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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
Stunning middle grade novel in verse about a young girl who navigates a move from Syria to Cincinnati, Ohio. There is so much to love about this story. First, the writing is fantastic. I find verse novels to be so intriguing and this one has such beautiful, fresh language. I absolutely love Jude. Such a big heart and wild curiosity. Warga captures this age perfectly. The themes in this novel have real staying power and would be a perfect addition to a choice reading unit. Sarah provides an excellent foil to Jude and I’d like to think we could all use to take a hard look in the mirror after reading this and hearing from all of the characters. The author’s note at the end says it best- we need empathy now more than ever. This is one novel that could help bridge another gap. An absolutely worthy read.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Jude is a heroine we all need to meet: faithful, fierce, and fun. The book started a bit slow, but by halfway in I was captivated by Jude’s story and wanted to hear more. Her explanation of different ways to be beautiful, brave, and free will stay with me for a long time. A great read for kids to see through the eyes of a refugee and discover how very much they have in common.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Amazing! I put My Heart and Other Black Holes on my Goodreads TBR list in middle school but I sadly never got around to reading it. Now I'm a sophomore in college and reading Other Words for Home for my Children's Literature class and I would love to pass this book onto my younger cousins for them to read. I think it's a great story for young readers (and even older ones!) and I wish I had had a story like this when I was younger. Just great. <3
Absolutely beautiful! Jude’s voice and story is one that needs to be read by everyone. Remarkable!
Wonderfully written in the perspective of young Jude. An innocent coming of age tale about a young girl torn from her home in Syria to the safety of the USA. Jude struggles with feeling like an outsider and tries to remain true to herself while also allowing herself to try new American experiences: