Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan

22 reviews

smillas_tales's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This book offers a view into the uncertain situations many immigrants find themselves in, and It’s a heavily political and family-oriented story! It also explores the intersectionality of race, religion and sexuality, and while it isn’t a new favorite, I really enjoyed my time with it! 

This story focuses on a lot of important topics, and I loved how none of the issues were sugarcoated! I also really liked the casual queer representation, as there isn’t made a big deal of Zara’s sexuality. I also appreciated that her safety as a queer woman as well as a woman of color and a Muslim was discussed, as these intersectionalities aren’t often explored this thoroughly in YA literature.

While I loved many aspects of this book, the execution was lacking. I had a hard time getting into the writing style, as I found the dialogue to be somewhat awkward, as well as the descriptions to be lacking. I never got a clear picture of any of the characters or their surroundings, which is something I need to really get enveloped in a story. The ending was also really rushed, and I lacked a more comprehensive conclusion.

Additionally, the romance just didn’t work for me. The reader is told that Zara and Chloe like each other, but not actually shown why. We don’t get to see them connect, and it’s very insta-lovey, which I can’t stand. It’s definitely a sub-plot though, so don’t let it keep you from reading this! 

Although it isn’t a new favorite, I do highly recommend this if you’re looking for a YA contemporary with a political focus and great queer representation!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Homophobia

Moderate: Gun violence and Violence

laureliz's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Biphobia and Violence

kateyearsley's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Gun violence

literarylaila's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Islamophobia

saadiasreads's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, and Islamophobia

Minor: Homophobia

starryorbit12's review

emotional informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Zara Hossain is Here in a short, fast-paced novel filled with intention on every page. The struggle and injustice that Zara and her family go through are core of this novel showing how government processes can often further victimize already hurt and marginalized people. It shows just how much immigrants have to fight no mater how many years they have been in the country and how fight rarely every ends.Zara, her friends, and family shine and the book never shies away from the ugly true of what they have been through and continue to go through waiting 14 years for their green cards to finish processing. The social commentary is spot on, and this a short read that could be finished in one to two sitting making it work the read if your on the fence. I do appreciate the optimistic but not perfect ending as well. It felt realistic without use realistic as way to be overly grim-dark or angsty.

 This is also F/F romance with a bisexual lead and lesbian love interest. While the representation is great, the conversation on homophobia is a little shallow in places.

The novel focus more on Chloe, the love interests, homophobic Christian family than the implication of what could happen to Zara if she moves back to Pakistan and is outed. I do like the Zara family was supportive though. Not even Zara thinks about to as debates going with her family, she thinks more on not being with Chloe than the implication of what being with women could mean for her there. It only briefly touched on that although her parents may miss their family that they may lose by them anyways if they find out Zara is bisexual.

In comparison to the other themes, the homophobia and romance felt tacked on. Zara and Chloe were cute, and I love the way they are able to communicate and be each other's rocks when bad things happen. It just the harder LGBTQ+ topics the book approached fell flat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Medical content, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry

Zara locker is defaced with racist slurs. When the student who did it faces consequences, they defaced more islamophobic slurs on her house. Her father goes to report the behavior to the student father. The father shoots him, and he ends up in the hospital with internal bleeding and brain swelling that force the hospital to put him into an induced coma. Chloe parents are homophobic, and the use their religion to justify their rejection of her lesbianism. In addition, Zara faces racist comments and aggressions throughout.

melaniereadsbooks's review

challenging inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book was wonderful. I feel like Zara went through so much in a short time and learned a ton and really developed. I enjoyed the explorations other characters went through as well. I loved how supportive her parents were of her and how they defied the stereotypes about Muslim parents and queer children.

I also really liked Zara's relationship with Chloe and how open it was! So cute!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Islamophobia, Hate crime, Racism, Homophobia, Bullying, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Violence and Religious bigotry

betweentheshelves's review

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Zara and her family are about to get their green cards. At least, until a racist incident threatens the process. This was such an authentic look at the immigration process in the US and how it can change at the flip of a switch, even if you did everything right. I think it can be really eye opening for people who don't know much about the immigration process (like me). I also appreciated that Zara's queerness wasn't the main plot driving point. A quick read, but packed with so much great stuff!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Islamophobia, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Homophobia and Biphobia

citymouse's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Biphobia and Violence

atreyib18's review

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Religious bigotry, Racism, Racial slurs, Islamophobia, Hate crime, and Gun violence