ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS is a letter from a son, Little Dog, to his illiterate mother, Rose. Little Dog is the narrator is a gay immigrant living in Connecticut. Through his letters, we learn of a mother's hard work to survive, a boy working illegally on a tobacco farm, and a boy's lost innocence with another boy Trevor. In this story, we see a complicated family history and identity in America along with issues minorities and immigrants face.



I will say that there were topics in this book that could be triggering to those who have unresolved trauma, are in the healing process, or are not of emotional strength and should proceed with caution. But I can say that despite the triggers, it is well worth gritting your teeth through those rough words.



The story is told in such a way that you are emersed in the lyrical words, forgetting that Little Dog is telling you a story. His story shows the harsh reality that some face and in those harsh times, resiliency, and growth emerge. A sort of confession is what it seems the boy is telling. It shows that even in hard times, traumatic moments, and a journey to survival, we can find a diamond in the middle of the black rock.