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nklosty's review against another edition
5.0
Good stories need good beginnings. I thought this story developed strong characters through the telling of how they came to be with their aunt. An absent mother and overbearing aunt would be enough to make me crazy. Sarah-Mary does a good job of taking care of herself and Caleb. Although there are parts here that I don't completely buy into, I liked the tone and pace of the story. 94
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I want to like it a lot because it teaches first tolerance, and later acceptance throughout the course of the book. And that's an important message that needs to be shared among anti-Muslim folks, and that's why there needs to be a character such as Sarah-Mary to be the spokesperson for that character arc. On the other hand, white saviourism. And why is this in an alternate universe America practically paralleling Japanese internment camps or the Holocaust? Are Muslims not persecuted enough in the United States?
On the literary side, I think a little more worldbuilding could have been useful to help raise the stakes. And unfortunately, Sarah-Mary fell a little flat for me. I really enjoyed all of the other characters though--there was plenty to help flesh out those characters that I didn't quite see in the same way with Sarah-Mary. Also, what happened with her mother?? That was a really compelling sideplot for me, and I'm a little sad that that storyline wasn't tied off.
Overall, it was an okay book. I appreciated what it was trying to do, though I can't exactly be positive whether it succeeded in doing it.
Review cross-listed here!
On the literary side, I think a little more worldbuilding could have been useful to help raise the stakes. And unfortunately, Sarah-Mary fell a little flat for me. I really enjoyed all of the other characters though--there was plenty to help flesh out those characters that I didn't quite see in the same way with Sarah-Mary. Also, what happened with her mother?? That was a really compelling sideplot for me, and I'm a little sad that that storyline wasn't tied off.
Overall, it was an okay book. I appreciated what it was trying to do, though I can't exactly be positive whether it succeeded in doing it.
Review cross-listed here!
seanpqz's review against another edition
2.0
I’m sure the author and publisher had good intentions, but the book never rose above “meh” at best and was cringe-worthy at worst. Maybe in the hands of a more capable writer, the subject matter could have been elevated.
sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
I received this through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the not-s0-distant future of America, Muslim Americans are taken to interment camps/concentration camps. It is dangerous to be a Muslim and to help Muslims out. Sarah-Mary gave very little thought to the Muslim experience, since she was more focused about keeping her brother happy and healthy after their mother left them with their controlling aunt. In an unfortunate twist of fate, Sarah-Mary must run from her aunt's home and help a run away Muslim woman, Chloe/Sadaf. It is along the way that Sarah-Mary is forced to confront her accepted prejudices and those accepted by her country.
I can understand why people are having a tough time with this book. While I don't speak from personal experience, I do wonder if this story could have been better told from the perspective of a Muslim American, or if it could have functioned better with dual narrators. I also took issue with the fact that Sarah-Mary calls Sadaf Chloe for much of the book, it seems to dehumanize the character. It was also difficult that Sarah-Mary a young teen is taking on the parental role and guiding a grown woman who has a higher education degree, it didn't fit or make sense. I had problems with this book.
Set in the not-s0-distant future of America, Muslim Americans are taken to interment camps/concentration camps. It is dangerous to be a Muslim and to help Muslims out. Sarah-Mary gave very little thought to the Muslim experience, since she was more focused about keeping her brother happy and healthy after their mother left them with their controlling aunt. In an unfortunate twist of fate, Sarah-Mary must run from her aunt's home and help a run away Muslim woman, Chloe/Sadaf. It is along the way that Sarah-Mary is forced to confront her accepted prejudices and those accepted by her country.
I can understand why people are having a tough time with this book. While I don't speak from personal experience, I do wonder if this story could have been better told from the perspective of a Muslim American, or if it could have functioned better with dual narrators. I also took issue with the fact that Sarah-Mary calls Sadaf Chloe for much of the book, it seems to dehumanize the character. It was also difficult that Sarah-Mary a young teen is taking on the parental role and guiding a grown woman who has a higher education degree, it didn't fit or make sense. I had problems with this book.
librariann's review against another edition
3.0
So, I grabbed this book before I realized there was a controversssssy. And here's the deal, without me reading all into various arguments for/against.
Is this a "white savior" book? Yes and no. Yes, the character who has to help "Chloe" is white, and has very narrow minded views. But this is a scenario where due to the prejudices in the world, Muslim American people MUST have allies to assist/hide/protect them. In the course of the story, people of various backgrounds assist Sadaf in getting to safety. Are we going to slam Offred for allowing Nick to assist her in her possible escape? THAT WAS KIND OF HER ONLY CHOICE.
Is the main character kind of terrible/does the book not really teach about being Muslim/Muslim American? Yes! However, there are lots of terrible* people out there who need initial encounters with an idea to begin to accept that idea. This is the story of a girl who begins to accept that everything in her world isn't as she first understood.
*Note: terrible in a very generic sense.
But guess what? This doesn't have to be a great book or one that is exquisitely plotted or anything like that. It's kind of an ENTRY LEVEL TOLERANCE book. Should we direct kids to Own Voices books that feature more nuanced portrayals of people? Sure, we can! But for that kid living in Middle America, this might not be a bad piece of entertainment, and they might grow a little in the process of reading it.
Is this a "white savior" book? Yes and no. Yes, the character who has to help "Chloe" is white, and has very narrow minded views. But this is a scenario where due to the prejudices in the world, Muslim American people MUST have allies to assist/hide/protect them. In the course of the story, people of various backgrounds assist Sadaf in getting to safety. Are we going to slam Offred for allowing Nick to assist her in her possible escape? THAT WAS KIND OF HER ONLY CHOICE.
Is the main character kind of terrible/does the book not really teach about being Muslim/Muslim American? Yes! However, there are lots of terrible* people out there who need initial encounters with an idea to begin to accept that idea. This is the story of a girl who begins to accept that everything in her world isn't as she first understood.
*Note: terrible in a very generic sense.
But guess what? This doesn't have to be a great book or one that is exquisitely plotted or anything like that. It's kind of an ENTRY LEVEL TOLERANCE book. Should we direct kids to Own Voices books that feature more nuanced portrayals of people? Sure, we can! But for that kid living in Middle America, this might not be a bad piece of entertainment, and they might grow a little in the process of reading it.
sherylcat's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely mixed feelings about this book. I heard the author speak and know her intentions were good. I'm just not sure if this slightly distopian book works. It is a quick read and easy to read.
book_nut's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book, but after reading several of the other comments, think there's a lot to criticize as well.
disasterchick's review against another edition
4.0
I looked in other reviews where Sarah-Mary was not a very well like character. I think the Moriarty did a good job with bringing a sheltered teenager to life on paper. This is also a timely book with all the hatred that is going on in the USA right now. During WWII we had put the Japanese in interment camps, did we learn how wrong it was? Would we as a nation do it again? Many people seem to have no issues separating families in detention centers. What do you believe? The news? Your religion? What influences your beliefs? On the surface the story was adventurous and enjoyable. However, this work of fiction does make you think deeper thoughts of your own beliefs - what do you have and where do they come from. How much do we know about other religions and cultures?