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stephanielee's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Such a great book. Check the content warnings but I loved how the author pulled on real life events (names, locations, etc were changed) to really pull you in to how this is happening now. Still. Every day for black, brown and Indigenous folx.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Islamophobia, Racism, Hate crime, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Misogyny
Minor: Car accident and War
lawbooks600's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Representation: Asian main characters, side Black characters
Score: Seven points out of ten.
Well. I remember this book circling my recommendations for a while then I added it and not much time afterward I finally picked it up and read it. When I finished it I felt like there was a lot to unpack here and I must say the novel is well executed most of the time but it can sometimes get disjointed with all the multiple POVs though I do understand the need for that. Before the story starts there is a glossary of the terms the novel will use; in fact I never knew alternative facts existed but now I know. Now then. It starts with the main character Safiya Mirza or Safiya for short and off the bat she tells me she essentially goes to a school of woke-washing virtue signallers and also she's a journalist.
Here is the other significant part, there's another character who recycled some materials to make a jetpack for a makerspace program or something along those lines but his English teacher accused him of having a bomb which implies a racial bias according to Safiya. Well when I think about that it makes sense in a way but anyone could've done that, also people talk about races a lot here. He was arrested and suspended but later released and all that only took place within the opening pages, I know that seems like a fast-paced beginning, and it is though I must admit after that this is a much slower paced crime novel than what I'm used to. At least it picks up steam toward the end. Someone hacked Safiya's website and she deduces that based on the name Ghost Skin and those quotes from a fascist manifesto the culprit is a white nationalist/supremacist but I don't know who is that person. Later on the other character gets kidnapped and killed out of racism but here's the thing, the book told me there was a guy called Nate who after going on some extremist websites and channels he became a racist and since the killing is racially motivated he must've done it.
I spend the next 200 pages watching Safiya figure out who is the killer after seeing the body with some flashbacks and flashforwards from the other character interspersed, when I read this part I felt a little tension which built towards the last few pages. There was a plot twist I didn't see coming since there was another character called Richard who also had involvement in the killing (I never expected that considering I've never heard of this person up until that point) and Safiya's testimony that their race (white) and privilege didn't save them but somehow they got the nicest prison was chilling. One of them captained two sports teams and held a record. They had mansions. The revelation shocked everyone and some even denied this claim despite the evidence. Wow. At least she got a little solace when the jig was up. Still, she believes there's more work to do to ensure this never happens again.
P.S. Technically the novel is non-linear? It jumps from time to time sometimes.
P.P.S. It's slightly outdated since it mentions Twitter and not X but I can forgive that since it was set before the change. That cameo was a little amusing.
Score: Seven points out of ten.
Well. I remember this book circling my recommendations for a while then I added it and not much time afterward I finally picked it up and read it. When I finished it I felt like there was a lot to unpack here and I must say the novel is well executed most of the time but it can sometimes get disjointed with all the multiple POVs though I do understand the need for that. Before the story starts there is a glossary of the terms the novel will use; in fact I never knew alternative facts existed but now I know. Now then. It starts with the main character Safiya Mirza or Safiya for short and off the bat she tells me she essentially goes to a school of woke-washing virtue signallers and also she's a journalist.
Here is the other significant part, there's another character who recycled some materials to make a jetpack for a makerspace program or something along those lines but his English teacher accused him of having a bomb which implies a racial bias according to Safiya. Well when I think about that it makes sense in a way but anyone could've done that, also people talk about races a lot here. He was arrested and suspended but later released and all that only took place within the opening pages, I know that seems like a fast-paced beginning, and it is though I must admit after that this is a much slower paced crime novel than what I'm used to. At least it picks up steam toward the end. Someone hacked Safiya's website and she deduces that based on the name Ghost Skin and those quotes from a fascist manifesto the culprit is a white nationalist/supremacist but I don't know who is that person. Later on the other character gets kidnapped and killed out of racism but here's the thing, the book told me there was a guy called Nate who after going on some extremist websites and channels he became a racist and since the killing is racially motivated he must've done it.
I spend the next 200 pages watching Safiya figure out who is the killer after seeing the body with some flashbacks and flashforwards from the other character interspersed, when I read this part I felt a little tension which built towards the last few pages. There was a plot twist I didn't see coming since there was another character called Richard who also had involvement in the killing (I never expected that considering I've never heard of this person up until that point) and Safiya's testimony that their race (white) and privilege didn't save them but somehow they got the nicest prison was chilling. One of them captained two sports teams and held a record. They had mansions. The revelation shocked everyone and some even denied this claim despite the evidence. Wow. At least she got a little solace when the jig was up. Still, she believes there's more work to do to ensure this never happens again.
P.S. Technically the novel is non-linear? It jumps from time to time sometimes.
P.P.S. It's slightly outdated since it mentions Twitter and not X but I can forgive that since it was set before the change. That cameo was a little amusing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Racial slurs, Death, Bullying, Kidnapping, Grief, and Blood
Moderate: Car accident, Vomit, and Antisemitism
Minor: Confinement and Injury/Injury detail
Full trigger warnings: Bullying, racist and sexist slurs, white supremacy, death of a child and another loved one, kidnapping, grief, loss and blood depiction, car crash, near-death experience, antisemitism, imprisonment, physical injury, terrorism, emesiscorriejn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
YA novel about a teen in Chicago dealing with racist and Islamophobic incidents in her community. A bit true crime/mystery, a bit of teen romance, peer drama, struggles at school, etc., and lots of contextualizing situations within both real and fictionalized events in the rise of open right wing and xenophobic sentiments in the U.S. and social media. Some points made a bit "on the nose" but didn't feel too out of place for the genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Murder, Toxic friendship, Classism, Xenophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Stalking, Police brutality, Violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Antisemitism, and Drug use
theoceanrose's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Violence, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Murder, Death, and Gaslighting
nemoslittlelibrary's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“I wrote this book because we’ve lost too many people to hate and because so often we’ve witnessed the powerful and the privileged get away with murder. I wrote this book to tell a truth” - Samira Ahmed
Wow. This book is truly heart breaking and astonishing. I learnt and felt so much from the very first page.
Based on the horrifying real life slaying of 14 year old Bobby Franks in 1924, Hollow Fires is the painful story of 14 year old Jawad Ali being falsely accused of bringing a bomb to school by his teacher. He was then bullied and labelled “Bomb Boy” and then he goes missing. Safiya, a student journalist at a preppy private school sets out on a mission, facing her own racist and misogynistic obstacles in her path, to uncover what happened to Jawad. Guided by his ghost, she aims to ensure people do not forget about him - to remember him for his name and the injustice he suffered not his birthplace or religion.
Some points I loved completely:
⭐️Ahmed’s writing is very poetic even when talking about such a heavy topic, she creates mesmerising visuals.
⭐️Islamophobia is explored through various angles, as the characters are very diverse, having varied Islamic backgrounds.
⭐️Most chapters have prompts of “fact” “truth” “alternative truth” and “lie” really making you sit and ponder over the statements.
⭐️The chapters are set out in articles & transcripts as well as the usual chapter style which I loved as it varied and made me feel like I was also doing some investigative work alongside Safiya.
This is such a powerful story, I love how this is young adult, it is written in such a way that any age group can read and follow the story. Most adult readers may see the ‘plot twist’ from a mile off however I think it’s a good way to read around such a social issue.
⚠️There’s commentary on racism, islamophobia, patriarchy, bigotry, misogyny and right wing politics. It can be a heavy read so please check trigger warnings before. Some of the chapters were truly tear inducing but I believe it to be such an important book that everyone should read - learn a little more, be a little better.
Wow. This book is truly heart breaking and astonishing. I learnt and felt so much from the very first page.
Based on the horrifying real life slaying of 14 year old Bobby Franks in 1924, Hollow Fires is the painful story of 14 year old Jawad Ali being falsely accused of bringing a bomb to school by his teacher. He was then bullied and labelled “Bomb Boy” and then he goes missing. Safiya, a student journalist at a preppy private school sets out on a mission, facing her own racist and misogynistic obstacles in her path, to uncover what happened to Jawad. Guided by his ghost, she aims to ensure people do not forget about him - to remember him for his name and the injustice he suffered not his birthplace or religion.
Some points I loved completely:
⭐️Ahmed’s writing is very poetic even when talking about such a heavy topic, she creates mesmerising visuals.
⭐️Islamophobia is explored through various angles, as the characters are very diverse, having varied Islamic backgrounds.
⭐️Most chapters have prompts of “fact” “truth” “alternative truth” and “lie” really making you sit and ponder over the statements.
⭐️The chapters are set out in articles & transcripts as well as the usual chapter style which I loved as it varied and made me feel like I was also doing some investigative work alongside Safiya.
This is such a powerful story, I love how this is young adult, it is written in such a way that any age group can read and follow the story. Most adult readers may see the ‘plot twist’ from a mile off however I think it’s a good way to read around such a social issue.
⚠️There’s commentary on racism, islamophobia, patriarchy, bigotry, misogyny and right wing politics. It can be a heavy read so please check trigger warnings before. Some of the chapters were truly tear inducing but I believe it to be such an important book that everyone should read - learn a little more, be a little better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Violence
waterbottle57's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Islamophobia, Blood, Cursing, Violence, Toxic relationship, Racism, Murder, Death, Stalking, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
Minor: Car accident and War
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
5.0
I have so many feelings after finishing this. I’m angry, sad, frustrated but this book is nothing short of amazing. It jumps around many years, using multiple forms of media (think a good girls guide to murder with the podcasts, news outlets and such), it has so much going on, I know I can’t do it justice and I don’t even know where to start about how much I love this book.
I don’t know if I’d necessarily say it was an enjoyable reading experience because of the weight of the tw/cw in this book but it was beautifully written, with interesting and engaging formatting and dear god is it fucking accurate as all hell; I’m mixed/Arab and oh boy…I can’t count how many times someone has called me a terrorist, and like that is the tip of the shit iceberg Arab/middle eastern/bipoc people face on a daily basis and this book does not shy away from all of it and calling it out/talking about it; hence why it is such an anger inducing book but if you can take the tw’s and do not take them lightly at all! Really think if you can cope with it before you read but if you can then I cannnot recommend this book more
*⬆️ these are my initial thoughts ⬆️*
*full review to come*
⚠️DO NOT take TW/CW lightly! This book doesn’t shy away from the ugly, so really think about them and if you can cope with them before you read this book… but, if you think you can take them then I cannnot recommend this book more⚠️
I don’t know if I’d necessarily say it was an enjoyable reading experience because of the weight of the tw/cw in this book but it was beautifully written, with interesting and engaging formatting and dear god is it fucking accurate as all hell; I’m mixed/Arab and oh boy…I can’t count how many times someone has called me a terrorist, and like that is the tip of the shit iceberg Arab/middle eastern/bipoc people face on a daily basis and this book does not shy away from all of it and calling it out/talking about it; hence why it is such an anger inducing book but if you can take the tw’s and do not take them lightly at all! Really think if you can cope with it before you read but if you can then I cannnot recommend this book more
*⬆️ these are my initial thoughts ⬆️*
*full review to come*
⚠️DO NOT take TW/CW lightly! This book doesn’t shy away from the ugly, so really think about them and if you can cope with them before you read this book… but, if you think you can take them then I cannnot recommend this book more⚠️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, Islamophobia, Murder, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Car accident, Classism, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Antisemitism, and Misogyny
Minor: Rape and Stalking
amberinpieces's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Gaslighting, Antisemitism, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
Minor: Blood, Car accident, Cursing, and Medical content
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