Reviews with content warning for Hate crime - Amina's Voice

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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antonique_reads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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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literautres's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5 stars

this book is lovely.

i went into this without so much expectation because the book i'm currently reading is making me so sad so i am taking a break by picking this one. safe to say i am not disappointed but also not really impressed. it is light, heart-warming, and hopeful. at first i actually disliked the main character, amina, because she was rather judgmental to a emily, a girl who's trying hard to make up for her mistakes despite amina being someone who has treated unfairly before, and was pretty whiny. but my view to her got better when i actually placed myself as amina. she was 12 years old, a child. and when you are a child friendship is everything and i wish all of us are soojin, but too bad we're not. when you think about it, her feelings were valid and amina did make up her own insensitivity and owning her mistakes in the end.

amina's struggle of overcoming her anxiety of showing herself in front of many people was also delightful to read. it was hard, at that age, i know, because i had been there too and once there was this muslim children fashion competition and my mother put me up to it (i didn't even know why, she just really liked to dress me up back then) and i literally just walked on the stage with my head down because i was scared to death. i still remember the feeling until now lmao it was probably just this silly little thing that i should get over with but surprise! i did not. that's where the adults are wrong. they said when bad things happen to you when you are little, you have a whole lifetime to forget it. newsflash, we don't! hahahahahaahhahaahhahcry.

anyways. what bothers me actually the america-is-the-best-country-to-live sentiment. i agree that it means well, that there are good people everywhere and the community is also so lovely and i believe still exist in many places. but for me personally, the way it was written, well, less convincing for me and this is also why i hate reading as an adult. you read these horrible news everyday and you understand more than you can take so now you can't even read children book without scoffing (despite trying so hard not to).

still though, it was pretty good! the cover is so pretty and i like the general message and what it is trying to deliver. i am also happy with how warm the vibe is at the end. if you are looking for a light read, this is a good one. (less)

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