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cassimiranda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, War, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, Death, Grief, Rape, Body horror, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
zombiezami's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Medical content, War, Animal death, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Cancer
Displacementgreymalkin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: War, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death and Xenophobia
kierscrivener's review against another edition
1.5
I do not think this is a bad book but man, did I find it impossible to read. I did finished it but the entire time felt like torture. and I don't know why? It is is a similar feeling to Bear and The Nightingale/Girl In The Tower where I acknowledge that the writing and story are not uninteresting but are so laborious to wade through.
I feel like I have to be authentic to my own experience and rate it one star but I feel conflicted as it is by no means a terrible book. It is simply not a my book, but just like Bear and The Nightingale I cannot acknowledge why I dislike it so much as it has so many parts that I normally love.
It revolves two storylines set 800 years apart, two young girls who crossdress and go on adventures/flee through war torn country when separated from loved ones.
I think the largest thing for me is I could not connect with the characters and it is not because of their experiences. I adore historical fiction and have read plenty of refugee stories and I normally find them hugely compelling however there is a disconnection between character and reader and not in a good way.
TW: violence, sexual violence
It tells a necessary story and I would pick up books by Zeyn Joukhadar in the future. I think it is worth noting that this is a debut and I find that often their first work is not as good. So not my cup of tea, but it could be yours.
Graphic: Sexism, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
hilaryreadsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
"I am starving for my name, starving to feed to my children the things they've forgotten, starving to find the words to say that home was a green place once and will be again."
What is language? What is safety? What is home?
THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS explores these questions through the eyes of young Nour, a Syrian refugee searching for safe haven after being forced to flee with her family when their neighborhood is bombed. She clutches firmly to the stories her father used to tell her before he passed away from cancer—especially that of Rawiya, who, disguised as a young boy, embarks on a quest to map the world as apprentice to legendary mapmaker al-Idrisi. The girls journey together in parallel storylines, across multiple countries, bravely facing unknown challenges and violence, fiercely holding onto the power of the stars and the words passed to them from their loved ones. And as they press on, they begin to weave their own new notions of language, of home, of storytelling. As Rawiya says, "stories map the soul...in the guise of words."
Review here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLaDAjaAiL0/
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, and Death
carolinewithane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia