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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
Wow - I couldn’t put this down. A beautiful, important story. Loved that it is written in verse...I think it makes you feel more that way...
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This novel gripped me by he heart. The prose narrative was so beautiful. At times it is so uplifting and other times so heartbreaking. Would definitely recommend it
emotional
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:
Complicated
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
I feel really mixed about this one. On the one hand it's a powerful story on what its like to immigrate to America after fleeing a war torn country and integrate in society once you're there. I think Jude is such a well written character and I loved some parts of this story that felt intimately familiar to my own life (such as ESL class and arriving in a new school where you barely speak the language and having those small little victories where you learn to speak whats in your mind). Its also just a really well written and plotted book, and I would genuinely reccomend it to kids as I think it has good representation. This is a very vulnerable and emotional show of all the difficulties a young immigrant might face (everything from learning the language, to worrying about those who were left behind and dealing with Islamophobia as well as just the normal new kid in town struggles).
There are some gripes I have with it though and its mostly in the "worldbuilding" of the book. These are like minor and at the same time these are very adult issues to have with a middlegrade book so you know, don't let it deter you from this book but: I think only 2 or 3 cities in total were ever mentioned by name and and every other city was referred to as "one of the other towns" or "another city" - I struggle to believe that a 12 year old does not know the name of the towns around her home city (which is also never named) - Like I get it I grew up in a different environment than most people but I could name my own hometown as a 5 year old. Maybe its written purposefully that way so that Jude can be a bit more of a self-insert character so that the kids can't say "well I dont know that specific city so I don't relate to Jude anymore" and she could just be every Syrian kid in a way, but it just irked me so much, it made me feel like the author didn't care to do her research into Syria. There are a few more things in the same way that just make me wish things were fleshed out a bit more (or on the flip side that less things were included).
There are some gripes I have with it though and its mostly in the "worldbuilding" of the book. These are like minor and at the same time these are very adult issues to have with a middlegrade book so you know, don't let it deter you from this book but: I think only 2 or 3 cities in total were ever mentioned by name and and every other city was referred to as "one of the other towns" or "another city" - I struggle to believe that a 12 year old does not know the name of the towns around her home city (which is also never named) - Like I get it I grew up in a different environment than most people but I could name my own hometown as a 5 year old. Maybe its written purposefully that way so that Jude can be a bit more of a self-insert character so that the kids can't say "well I dont know that specific city so I don't relate to Jude anymore" and she could just be every Syrian kid in a way, but it just irked me so much, it made me feel like the author didn't care to do her research into Syria. There are a few more things in the same way that just make me wish things were fleshed out a bit more (or on the flip side that less things were included).
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
My rating is 4.5 stars. Important book, I think everybody should read it.