Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - Huda F Are You

Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Huda F Are You by Huda Fahmy

30 reviews

solo_shelf's review against another edition

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funny reflective 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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emily_mh's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.25

Huda, as the main character of this novel, was intensely relatable and had fantastic character development - this was definitely the main draw of this story. I personally just wasn’t the biggest fan of the art style, and wished that it was a little longer to flesh out some of the plot points more.

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oldandnewbooksmell's review against another edition

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funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

Trigger Warnings: Islamophobia, Xenophobia

Huda and her family just moved to Dearborn, Michigan, a small town that has a big Muslim population.

I read this in one setting, it’s a fast read but still has a lot of information about growing up Muslim in America. The author notes at the beginning that though, “much of this story is based on real life, it’s not an entirely autobiographical tale”. There were a few events mentioned in the book that I remember a version of it making national news.

I did feel like the ending was a little rushed and I kind of wish there were maybe a few more pages, but other than that I really enjoyed it and will still suggest and recommend this book in the future.

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pvbobrien's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.5

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readingsofaslinky's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad 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

5.0

Five million stars please! A truly excellent book. The sometimes subtle sometimes extreme Islamophobia and Xenophobia in the book cut my heart out exactly like on page 161. But Huda F* is beautiful and her stories have my heart always. Reading this one after “That Can Be Arranged” made me smile to think how much Huda has grown and found herself over the years.
*Huda F as in the character. While the books may be inspired by the author, I don’t proclaim to know or speak on behalf of the author and her experiences ♥️!

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itsy719's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

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nytephoenyx's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective sad 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

5.0

I’m really glad this book exists.

Huda F Are You? is your quintessential tale of a teenager searching for her identity, but it’s not like any story you’ve read before. This graphic novel is told from the perspective of a hijabi-wearing Muslim girl, and if it’s not the first of its kind, it’s certainly one of the first. Fahmy tells her coming of age story with adequate helpings of humor and relatability, but woven into this narrative are bittersweet experiences, scores of microaggressions, and the realities of growing up Muslim in the United States.

If this already sounds like a lot to pack into one graphic novel, you would be right. Part of my white privileges that I never had to experience the sort of hate that Fahmy grew up with. Although she makes clear that the story is just inspired by her childhood, not fact, the nuances she has included are a painful reminder of how fear and racism create hateful divisions in our world. It’s a bigotry that nobody should have to deal with, and yet here we are. While I thought Fahmy did an excellent job balancing humor, awkwardness, and hard truth, it is these hard truths I keep coming back to. It was subtle, she didn’t dwell on it, and I think that rhythm of normality is what is sticking with me. It shouldn’t be normal.

Although it’s a simple story, written in a graphic format, Huda F Are You? would be excellent reading to add to a high school curriculum. If nothing else, this book belongs in school libraries where students who are experiencing the same sort of story, and those who want to make sure the same sort of story stops repeating have access to it. On top of learning about growing up Muslim in the United States, this is a story about friendships, mother daughter relationships, and being honest with ourselves. It’s a good read. I learned a little more about Muslim culture, but moreover, I found myself rooting for Huda and hoping that she would be okay.

Huda F Are You? is an easy one sitting read, and I highly recommend picking it up and supporting a Muslim American author. There’s a lot we can learn, but more importantly, Muslim women are so infrequently visible in literature. By supporting for me and picking up this book, we are showing the world that not only do they belong here, but their stories are valued. It’s not enough, but it’s a start. This is such a unique little book, from its subject matter to the format choice, and I really enjoyed it. I think you will too.

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gwendolynaudrey_reads's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

Very charming and very quick. I love the focus on the main character's relationship with her mother.

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mydearwatsonbooks's review against another edition

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kayladaila's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

I received an ARC of Huda F Are You from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Huda F Are You is a brief look at what it is to be Muslim-American. The title makes me a little nervous to bring it into my school, but otherwise I feel this was a great book for middle and high school age readers.

Fahmy manages to convey funny and sweet moments while also pointing out the blatant microaggressions Muslim-Americans face all the time. The illustrations, the dialogue, and the narration are seamless in their simplicity.

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