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winglesswarrior's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Islamophobia, Child death, Antisemitism, Classism, Hate crime, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, and Racism
1kelsey_jw's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
maidmarianlib's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia, Murder, and Kidnapping
shockyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Powerful. Emotional. Raw. This book tore my heart out, in the best way. It was like a kick in the gut. But one I think every white person needs. A heart-wrenching and heavy story on the state of our world. Of bigotry. Of injustice. Of blind hate. But also, of friendship, love, family, faith, and a dash of hope. Samira Ahmed, you are an incredible story teller. Thank you for sharing Jawads story. Thank you for sharing the truth of discrimination in our country. I think this story is going to stay with me for a long time.
Graphic: Islamophobia and Racism
Moderate: Violence, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Murder
Minor: Sexism
theoceanrose's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Violence, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Murder, Death, and Gaslighting
the_wistful_word_witch's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Trigger Warnings:
Islamophobia
Institutionalized racism Patriarchy
Misogyny
Murder
Domestic terrorism
White supremacy
Racist slurs
Police prejudice/disdain/incompetence
**POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD**
On the one hand, I love this book because Samira Ahmed isn't pulling her punches at all in this SCATHING, much-deserved commentary of the incredibly racist systems and people in the US, and emboldened by recent history. It's so well written, giving the reader an intimate look at what it feels like to be a Muslim living in 2022 USA, balancing the joy of experiences that almost everyone can relate to - having your crush crush on you, sharing moments of love with family members and friends - with the unique feelings of fear, anger, sadness, frustration, etc. that only comes from being within the specific demographic in which the two main characters - Safiya and Jawad - live(d) their lives. Ms Ahmed also brilliantly balances all of this against the chilling background of a murderous mystery and ghost story.
But on the other hand, the story within the story ripped through my heart and had me crying in places. As a parent, I was hit especially hard, trying to fathom how the parents in this amazingly written, haunting, achingly sad story would manage to survive, much less thrive, after events like those in the book. Plus, the reactions from a lot of the white people depicted were utterly disgusting - like literally made my lip curl and anger flush my chest at times. Because while this is technically a work of fiction, it's based on real events from the 1920s, and a lot of us know that scenarios like these play out in real life all the time, even now, especially when you're BIPOC...
Much like The Taking of Jake Livingston, Hollow Fires is a dark and complex ghost story about a young Iraqi boy who gets profiled, bullied - even by his own teachers - and eventually murdered for misconceptions based on the color of his skin and his heritage.
Safiya, an aspiring investigative journalist, is also dealing with racists at her school, as well as her horribly prejudiced principal. They're all out to take her down a notch because she's a Brown scholarship kid who points out the blatant aspects of white supremacy hiding in the open at her fancy prep school. She's also being haunted by Jawad's ghost, as they share a connection that even Safiya barely remembers. But she's not going to let threats from the racists or from her principal stop her because she's hot on their trail, and on the trail of something much, much darker that could very well be her own undoing...
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Grief, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Classism, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Violence, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Antisemitism
nemoslittlelibrary's review
- 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
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.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Violence
lpdx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Death, Grief, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Violence, Child death, Antisemitism, Hate crime, Kidnapping, and Racial slurs
Minor: Classism
krys_kilz's review
- 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? No
4.5
As Sabaa Tahir's review put it: "With Hollow Fires, Samira Ahmed offers us an impossible-to-put-down thriller that is both spectacularly haunting and deeply thoughtful. Safiya and Jawad are not narrators we usually see, and their harrowing story is a wholly original commentary on perception, community, and the way society weighs one life against another."
At times, the story did feel a bit repetitive and predictable. Some of the metaphors were also heavy handed. But those were very minor things and did not prevent me from devouring this book. I really look forward to reading Ahmed's other work.
tw: Islamophobia, child death/murder, xenophobia, white supremacy/alt-right ideology and violence, antisemitism
* Side Note: It did feel a little strange to read a novel set in the present with no mention of Covid-19. I know almost no books or media mention the pandemic - which is honestly a little eerie - but it felt particularly glaring given how rooted this book was in current events and the current political climate. Especially given the links between alt-right/fascist/white supremacist rhetoric and Covid-19 denial/conspiracy theories. *
Graphic: Hate crime, Islamophobia, Murder, Xenophobia, Child death, and Racism
Moderate: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Antisemitism
Minor: Car accident
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
5.0
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⚠️
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