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smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up.
This was a solid #ownvoices YA debut about family secrets, Afghan-Uzbek immigrant lives and the challenges of watching a loved one slowly disappear from Alzheimer's. Great on audio with a heartfelt author's note included at the end. Plus what an incredibly stunning cover!!
This was a solid #ownvoices YA debut about family secrets, Afghan-Uzbek immigrant lives and the challenges of watching a loved one slowly disappear from Alzheimer's. Great on audio with a heartfelt author's note included at the end. Plus what an incredibly stunning cover!!
zaebee's review
4.0
An immigrant family's inter-generational story told in an atmosphere of paranormal/horror told by a 15 year old as she begins unraveling secrets from her grandmother's traumatic past. The main character surprisingly balances the maturity of understanding her grandmother's tragic story all the while managing to commit irrational actions typical for a teenager. The narrative sometimes tend to get repetitive every now though.
100pagesaday's review
5.0
Sara Rahmat's life is slowly falling apart at fifteen years old. Her parents are going through a divorce, her Bibi Jan's memories are being taken by dementia and there is a huge rift between Sara and her best friend, Sam. Sara is hoping to get through the summer uneventfully and is forced to help with her mom's house flipping project. Upon entering the abandoned house on Sumner, Sara is overtaken with emotion. Then, Sara spots a young girl who bears a strong resemblance to her family, only to have the young girl disappear. As summer continues, Sara is drawn to the Sumner house and the family mystery that she feels destined to uncover there. However, in her obsession, Sara pushes away her family, her friends and even some parts of herself.
Told in a lyrical prose, House of Yesterday is a haunting, contemporary young adult story that covers so much more than coming of age. The overarching theme seems to be the question of 'who am I?' Sara asks this constantly as she tries to unravel the mystery of Sumner house. As Sara says: "
The writing so perfectly captures the lost, unknown, angry and in-between feeling of being a teenager through Sara's point of view. While Sara is trying to heal her own internal wounds, it seems like she is making a mess of everything in the outside world, but all she really wants to do is pay homage to the past and her families roots. I'm glad that both Sara's parents, large extended family and friends were supportive, understanding and had her back through everything that she was trying to deal with. I loved the mystery of Sumner House and how the memories of Sara's family played out as she brought the house objects from her grandmother's past. I also loved the heritage of Sara's Afghan- Uzbek family. Without it being the center point of the story, traditions, values, language and the immigrant experience was weaved throughout. I absolutely devoured this book and loved the mix of paranormal and very real issues of growing up.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Told in a lyrical prose, House of Yesterday is a haunting, contemporary young adult story that covers so much more than coming of age. The overarching theme seems to be the question of 'who am I?' Sara asks this constantly as she tries to unravel the mystery of Sumner house. As Sara says: "
"Who am I?
I am Sarah Rahmat and not.
I am American and not.
I am Afghan-Uzbek and not.
I am the product of a grand love story and not. I am and I am not. "
The writing so perfectly captures the lost, unknown, angry and in-between feeling of being a teenager through Sara's point of view. While Sara is trying to heal her own internal wounds, it seems like she is making a mess of everything in the outside world, but all she really wants to do is pay homage to the past and her families roots. I'm glad that both Sara's parents, large extended family and friends were supportive, understanding and had her back through everything that she was trying to deal with. I loved the mystery of Sumner House and how the memories of Sara's family played out as she brought the house objects from her grandmother's past. I also loved the heritage of Sara's Afghan- Uzbek family. Without it being the center point of the story, traditions, values, language and the immigrant experience was weaved throughout. I absolutely devoured this book and loved the mix of paranormal and very real issues of growing up.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
jwldt13's review
4.0
ugh this book had me sobbing and smiling and shaking with my jaw dropped all at the same time. loved it sm, also sam is the best character ever idc
pickitywitch's review
5.0
I'm not really one who likes the teenage angst driven things, but this book actually provides self awareness that is very refreshing.
The mix of the supernatural with the sobering truths of reality was well written.
Heartwarming family story.
The mix of the supernatural with the sobering truths of reality was well written.
Heartwarming family story.
emilyisoverbooked's review
4.0
Thanks so much to BooksForwardBFFs and Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the copy of this ARC.
House of Yesterday is such a unique YA book, touching on the memories and trauma of the past and how they affect the present in a tangible way. The author drew from her Afghan-Uzbek heritage and used it to create a generational immigration story that's framed perfectly for a YA audience in this a coming-of-age novel. I loved the embodiment of the ghosts from the past and thought it added a very cool layer to this story.
House of Yesterday is such a unique YA book, touching on the memories and trauma of the past and how they affect the present in a tangible way. The author drew from her Afghan-Uzbek heritage and used it to create a generational immigration story that's framed perfectly for a YA audience in this a coming-of-age novel. I loved the embodiment of the ghosts from the past and thought it added a very cool layer to this story.
caylieratzlaff's review
3.0
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3/5 stars.
Sara, and Afghan-Uzbek teenager, is struggling with MANY changes in her life. She wants to see her family whole again, with separated parents (due to domestic violence) and her Bibi Jan suffering from dementia. While helping with a house her mother is flipping, Sara starts to discover family secrets due to some magical, almost Jinn like influences and visions. This completely changes her, and it results in her losing touch with reality.
Look, the cover is stunning. I loved the synopsis...but it fell flat for me. I know this is reflective of me not being the target audience, but it pained me that not ONCE did someone see Sara basically having hallucinations and a lack of clarity...and decide to have her see someone? or put her in in-patient? There's also no explanation for why there are memories or visions or ghosts that appear...even at the end when the mystery gets 'solved' no one really questions the vision or the ghost that appears...there's just...no explanation at all.
There are some really good lines, though, about family history and memories in this book.
Sara, and Afghan-Uzbek teenager, is struggling with MANY changes in her life. She wants to see her family whole again, with separated parents (due to domestic violence) and her Bibi Jan suffering from dementia. While helping with a house her mother is flipping, Sara starts to discover family secrets due to some magical, almost Jinn like influences and visions. This completely changes her, and it results in her losing touch with reality.
Look, the cover is stunning. I loved the synopsis...but it fell flat for me. I know this is reflective of me not being the target audience, but it pained me that not ONCE did someone see Sara basically having hallucinations and a lack of clarity...and decide to have her see someone? or put her in in-patient? There's also no explanation for why there are memories or visions or ghosts that appear...even at the end when the mystery gets 'solved' no one really questions the vision or the ghost that appears...there's just...no explanation at all.
There are some really good lines, though, about family history and memories in this book.
nhussain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
scienceworks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
mayhernandez's review
emotional
medium-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
3.75