"Full of humor, love, and empathy, Brass is a stunner of a debut, making us excited for all still to come from Aliu."-Nylon
"Aliu writes a story of love, family, and the search for an origin story, set against the decaying backdrop of a post-industrial town."-The Millions
"In mordant, biting prose, [Xhenet Aliu] interweaves the stories of a mother and a daughter living in a fading Connecticut town they both hopelessly long to escape from."-HuffPost
"With all-the-way-live characters, vigorous observation, combative dialogue, bravado metaphors, and ninja parsing of social class, immigrant struggles, bad behavior, and stubborn hope, Aliu has created a boldly witty and astute inquiry into the nature-versus-nurture debate, the inheritance of pain, and the dream of transcendence."-Booklist (starred review)
"Full of humor, love, and empathy, Brass is a stunner of a debut, making us excited for all still to come from Aliu."-Nylon
"Aliu writes a story of love, family, and the search for an origin story, set against the decaying backdrop of a post-industrial town."-The Millions
"In mordant, biting prose, [Xhenet Aliu] interweaves the stories of a mother and a daughter living in a fading Connecticut town they both hopelessly long to escape from."-HuffPost
"Rage and hilarity form a dynamic symbiosis in Aliu's debut novel, a stinging mother-and-daughter duet... . Aliu is spectacularly funny and deeply insightful. With all-the-way-live characters, vigorous observation, combative dialogue, bravado metaphors, and ninja parsing of social class, immigrant struggles, bad behavior, and stubborn hope, Aliu has created a boldly witty and astute inquiry into the nature-versus-nurture debate, the inheritance of pain, and the dream of transcendence."-Booklist (starred review)
"This glimmering debut novel reflects on mother-daughter connections, abandonment and resilience, and dreams that endure despite the odds... [Xhenet] Aliu's riveting, sensitive work shines with warmth, clarity, and a generosity of spirit. Her characters are nuanced and real, capable of taking risks, making mistakes, and growing in unexpected ways. Aliu's writing is polished and precise, bringing her characters glowingly to life."-Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Striking first novel ... This is a captivating, moving story of drastic measures, failed schemes, and the loss of innocence."-Publishers Weekly
"Deftly written in a style that is evocative of time and place, this universal story of the search for home is well translated into the blue-collar world of Elsie and Lulu."-Library Journal (starred review)
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