Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - Other Words for Home

Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

27 reviews

lattelibrarian's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

Other Words for Home is an inspiring novel in verse that asks what it means to be home. Is it your family? Having a community? A house? A language? A culture? As Jude immigrates to the United States and enhances her English, she must also learn to navigate this new culture all the while worrying about the family she and her mother left behind.

As Jude makes friends and figures out how she fits in with her new school, she also decides to regain her confidence by auditioning for the school play. While working on her extra-curricular, she must also reckon with living between two cultures and languages. Warga takes these difficult topics and discusses them almost effortlessly.

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bibliomich's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad fast-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? No

5.0

In Other Words for Home, Jasmine Warga tells the story of Jude, an adolescent girl who moves from Syria to the U.S. due to increasing political unrest and violence in her homeland. While navigating living in a new country, learning more of the English language, and worrying about her friends and relatives still in Syria, Jude also faces significant Islamophobia & xenophobia. All of this is written in a way that is developmentally accessible to young readers. I could write so much more about this book, but I will simply say that it is a must-read.

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readingwithtemperance's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-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

5.0

The only bad thing I can say about this book is that I wanted more of it. I love Jude and her family so much. The writing was gorgeous. And the audio was so immersive.

I cried multiple times reading this.

When Jude put on her hijab for the first time my heart sang for her.

the awful attack on her friend Layla's family's store.

and

the birth of her sister/seeing her brother again even through a screen.

The author's note was beautiful and powerful and brought tears to my eyes as well. I am so happy I read this.

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bessadams's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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zombieracoon's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

It's a wonderful and inspiring girl of an Arabic girl crossing an ocean and moving to America, and her journey and experiences in America.

Content Warnings

bookedandbusy's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I loved this book so much. It gave me so much perspective on a topic I’m generally very sheltered from, and I appreciated that! This is an important read for any age and I would recommend it!

Content Warnings