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msghani's review against another edition
5.0
Reem Faruqi's second MG novel-in-verse is another winner. It's beautiful, it's heartwrenching, and Aafiya's struggles feel authentic to the reader. I also love how her Muslim faith was central to her and her family.
ellbo_oks333's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing the E-ARC of this book.
I thought it had good representation and brings up concepts such as identity, forgiveness, as well as racism that Aafiyah faces. I always love reading books in-verse and it was a nice surprise to see in "Golden Girl." For me, I just thought that the way each problem came up could have been tied in more neatly than it was. It just felt like it was all over the place and wanted it to be more cohesive.
I also read the physical copy of the book, and it was a better experience than reading it as a e-book, in my opinion.
I thought it had good representation and brings up concepts such as identity, forgiveness, as well as racism that Aafiyah faces. I always love reading books in-verse and it was a nice surprise to see in "Golden Girl." For me, I just thought that the way each problem came up could have been tied in more neatly than it was. It just felt like it was all over the place and wanted it to be more cohesive.
I also read the physical copy of the book, and it was a better experience than reading it as a e-book, in my opinion.
tx2its's review against another edition
4.0
Reading 2023
Book 140: Golden Girl by Reem Faruqi
Book 3 in #30booksin30days
This is a middle grade novel in verse. The main character has a lot to deal with when her father is wrongly accused of embezzlement and detained in another country. She has a secret of her own that she is keeping. Good story, my rating 4⭐️.
Book 140: Golden Girl by Reem Faruqi
Book 3 in #30booksin30days
This is a middle grade novel in verse. The main character has a lot to deal with when her father is wrongly accused of embezzlement and detained in another country. She has a secret of her own that she is keeping. Good story, my rating 4⭐️.
maeve_littooij's review against another edition
3.0
[3,5]
This book has a unique style of writing. I didn't find the story itself very interesting to be honest, but that doesn't mean I can't find the beauty in this book. It's okay to not always like the story. This book is about a unique issue, kleptomania. A subject I have not encountered before in middle grade fiction. The characters are well developed. Something I really appreciate in this book is that the Culture is presented really well. I am glad there was no mention of terrorism and Islamophobia. That is something I have come across before in books featuring Muslims. Aafiyah (the main character) is critical of the things she sees in Pakistan, celebrates and admires good things about Pakistan and Pakistani culture. The book does not seem to have an intention to present Muslims or Pakistan as good or bad, just as Aafiyah sees them. Despite not liking the story itself, I definitely recommend this book. I think it is an important book for young teenagers. I will definitely read another book by this author.
This book has a unique style of writing. I didn't find the story itself very interesting to be honest, but that doesn't mean I can't find the beauty in this book. It's okay to not always like the story. This book is about a unique issue, kleptomania. A subject I have not encountered before in middle grade fiction. The characters are well developed. Something I really appreciate in this book is that the Culture is presented really well. I am glad there was no mention of terrorism and Islamophobia. That is something I have come across before in books featuring Muslims. Aafiyah (the main character) is critical of the things she sees in Pakistan, celebrates and admires good things about Pakistan and Pakistani culture. The book does not seem to have an intention to present Muslims or Pakistan as good or bad, just as Aafiyah sees them. Despite not liking the story itself, I definitely recommend this book. I think it is an important book for young teenagers. I will definitely read another book by this author.
annebennett1957's review against another edition
4.0
Aafiyah lives a very privileged life in Atlanta as Pakistani-American whose father makes plenty of money, she has every physical thing she needs, yet she can't seem to stop herself from stealing, it is almost like scratching an itch. She must do it. When her father is arrested at the airport for embezzling money, and her mother is forced to support the family and pay the legal bills, her compulsion to steal gets tangled up with wanting to do something for her family, to help out.
What I liked about the book:
The simple, short poems
The weird facts
The way that religion is incorporated into the family's life
The resolution.
What I liked about the book:
The simple, short poems
The weird facts
The way that religion is incorporated into the family's life
The resolution.
lostinausten's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Spoilers ahead
A story about a girl dealing with family issues and kleptomania.
This book really surprised me. First off, it's written in prose so it was a fast read, which I always love. I also thought this would be a girly type book from just the cover, but it actually deals with some serious issues. The main character, a young girl named Aafiyah, is trying to deal with her kleptomania. She is also dealing with family issues, such as, her dad being arrested for embezzlement and her grandpa dealing with cancer. It is more of a surface level book, but all the issues make it worth reading. Plus, this being written in prose adds some weight and meaning to the text.
Overall, this is a unique book for kid's that is accessible and interesting.
A story about a girl dealing with family issues and kleptomania.
This book really surprised me. First off, it's written in prose so it was a fast read, which I always love. I also thought this would be a girly type book from just the cover, but it actually deals with some serious issues. The main character, a young girl named Aafiyah, is trying to deal with her kleptomania. She is also dealing with family issues, such as, her dad being arrested for embezzlement and her grandpa dealing with cancer. It is more of a surface level book, but all the issues make it worth reading. Plus, this being written in prose adds some weight and meaning to the text.
Overall, this is a unique book for kid's that is accessible and interesting.
offinherownmind's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very cute coming of age story told in verse. I liked the facts that were scattered through the book. They were a little treat.
shksprsis's review
challenging
fast-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