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willontheinternet's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.0
norimee's review against another edition
I had to DNF after listening for 2h. The narrator is so squeaky and annoying, I couldn't stand it.
The story was okay so far, but I don't feel I miss out on much. And I really do not miss the 2000's.
The story was okay so far, but I don't feel I miss out on much. And I really do not miss the 2000's.
stephanie6082's review against another edition
4.0
Read this for a student's book club. It was a cute little read. Almost princess diaries like in style, but with the added pressure of different cultures and racism. I enjoyed it, and am glad Leila ended up with a happier ending.
c3rem0nials's review against another edition
this used to be my favorite book as a kid, and i think for obvious reasons - the writing is easily digestible, fairly easy to follow (though very meandery in nature, there is no real plot to follow and is at times a character study). set in the primetime of the y2k era, as expected there are a lot of issues that are/were considered acceptable to say (ie amal and her friends tendency to be SO internally misogynistic, the casual fatphobia perpetuated by a lot of the characters, and more)... while the book succeeds in i suppose what would be trying to make muslims more complex, it also ends up making everyone a caricature. its a disservice to the diversity of personalities and people that identify as muslims in the book. also didn't understand why amal constantly feels like there is no larger muslim community beyond her family. i deeply empathise with her immediate social situations like school, but it was so reductive and insular in perspective. i guess it was intentional with her being a teenager but this girl clearly does not know other muslims besides her family and her old religious school. randa abdel fattah is a fairly entertaining writer, but i guess if you're into flawed characters and non linear stories this novel would be it.
jouljet's review
challenging
funny
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia
thebookmagpie's review against another edition
The writing style just wasn't for me.
segza's review against another edition
4.0
2019 is the year I finish books on my “on-hold” shelf.
I started this book 2.5 years ago and finally got around to getting it back from the lib and finishing it.
I enjoyed this, thought it was great to have a protagonist who was born in a western society (Australia) and is navigating high school while starting to wear the hijab. What I found frustrating is my same critique of Sadia (similar concept expect exploring removing the hijab), why do these girls ALSO have to be the absolute best at something (debate club here; basketball in Sadia) to truly feel accepted and accomplished in their broader society? It just seems to reinforce the idea that if you’re not a Christian cis heterosexual white male you can’t just be good at something, you have to be the best at it for your efforts to count and to be seen as anything beyond however society has labelled you. That said, there isn’t exactly a lot of high school fiction about unexceptional people period so I know that gripe is a bit unfair...
I’d recommend this book for the 8-16 age range. The story is a bit too juvenile for anyone much older than that.
I started this book 2.5 years ago and finally got around to getting it back from the lib and finishing it.
I enjoyed this, thought it was great to have a protagonist who was born in a western society (Australia) and is navigating high school while starting to wear the hijab. What I found frustrating is my same critique of Sadia (similar concept expect exploring removing the hijab), why do these girls ALSO have to be the absolute best at something (debate club here; basketball in Sadia) to truly feel accepted and accomplished in their broader society? It just seems to reinforce the idea that if you’re not a Christian cis heterosexual white male you can’t just be good at something, you have to be the best at it for your efforts to count and to be seen as anything beyond however society has labelled you. That said, there isn’t exactly a lot of high school fiction about unexceptional people period so I know that gripe is a bit unfair...
I’d recommend this book for the 8-16 age range. The story is a bit too juvenile for anyone much older than that.
ari_reading_'s review against another edition
3.0
I read this book because it was part of a (short lived) challenge to read every book in the A section at my library. I loved seeing a character who was actually accepting of their faith and open about it.
Also, Amal's friends are all unique when it comes to their choice about wearing the Hijab and that was really good to see.
Also, Amal's friends are all unique when it comes to their choice about wearing the Hijab and that was really good to see.
zaheerah's review against another edition
3.0
Amal is sixteen when she decides to wear the hijab full time. But she soon faces trouble at her exclusive prep school. Suddenly, everyone seems to have an opinion on her. And as she begins navigating her last years of secondary school, she must find herself without losing her identity.
I think regarding the representation of a hijabi teen, it’s actually quite good. Amal reminds me of my cousin who is actually her age right now. The high school drama, the catty people, and the confusion that comes with growing up are portrayed quite realistically. When she comes to school wearing the hijab, everyone’s confused, and because they’re all children, it’s natural to ask questions. I only say this because a lot of reviews tend to call this part unrealistic. Amal is, at first, outcasted momentarily because they didn’t understand, and she then actually helps and informs her peers. Sure, there’s a lot of scenes that come across unrealistic, but her experiences are entirely valid, and loads of reviews haven’t really grasped that, once you consider the time it’s set in and location. Quite a lot of what Amal experiences were quite familiar to me.
Amal is very well-spoken, confident, and incredibly charming. I was rather proud at this young Muslim girl, who also wears the hijab, and was confident in her decision to do so. I don’t think I even had a shred of her self-confidence at this age.
I listened to the audiobook, so I don’t know what it’s like reading the book, but I felt like I had some issue differentiating some characters. She has like four friends, and along with huge dialogue dumps, it felt all the same. I’m not sure if that’s just the narrator’s voice. There’s also a reliance on a lot of typical stereotypes, and there’s a lot of phrases that are used that just didn’t sit with me. Also, sorry to Amal, I couldn’t see she liked Adam so much. But you do you, I guess. I actually preferred Amal and Adam as a friend. There was also a good potential for an arc with one of Amal’s friends who is often bullied for her weight. I was holding onto something more empowering, but I don’t think the book really hit the mark there. Amal and Leila’s polar opposite arcs can come across as being typical but do partially agree about having something more in the middle. Also, mean girl who is mean and nothing else was a bit boring.
Considering when this book first came out, I have to give Randa Abdel-Fattah a massive amount of respect. Don’t expect this book to teach you everything about Islam, it’s merely one girl’s story, one where’s she learning. It does come across preachy at some moments, but in the end, Amal realises her mistakes and begins to show that she’s learning and growing, which is what I really liked.
Overall, it’s a somewhat entertaining book, and very hilarious at many moments. Regarding recommending, I’m not too sure. If I had read this ten years ago, the list of Muslims in YA wouldn’t have reached half a page, then sure, but reading it in 2019 is a much different experience. But it’s a straightforward book to listen to. A light-hearted journey of identity and discovering one’s self.
I think regarding the representation of a hijabi teen, it’s actually quite good. Amal reminds me of my cousin who is actually her age right now. The high school drama, the catty people, and the confusion that comes with growing up are portrayed quite realistically. When she comes to school wearing the hijab, everyone’s confused, and because they’re all children, it’s natural to ask questions. I only say this because a lot of reviews tend to call this part unrealistic. Amal is, at first, outcasted momentarily because they didn’t understand, and she then actually helps and informs her peers. Sure, there’s a lot of scenes that come across unrealistic, but her experiences are entirely valid, and loads of reviews haven’t really grasped that, once you consider the time it’s set in and location. Quite a lot of what Amal experiences were quite familiar to me.
Amal is very well-spoken, confident, and incredibly charming. I was rather proud at this young Muslim girl, who also wears the hijab, and was confident in her decision to do so. I don’t think I even had a shred of her self-confidence at this age.
I listened to the audiobook, so I don’t know what it’s like reading the book, but I felt like I had some issue differentiating some characters. She has like four friends, and along with huge dialogue dumps, it felt all the same. I’m not sure if that’s just the narrator’s voice. There’s also a reliance on a lot of typical stereotypes, and there’s a lot of phrases that are used that just didn’t sit with me. Also, sorry to Amal, I couldn’t see she liked Adam so much. But you do you, I guess. I actually preferred Amal and Adam as a friend. There was also a good potential for an arc with one of Amal’s friends who is often bullied for her weight. I was holding onto something more empowering, but I don’t think the book really hit the mark there. Amal and Leila’s polar opposite arcs can come across as being typical but do partially agree about having something more in the middle. Also, mean girl who is mean and nothing else was a bit boring.
Considering when this book first came out, I have to give Randa Abdel-Fattah a massive amount of respect. Don’t expect this book to teach you everything about Islam, it’s merely one girl’s story, one where’s she learning. It does come across preachy at some moments, but in the end, Amal realises her mistakes and begins to show that she’s learning and growing, which is what I really liked.
Overall, it’s a somewhat entertaining book, and very hilarious at many moments. Regarding recommending, I’m not too sure. If I had read this ten years ago, the list of Muslims in YA wouldn’t have reached half a page, then sure, but reading it in 2019 is a much different experience. But it’s a straightforward book to listen to. A light-hearted journey of identity and discovering one’s self.
kellyjcm's review against another edition
4.0
Although a bit didactic in spots, the author does a great job of sharing Amal's story and making her perspective clear. I liked Amal and her family. I have read so many "problem" or "angsty" books that I kept waiting for the shoe to drop and something terrible or embarassing to happen to Amal. Instead, it was a slice of life that intelligently looks at current issues in an overall lighthearted way. Big fan.