Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Amina's Voice by Hena Khan

5 reviews

puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Islamophobia, Hate crime, and Racism

gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

This was such s sweet coming of age story to read. It not only deals with the hardship of growing up and accepting thatbchanges can be good, but it also deals with racism/discrimination. We see all these aspects through Amina's eyes and how she tries to deal with growing up and what that means for her.

I think Amina's Voice is something a lot of children could enjoy reading and connect to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Islamophobia, and Bullying

Minor: Drug use

emily_mh's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I liked the core elements of this book. Amina is in a huge period of change and growth. She struggles with her friendships and her relationship with her brother (whose character development was great!). She's trying to interpret Islam for herself, and gain confidence to express herself. The community theme that is featured later on in the story was fantastic and heartwarming, showing the power of support. 

However, I struggled with the execution. The theme of this book is of course Amina finding and using her voice. This is realised in that by the end of the book she is able to speak and sing in public, which is fantastic. But there are other opportunities that the narrative sets up in which Amina will learn to use her voice, yet this doesn't really happen. For example, Soojin is changing and making friends with a girl called Emily, who used to target both her and Amina with racist bullying. Also, Amina's visiting uncle is being a little forceful in his suggestions for Amina's family regarding Islam. In both examples the situations are resolved without Amina using her voice as the reader might expect. I don't think this in itself is a bad thing of course, but it did leave the central theme a little weak and meant that the book at times felt like it lacked direction because it was introducing different elements that didn't end up relating back to the central theme. However, I would by no means say this book was bad - I'm really looking forward to picking up the sequel!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Xenophobia, and Hate crime

Minor: Bullying, Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism, Child death, Death, Blood, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: natural disasters, drowning, theft, loss of a loved one

f18's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime

Moderate: Bullying, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia

Minor: Racial slurs

bexi's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

• 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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Islamophobia, and Racism