And the Walls Came Down by Denise Da Costa #BookReview #DundurnPress #Multicultural #Debut #Toronto

Welcome, or Welcome back! My name is Amanda and this is where I share spoiler-free book reviews and other bookish things. Not every book is my cup of tea – and that’s ok. Even if I didn’t like it, I attempt to find readers that would. Thanks for visiting. Let’s get Smitten For Fiction.

Having no idea what the book was about, I requested an arc of And the Walls Came Down because I was looking for a new debut novel by a Canadian author. I can’t believe this is a debut novel.

“And the Walls Came Down is an absolute treasure. Denise Da Costa has crafted an immersive and propulsive journey into adulthood that so piercingly questions pride, hope, and family. Don Mount Court comes alive in a collision of care, control, abuse, and love. What a privilege it is to share in Delia Ellis’s diary, and life.” —DEREK MASCARENHAS, author of Coconut Dreams

About The Book 📚

Title: And the Walls Came Down

Author: Denise Da Costa

Publication Date: July 4, 2023

Publisher: Dundurn Press

Genre: General Fiction (Realistic Fiction), Multicultural, Canadian, Coming of Age, Family Life

Pages: 344

Content Warnings: abusive mother, alcoholism, racism

PG-13 Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. May include profanity, violence, sexual situations, or drug use.

About The Author

“Denise Da Costa is a Canadian author and visual artist. She is an alumnus of York University and Seneca College School of Communication Arts, and the Humber Creative Writing program. Her work explores the complications of love and the impact of class, gender, and race on identity.

And the Walls Came Down is her debut novel. She lives in St. Catharines, Ontario with her family and a loquacious cat named Bean. She is currently working on her second novel.”

https://denisedacostaauthor.com/

My Review

› Told from the present and the past with diary entries, And the Walls Came Down by Denise Da Costa is an unforgettable story about complicated relationships and upbringing, and how they help to form our identity, values and beliefs.

› August 2004 – Delia goes back to her old neighbourhood, Don Mount Court to find her diary that was left in the apartment before they tear the building down. Reading the entries, Delia is taken back to her teenage years in the 90s. As a fellow Canadian 90s teen, I find some of her thoughts and experiences relatable. However, I had a very different upbringing as a white girl growing up in Labrador.

› In 1992 Delia was living in a basement apartment with her mother, father, and sister in Hadsworth, Ontario – a suburb about 40 minutes away from Toronto. Her family experienced racism daily, and her parents were working hard to save money to buy a house. One night, Delia woke to hear her parents arguing, then her father left. Her mother couldn’t afford to stay in the apartment, so in the summer of 1993 14-year-old Delia, her mother, and her 10-year-old sister Melissa moved to Don Mount, a social housing development in downtown Toronto.

› “It’s easy to pretend something isn’t happening until it happens to you.”

› Delia’s parents are Jamaican immigrants. I loved learning more about their food, culture, and the hardships they face as first-generation immigrants. Delia’s story broke my heart, and the hardest part about reading this story is that I know this is real life for so many immigrants. I think this is an important read for all Canadians. Delia struggles to survive in poverty with an absent father and abusive mother.

› “Don’t get your hopes up, Delia. Hope is not a strategy.”

› Characters: 10
Da Costa knows how to write incredible characters. Some you’ll love, some you’ll hate. Delia’s relationship with Mario is so special.

› Atmosphere: 10
I can picture every setting thanks to the ample descriptions and world-building.

› Writing Style: 10
Da Costa is a talented writer. High-quality writing that is not repetitive has high readability and authentic dialogue.

› Plot: 10
I loved every page and chapter. I didn’t want the story to end.

› Intrigue: 10

› Logic: 10
I never felt confused and didn’t notice any plot holes or elements that didn’t make sense.

› Enjoyment: 9
I laughed, I cried. I can’t wait to read more by Da Costa.

Average 9.9

My Rating ★★★★★

› Final Thoughts
• I can’t stop thinking about Delia and her story since I finished reading this on June 5, 2023. And the Walls Came Down by Denise Da Costa is a dark, sad, diverse, character-driven debut about mental illness, secrets, class, gender, race, family, friendship, community and survival. This is a must-read!