Plot Summary

The House at Sugar Beach

Helene Cooper
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The House at Sugar Beach

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2008

Book Brief

Helene Cooper

The House at Sugar Beach

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2008
Book Details
Pages

354

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Liberia • 1970s-1980s

Publication Year

2008

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

940L

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Super Short Summary

The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper recounts her experiences growing up in Liberia, where she belonged to the affluent elite, her escape to the United States during Liberia's civil war, and her eventual return to her homeland more than two decades later. Cooper explores themes of identity, family, and resilience while reconnecting with her foster sister and confronting her past. The book contains depictions of sexual violence and trauma.

Nostalgic

Emotional

Contemplative

Melancholic

Hopeful

Reviews & Readership

4.2

8,660 ratings

72%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper has been praised for its vivid storytelling and emotional depth. Readers appreciate the author's candid recounting of her Liberian childhood and the country’s political turmoil. Critics note a sometimes uneven pacing but commend Cooper's ability to weave personal narrative with historical context effectively. Overall, it's an evocative, insightful memoir.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The House at Sugar Beach?

Readers who enjoy memoirs with a blend of personal and historical narrative, akin to Educated by Tara Westover and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, will appreciate Helene Cooper's The House at Sugar Beach. It appeals to those interested in themes of identity, family, and cultural heritage set against political upheaval.

4.2

8,660 ratings

72%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

354

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Liberia • 1970s-1980s

Publication Year

2008

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

940L

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