Official Review: Descendant Deception

[Nonso Samuelson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Descendant Deception" by Kimi Baibre Jackson.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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When Kimi J. Baibre Jackson finds out that her dad isn't her biological father, it triggers a chain of events and revelations. The discovery of this deception gives rise to feelings of insecurity, and it's because she remembers how her supposed grandmother, Claudia, treated her with distaste and disregard. Because of this treatment, she develops feelings of low self-esteem, which makes her seek acceptance wherever she can. This quest for acceptance leads her into an early first marriage, several instances of betrayal, and many more mistakes. Finally, she begins to discover herself again while she keeps searching for the truth about her family tree. The details of her journey are delightful to read, but you'll have to pick it up yourself if you want to know more.

Descendant Deception is an autobiography about how family secrets can make or break an individual's life. Written in the first-person narrative, Jackson told her experience about how her mother fabricated a well-crafted deception about her paternal bloodline. It was intriguing because it was a story I could relate to as the same thing had happened on some fringe branches of my family tree. I wasn't surprised by the fact that Jackson's discovery of the deception caused her to spiral, lose sight of her self-worth, and make many wrong decisions. I was glad, though, that her journey of self-discovery saw her eventually start to dig her way out of the tunnel and back into the light.

I appreciated the author's use of flashbacks as she told her story. It seemed to me that certain aspects of her journey would have been difficult to understand without the method of reverse narration she employed in her writing. It helped me see more clearly the purity of her spirit and her yearning for closure, which I can relate to as well. Jackson's writing also expertly highlighted the themes in the book: betrayal, deception, self-discovery, and love, among others. Even though this is non-fiction, the author managed to maintain suspense throughout the book; I couldn't wait to get to the end to find out whether she found closure or not.

The only dent in my reading experience was the way the author sometimes used pronouns awkwardly. A good example was on Page 56 where Jackson was talking:

I think had she treated me decently, because I never got any inklings from him that he wasn't my dad, it would've been so much harder for me to reconcile the fact this wasn't my family, that all these things were true.

This statement came right after Jackson had written about her first husband. At this point, there had been no prior mention of her dad, so the statement was confusing; it made it seem like her first husband was her dad. I found this a little creepy and unsettling.

I did find a few grammatical errors but nowhere near enough of them to deny the book's professional editing. I enjoyed how this book was relatable and got me thinking about my own family tree and the deception that could still be hidden in there. Barring a few pronoun hiccups, I also enjoyed the author's writing and how it evoked the right emotions at the right time. The flashbacks were the most significant selling point for me. Based on the above reasons, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. In the absence of the pronoun situation, this book would have deserved a full rating. I recommend it to people who love stories—fiction or non-fiction—filled with mystery and drama. If you love reality television shows, this book is right up your alley as well.

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Descendant Deception
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[Kanchan Sharma]

The review is interesting and intriguing. I am eager to read the book.

[Dzejn_Crvena]

I thought this is a fictional drama based on the first paragraph alone.
It must be tough to discover that some people in the author's life are not what they seemed to be.
Thank you for the review.

[Uzo_Reviews]

Books on family bonds are one aspect of writing I love. There's always a lesson to learn. This review was exceptional.

[DEEPA PUJARI]

This is a book about a young woman who realises that her father is jot her biological father. This revelation brings back all old memories of her life. Congratulations BOTD!

[Yvonne Monique]

Without any doubt, family ties (or the lack of them) can affect a person for the rest of his/her life. I'm sure that the author has used the writing of this book as a kind of therapy.

[Uzo_Reviews]

The journey of discovery and identity is a great one. It takes courage for one to pick up the broken pieces of one's life and move on just like Jackson did. Searching for the root of one's existence too is another great adventure. I hope that she finds that which she yearns for. Amazing review I must say.

[Abi McCoy]

Very thorough review - I'm sure being able to personally relate to this work made the book all the more engaging. The insight on the use of flashbacks was great, as well.

[Sou Hi]

Thanks for your review. Indeed, nowadays, it's actually quite common to discover that your dad is not your real dad. However, most of the cases are due to the mother's unfaithfulness, so it must be a shock for the author to know that 4 generations of her family are liars.

[Dorcas Dube]

The book is interesting but it was difficult for her life even the grandmother Claudia treated her with distaste and disregard which is not fair I would like to read this book to learn many more things about life thank you

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

Finding out that you are not the biological offspring of one of your parents would be a huge blow to anyone's self-identity. It sounds like the main character has many questions, and hopefully, it all becomes clear to them. Thank you for the engaging review.

[Clare Jose]

The feeling of being betrayed by her own family must have been very painful. While I am intrigued to know how things turned out, I don't think I'll be able to read this book anytime soon.
Thank you for your review.

[John Arun Kumar]

Identity crisis in today's world is a issue that cannot be ignored in the contemporary world. Family deceptions leaving scars, deep hurt and pain is a very important part of this in many lives these days. I like that the author says that truth will be out one way or another. That's the comforting thing that brings hope, healing and resolution. This review has done enough to make me wanting to read this well written book.

[Shubham Shah]

A family drama where the family itself is scattered. The girl whose whole family deceived her about her parents, the struggle is real. It seems she had so many troubles with her life. Terrific job on the detailed review.

[Miriam Kenneth]

A non-fiction with suspense, intriguing! Thanks for a compelling review, I would love to read the book.