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kelly_e's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Title: All My Rage
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: March 1, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Powerful • Moving • Honest
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Lahore, Pakistan. Then.
Misbah is a dreamer and storyteller, newly married to Toufiq in an arranged match. After their young life is shaken by tragedy, they come to the United States and open the Cloud’s Rest Inn Motel, hoping for a new start.
Juniper, California. Now.
Salahudin and Noor are more than best friends; they are family. Growing up as outcasts in the small desert town of Juniper, California, they understand each other the way no one else does. Until The Fight, which destroys their bond with the swift fury of a star exploding.
Now, Sal scrambles to run the family motel as his mother Misbah’s health fails and his grieving father loses himself to alcoholism. Noor, meanwhile, walks a harrowing tightrope: working at her wrathful uncle’s liquor store while hiding the fact that she’s applying to college so she can escape him—and Juniper—forever.
When Sal’s attempts to save the motel spiral out of control, he and Noor must ask themselves what friendship is worth—and what it takes to defeat the monsters in their pasts and the ones in their midst.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I am very particular in selecting what young adult novels I choose to pick up, and will say it is not a genre I read often. One thing I can say for sure is that when I do I want something hard hitting and realistic with emotional depth. All My Rage 100% delivered on that. Since finishing, I cannot stop thinking about it.
Sabaa Tahir's writing is simply stunning! The narrative is highly readable, yet there is definitely no sugarcoating, and she handles many difficult topics with care and expertise. In fact, it reads almost like non-fiction because everything seemed so real. While there is so much pain, there is also so much hope. It's a genuine portrayal of the cost of the American dream, as well as, what people of colour continue to encounter on a daily basis.
Beyond the writing and tough stuff, there is a beautiful friendship and love story. Sal and Noor's is an authentic love story. Their development and character arcs were equally engaging. As a reader, I was right there alongside them. The theme of forgiveness is also very present - sometimes hard things are hard to forgive, and yet they must be in order to move forward. The audio narration is packed with another layer of emotion and really brought the whole thing to life.
All My Rage made me feel. It made me think. And it certainly made it's way into my heart and easily onto my 2023 favourites list. It's everything I am looking for in the young adult genre and one I would highly recommend to others. Sabaa Tahir has certainly emerged as a writer to watch.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of Angie Thomas
• readers who like to feel all the feelings
• educators
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Wondering how someone who filled up a room could fit into a box so small."
"Rage can fuel you. But grief gnaws at you slow, a termite nibbling at your soul until you're a whisper of what you used to be."
"The more you ask for,” she’d say, “the better. Because it means you’ve put your faith in something greater than yourself."
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: March 1, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Powerful • Moving • Honest
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Lahore, Pakistan. Then.
Misbah is a dreamer and storyteller, newly married to Toufiq in an arranged match. After their young life is shaken by tragedy, they come to the United States and open the Cloud’s Rest Inn Motel, hoping for a new start.
Juniper, California. Now.
Salahudin and Noor are more than best friends; they are family. Growing up as outcasts in the small desert town of Juniper, California, they understand each other the way no one else does. Until The Fight, which destroys their bond with the swift fury of a star exploding.
Now, Sal scrambles to run the family motel as his mother Misbah’s health fails and his grieving father loses himself to alcoholism. Noor, meanwhile, walks a harrowing tightrope: working at her wrathful uncle’s liquor store while hiding the fact that she’s applying to college so she can escape him—and Juniper—forever.
When Sal’s attempts to save the motel spiral out of control, he and Noor must ask themselves what friendship is worth—and what it takes to defeat the monsters in their pasts and the ones in their midst.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I am very particular in selecting what young adult novels I choose to pick up, and will say it is not a genre I read often. One thing I can say for sure is that when I do I want something hard hitting and realistic with emotional depth. All My Rage 100% delivered on that. Since finishing, I cannot stop thinking about it.
Sabaa Tahir's writing is simply stunning! The narrative is highly readable, yet there is definitely no sugarcoating, and she handles many difficult topics with care and expertise. In fact, it reads almost like non-fiction because everything seemed so real. While there is so much pain, there is also so much hope. It's a genuine portrayal of the cost of the American dream, as well as, what people of colour continue to encounter on a daily basis.
Beyond the writing and tough stuff, there is a beautiful friendship and love story. Sal and Noor's is an authentic love story. Their development and character arcs were equally engaging. As a reader, I was right there alongside them. The theme of forgiveness is also very present - sometimes hard things are hard to forgive, and yet they must be in order to move forward. The audio narration is packed with another layer of emotion and really brought the whole thing to life.
All My Rage made me feel. It made me think. And it certainly made it's way into my heart and easily onto my 2023 favourites list. It's everything I am looking for in the young adult genre and one I would highly recommend to others. Sabaa Tahir has certainly emerged as a writer to watch.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of Angie Thomas
• readers who like to feel all the feelings
• educators
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Wondering how someone who filled up a room could fit into a box so small."
"Rage can fuel you. But grief gnaws at you slow, a termite nibbling at your soul until you're a whisper of what you used to be."
"The more you ask for,” she’d say, “the better. Because it means you’ve put your faith in something greater than yourself."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Islamophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness
xoebooks's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
beautiful and evocative. very clear voice, i was instantly taken in by the characters. audio book readers did a great job.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Racism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Islamophobia, Xenophobia, and Alcoholism
Minor: Racial slurs, Violence, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
parasihir's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
All My Rage destroys me enough, along with my love, my faith, and my rage. It is incredibly phenomenal. THE ENDING, good God, my tears suddenly stream in an endless flow. That is a PERFECT end. I'm glad it was written that way. Solid 5 stars for my tears. We CHEERS (with glass filled with tears, of course).
FYI, just FYI, my tears taste less tasty after I read this book. I cried THAT much.
FYI, just FYI, my tears taste less tasty after I read this book. I cried THAT much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Racism, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Grief, Terminal illness, Cursing, Medical content, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Islamophobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
siebensommer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I think of the way denial can weave its way through a family, whisper gentle lies, and make itself at home.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Physical abuse, Medical content, Alcohol, Addiction, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Violence, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Islamophobia, Drug abuse, and Death
tanaz_masaba's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Racial slurs, Bullying, Xenophobia, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
lawbooks600's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
Representation: Asian main characters, side Black and Brown characters
Score: Five points out of ten.
Man, this book wasn't great and to say it was sad wouldn't be the right words to describe this one. I added it to my list a few days ago at the time of writing this review and a few days later I picked it up from one of the two libraries I visited and finally read it. When I finished it, I thought the novel was too depressing (don't get me wrong, a book can be depressing and still be enjoyable but it needs a balance of depression and more positive emotions, but this one didn't have that.) Did I mention this novel circled my recommendations once? It starts with one story's main character Misbah Malik living in Pakistan who is arranged to marry her predetermined partner when it cuts to the present day in Juniper, California with the other story's protagonists Noor (I initially pronounced it as Nore until she said it rhymes with lure so I switched to that) and Salahudin.
Another book similar to this I've read and enjoyed is Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed but I found that better than this one. I appreciate the author for writing this novel engagingly because of the outstanding descriptions of everything. Here is where the flaws surface; like other books I've read I could never fully connect to all the people who drive the story forward like Misbah, Noor or Salahudin and the plotline(s) were all over the place (I'll explain that later) making them disjointed and harder for me to read or enthral myself in. Now Noor and Salahudin had to get through the death of whom they call Misbah Auntie from kidney problems she refused to address properly (she'd use turmeric instead of going to the doctor) and already I felt miserable but the worst is yet to come. The past narrative told me that Noor's parents died in an earthquake in Pakistan and no one but another person, Chachu (her uncle) saved her with his bare hands which the book repeats sometimes to presumably drive it into my head. I don't understand why I had to look at Misbah's perspective in the past after she died in the present because it didn't add anything significant and distracted from the present perspective story. There are myriad issues the novel talks about much to its detriment as I felt it couldn't pick a single issue to focus on (like alcohol abuse, racism, child abuse and drug abuse) and instead it tried to concentrate on all of them but failed. Maybe if it picked one it could be better.
Everything takes a turn for the worst when Noor applied for seven different universities but to no avail and she tries to pay off the bills without Misbah (whose life went on a downward spiral) to similar results while also dealing with racist attacks at her school and the rage as she calls it bottling inside her (shutting down feelings never works well especially when she physically punches Jamie, the culprit, in return.) Chachu uses a (destructive) coping strategy, alcohol to deal with all the struggles in his life which didn't go to plan as he abuses Noor so she runs away. At least Jamie got karma in the end, Noor got accepted to a university, both people in the present move on ending the book swiftly. I won't reread this but I might read An Ember in the Ashes and its succeeding instalments.
Score: Five points out of ten.
Man, this book wasn't great and to say it was sad wouldn't be the right words to describe this one. I added it to my list a few days ago at the time of writing this review and a few days later I picked it up from one of the two libraries I visited and finally read it. When I finished it, I thought the novel was too depressing (don't get me wrong, a book can be depressing and still be enjoyable but it needs a balance of depression and more positive emotions, but this one didn't have that.) Did I mention this novel circled my recommendations once? It starts with one story's main character Misbah Malik living in Pakistan who is arranged to marry her predetermined partner when it cuts to the present day in Juniper, California with the other story's protagonists Noor (I initially pronounced it as Nore until she said it rhymes with lure so I switched to that) and Salahudin.
Another book similar to this I've read and enjoyed is Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed but I found that better than this one. I appreciate the author for writing this novel engagingly because of the outstanding descriptions of everything. Here is where the flaws surface; like other books I've read I could never fully connect to all the people who drive the story forward like Misbah, Noor or Salahudin and the plotline(s) were all over the place (I'll explain that later) making them disjointed and harder for me to read or enthral myself in. Now Noor and Salahudin had to get through the death of whom they call Misbah Auntie from kidney problems she refused to address properly (she'd use turmeric instead of going to the doctor) and already I felt miserable but the worst is yet to come. The past narrative told me that Noor's parents died in an earthquake in Pakistan and no one but another person, Chachu (her uncle) saved her with his bare hands which the book repeats sometimes to presumably drive it into my head. I don't understand why I had to look at Misbah's perspective in the past after she died in the present because it didn't add anything significant and distracted from the present perspective story. There are myriad issues the novel talks about much to its detriment as I felt it couldn't pick a single issue to focus on (like alcohol abuse, racism, child abuse and drug abuse) and instead it tried to concentrate on all of them but failed. Maybe if it picked one it could be better.
Everything takes a turn for the worst when Noor applied for seven different universities but to no avail and she tries to pay off the bills without Misbah (whose life went on a downward spiral) to similar results while also dealing with racist attacks at her school and the rage as she calls it bottling inside her (shutting down feelings never works well especially when she physically punches Jamie, the culprit, in return.) Chachu uses a (destructive) coping strategy, alcohol to deal with all the struggles in his life which didn't go to plan as he abuses Noor so she runs away. At least Jamie got karma in the end, Noor got accepted to a university, both people in the present move on ending the book swiftly. I won't reread this but I might read An Ember in the Ashes and its succeeding instalments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Death, Grief, Racism, Confinement, Blood, Medical content, Drug use, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Full trigger warnings: Death of an aunt from an illness, parents from an earthquake and other people from electrocution in the past, racism, racist slurs, blood, grief and loss depiction, physical assault, injury and child abuse, abusive and alcohol abusing uncle, imprisonment of a child, hospitalisation, bullying, near-death experience from a drug overdosesophiesmallhands's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Racial slurs, Grief, Death of parent, and Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Chronic illness, Hate crime, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Islamophobia, and Terminal illness
Minor: Sexual violence and Child abuse
teacher_proffit1920's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This book was on my TBR for awhile now. I'm mad at myself for waiting so long to read it. It is beautifully written and the characters, I found myself talking to them. I thought the time hops with the mom would be distracting, but they tied together really well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Violence, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, and Physical abuse
marissasa's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
This book touches on so many things and does them all spectacularly. Life, love, loss, coming of age, trauma, bad choices, addiction, poverty, immigration, healing, faith, friendship, trust, hope, and forgiveness all wrapped in the harsh setting of a small town in the Southern California desert where two Pakistani teens try to find their place in an America Dream that wasn't made for them. The narration switching between Noor, Salahudin, and Misbah was a brilliant writing choice. Each character has such a clear voice and it makes you feel so much more deeply for each of them and their struggles. I loved how mature this YA book was and the way it never downplayed the harm that characters caused even when they were characters you had grown to love and root for. It gave so much weight and realism to the angst and emotions, and much more meaning to the ending and the story's messages of hope and redemption.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Racism, and Violence
ekriek's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, Drug use, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, and Sexual violence
Minor: Misogyny