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jesassa's review against another edition
3.0
My instinct was to give this four stars, but upon further reflection I think it only warrants three. Although I've taken away a star, by no means does that mean I don't think that this is an important book. It's important and impressive and timely. There are problems with it though and for all its novelty those issues should not be ignored. I still think this book should be read widely.
sofiamarielg's review against another edition
3.0
Cheesy teenage romance, but a very interesting look at growing up in Saudi Arabia as a girl.
giulay's review against another edition
2.0
"When people say you’re wrong so many times over so many years, when they call you a bad person, you begin to believe them. You begin to hide your face again – to anyone – you will be judged. Sometimes, it gets so bad that you begin to wonder if life is worth living."
TW: rape, sexual assault, abusive parents, bullying.
Unpopular Opinion Time
TW: rape, sexual assault, abusive parents, bullying.
Unpopular Opinion Time
cathieleyy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
essja7's review against another edition
3.0
A dark story told from multiple POV with very few positive or uplifting moments. I enjoyed the journey into different cultures, religions and lifestyles and felt deeply for Zarin as she struggled to find her place in an unforgiving and incredibly harsh life (some of which was reinforced through the decisions and actions she chose as her way of escape).
To strengthen this story I felt that it needed a counter balance other than Porus. All men and women were portrayed as either weak and neurotic or nasty and depraved but without someone in there representing strength and empathy it tended to feel very stereotypical.
It is also quite different to read a story knowing that your main characters are already dead, clever approach though.
To strengthen this story I felt that it needed a counter balance other than Porus. All men and women were portrayed as either weak and neurotic or nasty and depraved but without someone in there representing strength and empathy it tended to feel very stereotypical.
It is also quite different to read a story knowing that your main characters are already dead, clever approach though.
sbelasco40's review against another edition
5.0
This was a painful but incredibly good read. The tension was so strong throughout, and the way that the personalities and motivations and histories of the characters were revealed little by little was so skillful. I’m also always glad to see a YA novel set outside of North America, and the story felt both completely specific to its Saudi Arabian setting and also universal to the teenage/coming-of-age experience.
daffz's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger Warnings: Sexual Abuse, Domestic Abuse
This was not an easy read, but definitely a profound one. I'm having trouble thinking of what to write about this book, but I think it's a very well-written and important novel. The story is about a sixteen year old girl named Zarin being raised by her aunt and uncle in Saudi Arabia. Zarin has managed to build up a reputation as a 'bad girl', a troublemaker who spends time with boys and smokes cigarettes. But there is a lot more to her, more that a lot of her peers and adults around her are unable to see. The story begins with her death, then moves back in time to build up what happened to lead up to it. It was a sad story, as I grew invested in both Zarin and the sweet romance in the book, while knowing the entire time how the book would end. The plot highlighted how restricting the culture Zarin grew up in was, and I was happily surprised by the multiple perspectives that showed how this society affected different people.
All in all, not an easy book and not one I would recommend for everyone. But if it looks interesting to you, and if you heed the trigger warnings, it's definitely a story that will stick with you.
This was not an easy read, but definitely a profound one. I'm having trouble thinking of what to write about this book, but I think it's a very well-written and important novel. The story is about a sixteen year old girl named Zarin being raised by her aunt and uncle in Saudi Arabia. Zarin has managed to build up a reputation as a 'bad girl', a troublemaker who spends time with boys and smokes cigarettes. But there is a lot more to her, more that a lot of her peers and adults around her are unable to see. The story begins with her death, then moves back in time to build up what happened to lead up to it. It was a sad story, as I grew invested in both Zarin and the sweet romance in the book, while knowing the entire time how the book would end. The plot highlighted how restricting the culture Zarin grew up in was, and I was happily surprised by the multiple perspectives that showed how this society affected different people.
All in all, not an easy book and not one I would recommend for everyone. But if it looks interesting to you, and if you heed the trigger warnings, it's definitely a story that will stick with you.
mbellsamantha's review against another edition
4.0