‘Sometimes a person’s unhappiness can make them forget they are a part of something bigger, something like a family, a people, even a tribe.’

Sugar Babies

This book has several short stories pertaining to WOC with indigenous ancestry in Colorado. A majority of these short stories deal with loss, tragedy and identity.

I’ll admit these short stories felt pretty grim. However, my favorite short story, Tomi was one of the least grim and ended on a hopeful note.

Each story is hauntingly beautiful of women trying to live within their harsh reality. These stories also deal with the inheritance of trauma and or suffering. A majority of the women in these stories reflect on a relative that has suffered from a traumatic event. Sabrina & Corina deal with this idea of intergenerational trauma.

Overall, this is an emotional read dealing with WOC. There is one discussion questions within the book, it asks, ‘Why do you think Fajardo-Anstine explored violence against women in this community?’

Coming from a Mexican background, I’ve witnessed my Mexican community turn the other way with violence against women. I’ve heard stories of women being beaten. I’ve heard people talking of the abuse and shrugging their shoulders as if saying, ‘what can you do?’. I’ve seen people blame the abused woman for constantly going back. I’ve seen those same abused women look on as it happens to others. The reason, I think that violence is explored within this community is because in many communities violence against women is so common that it is seen as another part of life for women. But for WOC of color is worse because their community becomes complicit in the abuse.