Scan barcode
nutti72's review against another edition
Great read about life for immigrants after 9/11.
alexisnasya's review against another edition
3.0
Not long after 9/11, Nadira and her Bangladeshi family drive from New York City to the Canadian border to apply for asylum. However, border agents are so overwhelmed with applicants, they turn them away, leading to Nadira’s father’s detainment due to their expired visas. Nadira’s mother stays in a shelter nearby to help manage her father’s case, while Nadira and her older sister, Aisha return to their aunt and uncle’s house to finish school. As more time passes, the situation with their father seems more dire, and the girls begin spiraling into desperation.
This book is an extremely accessible read that offers a glimpse into the panic of living in a post-9/11 America as a person from a predominantly Muslim country without proper documentation. I do think this story could have been much longer and much more intimate since it seemed to lack the deep investment in the characters’ feelings for me. I do think that Nadira is a relatable character, but all the other characters seem a bit one-dimensional. I do believe, though, that students who pick up this book would enjoy reading it and have no issues getting through the story.
This book is an extremely accessible read that offers a glimpse into the panic of living in a post-9/11 America as a person from a predominantly Muslim country without proper documentation. I do think this story could have been much longer and much more intimate since it seemed to lack the deep investment in the characters’ feelings for me. I do think that Nadira is a relatable character, but all the other characters seem a bit one-dimensional. I do believe, though, that students who pick up this book would enjoy reading it and have no issues getting through the story.
ki4eva's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting story. You can feel how scared the girls were after their father was detained. I don't really get why the author kept focusing on the girls weight throughout the book.
katiegrrrl's review against another edition
4.0
a good look at the immigrant story, especially of those living here undocumented. It is hard to understand just how scary it is especially for children and teens.
line_so_fine's review against another edition
4.0
A moving, suspenseful, and realistic tale of Nadira, 14, an illegal immigrant who lives in the U.S. with her family. After 9/11, Nadira and her family decide to seek asylum in Canada, but are refused at the Canadian border and Nadira's father is taken away to a detention center. As the rest of her family falls apart, Nadira takes over the fight to save her father and her family.
cheye13's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Think this might've been a bit too young for me, and if I'd read it at the intended age, the topic would've been a bit more accurate. Still an important read, but a bit niche in its address of xenopobia.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia and Islamophobia
Minor: Confinement, Sexism, Torture, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kscalze's review against another edition
1.0
Worst book ever! SUPER boring!!! Me and my friends that read it all agree! We always knew what was happening. We requested that our reading teacher got a different book in the place of it. He claimed it was one of his least favorite too.
arguhlincozzi's review against another edition
4.0
First, I haven't read this book since I was in middle school, but I remember really enjoying it then. The story is strong, and I feel might once again be particularly relevant in this time period. The character of Nadira can be hard to see the world through sometimes, but it's important, and the arc that results is a worthy read. I'm definitely hoping to give this a reread sometime.