Book Review: Last Spring was Bittersweet by Dr. Ardain Isma

Dr. Ardain Isma continues the story of Yrvin Lacroix in the sequel Last Spring was Bittersweet. The first installment Bittersweet Memories of Last Spring leaves us with a cliffhanger where Yrvin has just graduated college and has gotten his girlfriend Michaela pregnant. He wants to do the right thing and asks her to marry him, but Michaela's family acts out of shame and sends her away to live with family in Strausburg. Yrvin is left greiving for the loss of his fiancé and his unborn child.

The sequel Last Spring was Bittersweet picks up right where we left off. Yrvin is mired in his grief. To make matters worse, both he and his sister Nana lose their jobs. In their struggle to find employment and keep a roof over their heads, Yrvin discovers just how difficult finding a job in his dream field truly is. He is faced with racism, and the overall dismissiveness and unfairness of the corporate workforce. He is told again and again that his degree means nothing and that his work experience is not enough. Finally, he takes a menial job outside his field just to keep the looming eviction notice at bay. He is crushed by this perceived failure, but it turns out that this job is anything but a fail.

The boss of the company Yrvin works for sees his work ethic and his talents, and gives him the leg up he needs. Yrvin is finally able to take that leap and work in his dream field. He also gains access to respect from his corporate peers and wealth from this high-paying job. At last, he has reached his American Dream. Except, there is still so much missing in his life. His victory feels hollow.

This struggle to find employment in his chosen field and the crushing reality that a degree means next to nothing is a hardship we can all relate to, especially today. Jobseekers find now, more than ever, that the expectations companies have for even entry level positions, is unrealistic and demoralizing. Many follow the same path as Yrvin, having to give up on their quest to get a job in their graduate field, and instead, settle for a menial job just to pay the bills. Many never get the leg up that Yrvin does and are trapped in the vicious catch-22 that so many people face in the job market: you need experience working in the field (even for an entry level position), but no one is willing to give you the chance to have that experience.

Adding to the frustration of trying to find gainful employment, many also face the added challenge of job-seeking as a POC. Many companies, even today, are still complicit in racism and other prejudices, even if these are unintentional biases. It's an ugly reality that so many have faced, and continue to face today. Dr. Ardain Isma does a wonderful job of presenting this through Yrvin's experiences, and drives home that no matter how far we come, we still need to do better for the many hardworking peoples that truly deserve their slice of the American Dream.

All throughout Last Spring was Bittersweet, Yrvin continues to fight to find Michaela and his son, Yrvin Junior. He also continues to fight to bring his mother and siblings from Haiti, and his father from the Bahamas, to The States. He also maintains his ties to his homeland and continues to fight for Haiti's struggle for independence and to overthrow the dictatorship that crushes the commonfolk who still live there. His love for his family is inspirational, and his deep love for his homeland is admirable.

Last Spring was Bittersweet shows us that the struggle to make it as an immigrant living in The States is an uphill battle, no matter where you are on the ladder of success. Yrvin has to fight every step of the way, and even in a respected position, he still faces racism and opposition. Dr. Ardain Isma does an incredible job telling the story that is the same as so many immigrants that come to The States seeking to work hard for success. This story is beautifully written, and Yrvin's struggles pull on the heartstrings and give insight into the immigrant plight.

I highly recommend this book, and hope it continues to receive the attention and acolades it deserves. Be sure to pick up this incredible story today, and see what other stories Dr. Ardain Isma has to offer.

You can buy Last Spring was Bittersweet here on Amazon.

You can buy Bittersweet Memories of Last Spring here on Amazon.

About the Author

Ardain Isma is a career educator, university professor, and scholar. He is an essayist and former editorial board member of NSU (Nova Southeastern University) TESOL journal. He is the chief editor of CSMS Magazine which represents the principal medium for the Center for Strategic and Multicultural Studies (CSMS), a professional organization made up of academics whose aim is to promote cross-cultural awareness. Ardain Isma has written extensively on three main issues: writers' tools for success, social justice, and multiculturalism. His latest book "Midnight at Noon" is a contemporary novel which describes not only the current state of modern day Haiti, but also provides in-depth elements for readers to understand Haiti and its glorious past. Ardain Isma currently lives and works in suburban Jacksonville.