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lauredhel's review
4.0
A timely Australian YA 'issue book' that remains very readable. This should end up on a whole lot of English curricula very soon.
littlemissstar55's review
5.0
This was all kinds of amazing.
Seriously, I cannot express right now just how much I enjoyed this book. I think that every Australian should read this book, even just to start comprehending how casual racism can be.
This book is so important.
I will try write a more coherent review when I'm not completely ill.
Seriously, I cannot express right now just how much I enjoyed this book. I think that every Australian should read this book, even just to start comprehending how casual racism can be.
This book is so important.
I will try write a more coherent review when I'm not completely ill.
gillyreads's review
5.0
A must read. So well done, really lovely story with an important exploration of empathy, and learning to see the world complexly.
Also Mina is so kickass, I love her.
Also Mina is so kickass, I love her.
msreader's review
4.0
4.8/5
I am so passionate about this story and mainly, this real life issue.
This book is extremely eye-opening - a lot i already knew, but a lot i didn't thin about or weigh up. Especially concerning recent political events in Australia (the stupid idiotic cruel decision to ban boat people) proving how much more we need to talk about this. About refugees and acceptance and immigration and balancing capacity and welfare and BEHING HUMANE.
So much to say and yet so complicated - Avril would know!
This book is about Mina, a boat refugee from Afghanistan years ago and how she copes in the present world with racism and ISIS and the political turmoil that is life. (PS. FUCK YOU DONALD TRUMP - totally relevant right? :) )
She meets Michael whose parent's run an organisation called Aussie Values where they preach assimilation and refusing boat people and refugees not relying on Australia. Two opposite worlds clash = good book idea.
Honestly, there is nothing wrong with this book. No faults. The only reason it isn't a perfect 5/5 is because when is one's side of a very political view ever truly perfect, and also i wanted a little something more - though no clue of or from what.
This book was adorable - in a way it really was. Michael and Mina are cute and so young and just young love. Cheesy but yet not cheesy at all. The sum of all the characters make the plot but individually there isn't as much depth to them all. Love Mina and Michael duh. And PAULA! Jane is interesting too! Terrence ... so complex i wanted more. More progression maybe? But i guess sometimes people are just jerks and there isn't more? Or he just wasn't the planned changed character - being Michael. Mina's parents - meh. Not meh but not very rounded. Loved Nathan. Love that he had special qualities to his personality but it wasn't the main thing, it was just an accepted fact.
Loved how Aussie this was! Not only Aussie by NSW, Sydney, Wester Sydney! I so relate. I think they even mentioned my brother's school lol.
Plot. Intense and yet paced really well. Respect to Randa, this book contained a lot and dealt with so much and yet it reads so well and flows and everything adds to the over all impact of the book.
What i absolutely loved about When Michael Met Mina was the humanising of both sides, the honest views of both sides presented in a mostly unbiased matter. Mina and her parents are hard-working people simply trying to find a home to belong after suffering terrible fates in their home country, trying to give their daughter the best life possible. And especially ... Michaels' parents are not evil dumb bogans but are caring loving parents who are calm and simply believe they are helping their own people - ignorant as they are. As Michael says - the worst thing isn't that his parents can be racist but that they can be kind. Michael's dad is so strong and calm in his belief i even found him convincing at times. I mean Australia can only help so many right? Welfare is being stretched. They have to accept our laws too, don't bring ancient anti-feminist rules thank you. HOWEVER Australia is large and thankfully has resources - sure there may be a limit to how many people it can help but that number is large and can be manipulated to helping more. Human lives are worth a little less Centrelink. Also as the book even questions - how much assimilation is necessary? Ok adhere to laws. But assimilation of culture? Of language? of religion? Where is the line. One thing this book doesn't do is answer every single question. The book takes a much more realistic approach. Randa simply aimed to show both sides, present the arguments and let readers decide- though some heavy hinting went on.
The ending took me a minute to grasp - not that it's a sudden crazy twist or anything, but i didn't get what Mina meant. However then i got it. Or well, my interpretation of the ending. Very personal, as interpretations always are. Mina was saying to never give up on people and simply write them off as racist and ignorant and the 'bad guy' as sometimes they are just confused or finding their voice or were born into it. Never give up on making a difference. Continue fighting for your beliefs and helping others. Don't let the negativity get to you. You will always find support and help and good people. You can make a difference.
Thank You Randa! This book is so important. A new favourite for sure. Glad it was my gift to myself for my birthday! Can pick it up anytime for a refresher on what's important :)
I am so passionate about this story and mainly, this real life issue.
This book is extremely eye-opening - a lot i already knew, but a lot i didn't thin about or weigh up. Especially concerning recent political events in Australia (the stupid idiotic cruel decision to ban boat people) proving how much more we need to talk about this. About refugees and acceptance and immigration and balancing capacity and welfare and BEHING HUMANE.
So much to say and yet so complicated - Avril would know!
This book is about Mina, a boat refugee from Afghanistan years ago and how she copes in the present world with racism and ISIS and the political turmoil that is life. (PS. FUCK YOU DONALD TRUMP - totally relevant right? :) )
She meets Michael whose parent's run an organisation called Aussie Values where they preach assimilation and refusing boat people and refugees not relying on Australia. Two opposite worlds clash = good book idea.
Honestly, there is nothing wrong with this book. No faults. The only reason it isn't a perfect 5/5 is because when is one's side of a very political view ever truly perfect, and also i wanted a little something more - though no clue of or from what.
This book was adorable - in a way it really was. Michael and Mina are cute and so young and just young love. Cheesy but yet not cheesy at all. The sum of all the characters make the plot but individually there isn't as much depth to them all. Love Mina and Michael duh. And PAULA! Jane is interesting too! Terrence ... so complex i wanted more. More progression maybe? But i guess sometimes people are just jerks and there isn't more? Or he just wasn't the planned changed character - being Michael. Mina's parents - meh. Not meh but not very rounded. Loved Nathan. Love that he had special qualities to his personality but it wasn't the main thing, it was just an accepted fact.
Loved how Aussie this was! Not only Aussie by NSW, Sydney, Wester Sydney! I so relate. I think they even mentioned my brother's school lol.
Plot. Intense and yet paced really well. Respect to Randa, this book contained a lot and dealt with so much and yet it reads so well and flows and everything adds to the over all impact of the book.
What i absolutely loved about When Michael Met Mina was the humanising of both sides, the honest views of both sides presented in a mostly unbiased matter. Mina and her parents are hard-working people simply trying to find a home to belong after suffering terrible fates in their home country, trying to give their daughter the best life possible. And especially ... Michaels' parents are not evil dumb bogans but are caring loving parents who are calm and simply believe they are helping their own people - ignorant as they are. As Michael says - the worst thing isn't that his parents can be racist but that they can be kind. Michael's dad is so strong and calm in his belief i even found him convincing at times. I mean Australia can only help so many right? Welfare is being stretched. They have to accept our laws too, don't bring ancient anti-feminist rules thank you. HOWEVER Australia is large and thankfully has resources - sure there may be a limit to how many people it can help but that number is large and can be manipulated to helping more. Human lives are worth a little less Centrelink. Also as the book even questions - how much assimilation is necessary? Ok adhere to laws. But assimilation of culture? Of language? of religion? Where is the line. One thing this book doesn't do is answer every single question. The book takes a much more realistic approach. Randa simply aimed to show both sides, present the arguments and let readers decide- though some heavy hinting went on.
The ending took me a minute to grasp - not that it's a sudden crazy twist or anything, but i didn't get what Mina meant. However then i got it. Or well, my interpretation of the ending. Very personal, as interpretations always are.
Thank You Randa! This book is so important. A new favourite for sure. Glad it was my gift to myself for my birthday! Can pick it up anytime for a refresher on what's important :)
jac's review
3.0
I just don't believe that a high school would willing sell coffee to 16 year olds.
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In all seriousness, I really enjoyed this. It was super easy to read whilst giving plenty of food for thought. However, I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I read it at at 15. The writing was a little descriptive and basic for me to fully appreciate at age 21.
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In all seriousness, I really enjoyed this. It was super easy to read whilst giving plenty of food for thought. However, I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I read it at at 15. The writing was a little descriptive and basic for me to fully appreciate at age 21.
florencia's review
4.0
Tiene muy buen comentario acerca de tolerancia y discriminación hacia refugiados. El mensaje es clarísimo y la autora plantea los argumentos muy bien.
La historia también es linda, y los personajes son queribles. No le pongo 5/5 porque no lo amé, pero la verdad, la denuncia que hace la autora es perfecta y da ganas de aplaudir.
La historia también es linda, y los personajes son queribles. No le pongo 5/5 porque no lo amé, pero la verdad, la denuncia que hace la autora es perfecta y da ganas de aplaudir.
astarlia's review
5.0
My favourite thing about this book was that Mina had no patience for anyone's racist shit, and yet the book did not try and villify the people that had super horrible views as being super horrible people. I enjoyed that the characters in this book were forced the make the choice of 'how much crap we don't agree with' will we put up from people we care about, and it had some great examples of what allyship should look like, and how as a minoririty it's okay to speak up for yourself, but also having to do that all the time is super draining.
The book does come across as quite policitical, but there is enough other plot and background characters that it's still a lovely enjoyable read.
Bonus points for very stereotypical but still nice to see autistic rep of Michaels little brother.
The book does come across as quite policitical, but there is enough other plot and background characters that it's still a lovely enjoyable read.
Bonus points for very stereotypical but still nice to see autistic rep of Michaels little brother.
jjyork's review
2.0
2.5 ⭐️ good idea that wasn’t well executed. There was an important message, but the story could have used more editing.