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lau_vansunshine's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jenmangler's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a beautiful book. It explores the difficulty of leaving your home and all you know to move to a place that seems so strange, the Islamophobia that makes it difficult to exist and feel welcome in this new place, the guilt you feel when you start to like this new place and know people that you love are still in danger, and the struggle to figure out what home really means. I loved Jude's family, both in Syria and in Cincinnati. I especially adored all the scenes in Jude's ELL class. The teacher and her classmates are so supportive of each other, and they become such a beautiful, welcoming, and safe community for every member. This book needs to get into a lot of hands. I highly recommend it.
maryhannawilson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
5.0
Jude and her mother have moved to America, leaving her brother and family in their hometown in Syria where things have become volatile.
Everything in America seems unfamiliar and different, and Jude is struggling to find her place. But as she finds friends and gets to know her American family, she starts to feel more comfortable in her new home - and allows people to get to know the real her.
I love a good novel in verse and this one drew me in right away. I loved Jude and thought her journey was shared honestly and beautifully through poetry. I got to see America through her eyes and it made me see things in new ways. Sometimes I laughed and other times I felt the sting of reality as she sees the privileges that come from living here.
While the violence in Syria is the reason she and her mother move, it remains a backdrop for the story as she worries about her brother in Aleppo. The book does not describe violence in detail though one house raid situation is mentioned briefly.
Jude develops a variety of friendships which allow us to see different aspects of school and life in America through their eyes as they teach her things. I appreciated the different characters, especially the other students in the ESL class who related to her situation.
Jude also faces racism in America as people who are prejudiced against the Muslim community make comments about her head covering or just about her because of her race. While the book included difficult aspects of Jude's life, it was also hopeful and included people who treated her kindly and helped her find her place.
This was a fantastic story and I highly recommend it.
Everything in America seems unfamiliar and different, and Jude is struggling to find her place. But as she finds friends and gets to know her American family, she starts to feel more comfortable in her new home - and allows people to get to know the real her.
I love a good novel in verse and this one drew me in right away. I loved Jude and thought her journey was shared honestly and beautifully through poetry. I got to see America through her eyes and it made me see things in new ways. Sometimes I laughed and other times I felt the sting of reality as she sees the privileges that come from living here.
While the violence in Syria is the reason she and her mother move, it remains a backdrop for the story as she worries about her brother in Aleppo. The book does not describe violence in detail though one house raid situation is mentioned briefly.
Jude develops a variety of friendships which allow us to see different aspects of school and life in America through their eyes as they teach her things. I appreciated the different characters, especially the other students in the ESL class who related to her situation.
Jude also faces racism in America as people who are prejudiced against the Muslim community make comments about her head covering or just about her because of her race. While the book included difficult aspects of Jude's life, it was also hopeful and included people who treated her kindly and helped her find her place.
This was a fantastic story and I highly recommend it.
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
5.0
A girl from my choir of 200, who still remains nameless to me, told me that this was her favorite book. I hope I can track her down and thank her eventually, because this. Was so good. The verse was gorgeous, the story was beautiful and the main character's wish to be a movie star was so true and real. If you're looking for a good middle-grade, a novel in-verse or an authentic and beautiful refugee story... it's this book, friends. I read it so quickly, it was such a pageturner and such a lovely story. It was real enough that it saddened me, but also hopeful. It touched on so many important themes. I just really adored it.
mysteriesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
nerdyfantasyreader's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
asahome's review against another edition
3.75
TL;DR: A girl navigates transitioning from childhood to adolescence as her home also transforms from a safe place to threats of violence from outside the home. As she navigates her new world and her new self, she learns to rely on those around her to be touch stones on her journey.
pothosethos's review against another edition
5.0
I love this story. The whole book is in verse and I read it all in one sitting. It beautifully describes the story of Jude, a refugee from Syria. It holds the sadness Jude has of missing her homeland and family, and the happy moments she has found in America so well. It is written for a tween audience, but has a depth, sensitivity, and humanity about it. Would highly recommend!