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jassiecones's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Gore, War, Blood, and Gun violence
rustedtrains's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, Grief, Genocide, Gun violence, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
Minor: Body horror and Blood
readingduckling's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I'm not sure how to rate this book I'm giving it 5 stars because it's extremely important and the storys are gripping and emotional. I really recommend reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Death of parent, War, and Blood
mirandaleighhhh's review
dark
hopeful
informative
5.0
This isn't a review as much as it is a scream into the ether to please read this. Each and every contributor is exceptionally brave and resilient (two things they shouldn't have to be), and I feel nauseous imagining what they have has to endure since this was published, if they have survived. RIP Refaat Alareer.
"Hope of their return was their only motive, their only sustainer" - House, Refaat Alareer
"That lonely drop was followed by a flood of uncountable tears that rushed fast to express their utter grief." - Once Upon a Dawn, Shahd Awadallah
"My shadow grew sadder and taller than me" - Scars, Aya Rabah
"I am carrying bags of dazzling stars. They are heavy but useless, because they are not hung in the vast sky" - Scars, Aya Rabah
"Because many people around the world think they have the right to speak on their behalf, Palestinians are suffering two opposing stereotypical images that are equally disturbing and doing the just cause injustice: the Palestinian as a helpless victim, a mere object of sympathy, or as a bloodthirsty savage. Palestinians are neither." - Hanan Habashi
"Hope of their return was their only motive, their only sustainer" - House, Refaat Alareer
"That lonely drop was followed by a flood of uncountable tears that rushed fast to express their utter grief." - Once Upon a Dawn, Shahd Awadallah
"My shadow grew sadder and taller than me" - Scars, Aya Rabah
"I am carrying bags of dazzling stars. They are heavy but useless, because they are not hung in the vast sky" - Scars, Aya Rabah
"Because many people around the world think they have the right to speak on their behalf, Palestinians are suffering two opposing stereotypical images that are equally disturbing and doing the just cause injustice: the Palestinian as a helpless victim, a mere object of sympathy, or as a bloodthirsty savage. Palestinians are neither." - Hanan Habashi
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Death of parent, Violence, Xenophobia, and Child death
tinareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
may Refaat Alareer rest in peace. If you are looking to read Palestinian fiction, I think this should be one of the first books you pick up. Although this was published in 2014, a decade ago, you could apply any of these stories to present day, as the suffering of Palestinians is still ongoing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, and Death
Minor: Sexual assault
kirstinlwx's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
This is an anthology of short stories, written by young Gazans - people who are from there, and who may still live there. It is devastating, and funny and hopeful at times, and so beautiful. Incredible work by the authors and editor, including the short biographies at the end of the book.
Grateful to KoboPlus to have this available as part of my subscription.
Grateful to KoboPlus to have this available as part of my subscription.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Genocide, War, and Islamophobia
siandee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, and War
bookishmillennial's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
This is a collection of essays, letters, and short stories from the youth (like teens and early 20s) of Gaza. There are over 20 contributors, and their stories range from nonfictional letters to loved ones who have passed, to (somewhat) fictional short stories, to anecdotes of living through violence. Topics cover loss, grief, run ins with soldiers, seeing their parents’ mental health decline, the moments their childhood innocence/naivety was disillusioned, grappling with land loss, and general life under occupation. There’s not only immense fear, despair, and anguish, but there is deep, rumbling anger. This book shows you the ripple effects of a land and its people who endure constant torture, terrorism, and war crimes because of Israeli occupation. These stories are incredibly powerful, and I am in awe of these young adults for sharing their stories.
I read this via my Kobo Plus subscription & I highly recommend it. It is still relevant to the state of Gaza today, & will be until Palestine is freed from this inhumane occupation.
cw: colonisation, death, grief, mental health struggles, trauma from state-sanctioned violence, constant fear & despair, occupation, apartheid
This is a collection of essays, letters, and short stories from the youth (like teens and early 20s) of Gaza. There are over 20 contributors, and their stories range from nonfictional letters to loved ones who have passed, to (somewhat) fictional short stories, to anecdotes of living through violence. Topics cover loss, grief, run ins with soldiers, seeing their parents’ mental health decline, the moments their childhood innocence/naivety was disillusioned, grappling with land loss, and general life under occupation. There’s not only immense fear, despair, and anguish, but there is deep, rumbling anger. This book shows you the ripple effects of a land and its people who endure constant torture, terrorism, and war crimes because of Israeli occupation. These stories are incredibly powerful, and I am in awe of these young adults for sharing their stories.
I read this via my Kobo Plus subscription & I highly recommend it. It is still relevant to the state of Gaza today, & will be until Palestine is freed from this inhumane occupation.
cw: colonisation, death, grief, mental health struggles, trauma from state-sanctioned violence, constant fear & despair, occupation, apartheid
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Genocide, Medical content, Islamophobia, War, Blood, Confinement, Grief, Police brutality, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
georgiarybanks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, War, and Colonisation
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