doria, who is 15 and deplete of any enthusiasm for life, her father has gone back to Morocco to marry a younger, more fertile woman, her illiterate mother is learning to read and write and Doria is being forced to drop out of school.

It's a stream of consciousness narrative in teen-speak, which suffers a little in translation, but ultimately provides an insight into the life of a girl living in a part of suburban Paris that isn't known for elevating one's position in life.

My complete review here at Word by Word.

A book to kiffer, no kif.

Doria is a French teen, born to Moroccan immigrants. Her dad went back home because he wanted a son, and Doria's mom, Yasmina, couldn't have any more children. This leaves the mother and daughter on their own to cope with poverty, anti-immigrant sentiments, social workers, and job-hunting. For Doria there's all the usual teen stuff as well: school, boys, wearing the right clothes, or being mocked for lack thereof. It's a lot to cope with, but Doria's tough, and she and her mom will be okay. At least, she's gambling on it.

Guène, herself the child of Algerian immigrants, also grew up in the projects just outside Paris, lending Doria's experiences the ring of gritty truth. You don't have to know much about French history or culture, because Guène explains it all for you beautifully, but if you do know from the Algerian war and the current racism in the banlieues, there's an added layer here to savor.

The Arab immigrant community Doria lives in is rich with all the good and bad aspects of their culture: parties, foods, henna, yes, but also heavy restrictions on women and girls, and
homophobia to boot. Yasmina, who cannot read or write, seems helpless as things go on around her; luckily, the state pays for a lot of supports, like a therapist for Doria to talk to, and social workers who nudge Doria in directions she may not otherwise have taken, even if they are mostly phoning in their jobs. Doria rarely gets upset about anything, taking the drug dealing and carjacking that surrounds her as simply things people do to survive. She's pretty pissed at her father, though, and from time to time feels helpless in the face of her poverty.

The ending is positive and satisfying, while at the same time being realistic. The title is a wonderful play on the double meaning of some French slang, which I won't spoil for you, as it takes away from reading the book. Doria's voice is one that will resonate with many disaffected teens, and will perhaps give them perspective on their own relatively privileged situations. It's a good pick for adults who enjoy world fiction, too, though they may become a bit impatient with Doria's boy crushes after a while. All in all, Guène has delivered a great novel that makes for a quick and satisfying summer read. Recommended for medium-to-large YA collections, and adult collections where world fiction in translation is popular.

1.5⭐
Good themes =/= good book

C'est la deuxième fois que je lis pour me préparer à Kiffe Kiffe hier?, c'est encore plus drôle que la première lecture. J'ai hâte de savoir ce que Doria devient!

This was just okay. It's written in pretty simple French which makes for a quick and easy read. Faïza was 19 years old when this book was published, and to be honest, it shows. This read more like a personal diary than a novel, this was more autobiography than fiction. While it had its fun and cute moments, this was a little too episodic for me, things just happen with no real purpose or meaning or importance. This would have been a stronger book if there was more of an actual plot and if it had some actual character development; everyone and everything in Kiffe, Kiffe Demain was too one-dimensional, which renders it all sweet, but basic and forgettable. I can see why this is taught in college courses though: it's not often that you get a chance to read a French novel from an Algerian girl's POV and in a poorer part of Paris, it was eye-opening in that way in where it truly felt like this story was written by someone who lived it, but it needed depth, structure, and focus, which was sorely and woefully lacking. For what it is, though, it's an entertaining coming of age story, and also is a way for French language students to be exposed to some argotique vocabulary. Just don't expect anything mind-blowingly amazing, but it does have a charm and nostalgia and youthfulness about it, which makes it worth the read despite its flaws, limitations, and shortcomings.

Mam mieszane uczucia

Łatwo się czytało, podobała mi się historia, ale..
Dużo jakichś dziwnych uprzedzeń i niepotrzebne wtrącenie o „autystce” i tych wszystkich „pedałach”…

Incr comme dhab sauf la couverture au secours

bonne lecture pour les élèves du collège ou si t’es en train d’apprendre la langue
3,5⭐️