Scan barcode
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Racism, Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Outing, and Bullying
purplevibes123's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racism, and Homophobia
lynxaluchs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Racism
olive_ia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Cultural appropriation
windermerepeak1's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Bullying
bookswtheo's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racism, and Outing
Moderate: Lesbophobia
kylosten's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Cultural appropriation, Outing, and Racism
Moderate: Gaslighting and Bullying
paili's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Outing, and Racism
Moderate: Cultural appropriation
Minor: Islamophobia
dhiyanah's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Adiba Jaigirdar has a way of affirming, in her writing, the unique struggles of growing up within South Asian diasporas, weaving it with her experiences within the Irish immigrant context. I thought at first that I wouldn't feel connected to the latter since Ireland feels so far away from me and my reality here in the global south, but she writes in a way that makes space for familiar challenges and the life-affirming possibilities so many of us in the global diaspora dream up in our free time just to get by. The ending was an adorably soft landing and I appreciate how hopeful that felt.
Graphic: Bullying and Outing
Moderate: Homophobia, Xenophobia, and Cultural appropriation
filipacmiranda's review against another edition
2.5
Being one of the first times I read a book with a Bengali main character, I expected The Henna Wars to contain much more detailed descriptions of the celebrations that were included in the plot and for Nishat and her family's cultural background to be one of the main focuses of the story. I was also very excited when I realised Flávia was Brazilian rather than Hispanic! Reading my native language (Portuguese) in a book written in another language was fantastic. However, Brazil has a vast and diverse culture that I would have liked to see reflected in the small moments Nishat shared with Flávia and her mother.
The same is true for Nishat and Flávia's romantic relationship, which seems to grow unsteadily just to become suddenly official.
Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Outing
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Xenophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Toxic friendship