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Reviews tagging 'Racism'
Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Adiba Jaigirdar
25 reviews
coziebookclub's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Racism, Islamophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death and Death
cloreadsbooks1364's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Four Eids and a Funeral
By Adiba Jaigirdar and Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
4.75/5⭐️
This YA contemporary romance stars Said and Tuwa, former best friends who now hate each other. Reunited after the death of their friend, a local librarian, they work together to save the town's Islamic Centre after it goes up in flames.
My first impression of Said was that he's considerate. Of Tiwa, it was that she was probably going to be a very lovable character. As like most protagonists, they had challenges of their own to face alongside the main concern of saving the Centre. Tiwa struggled with losing the Centre that she spent so much time volunteering in, alongside missing her father abroad. There was also the never ending issue that a lot of people assumed she wasn't Muslim because she was Black and chose not to wear a hijab.
Said, who spent his time at a fancy boarding school, faced his parents' ambitious assumptions about his future, and how to tell them that what he wants (art) is not what they dream of for him (medicine).
The side characters Julian (Said's buddy from school) and Safiyah (Said's sister, and Tiwa's best friend) were both entertaining, especially watching Safiyah's relationship with Ishra (a very nice girl) develop.
The three past Eids were told in third person, while the chapters set in the present were told from first person, switching between Said and Tiwa. I found the story moved extremely smoothly, it didn't feel anywhere near as long as it was.
I absolutely devoured this funny, sweet, heartfelt book, and highly recommend it!
(The best character was obviously Laddoo, the affectionate sweet-loving ginger cat co-parented by Said and Tiwa 🐈)
Queer rep: Lesbian sc (Safiyah)
TWs: fire, racism, child death, grief, death, animal death 🐟, car accident
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Animal death
dhiyanah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Moderate: Racism and Grief
Minor: Car accident and Fire/Fire injury
jennireadsmaybe's review against another edition
- 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
Plot wise, I really enjoyed Tiwa and Said's childhood friends to haters to friends to lovers romance. They each know each other so well and it makes their past heartbreak all the more emotional for it. It also takes time for them to grow comfortable with each other again... which I loved because it gave me the moments of learning each other again.
An ode to Muslim communities, Tiwa and Said join forces to help rebuild their local Islamic center after it gets damaged in a fire. I am a huge fan of YA stories with political elements because teens are so powerful! AJ + FAI capture teenage struggles amidst so much other happenings for the characters so so well.
The commentary on anti-Blackness within the Muslim community is so so important. I hope this book gets into the hands of teenagers everywhere!
Graphic: Child death, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Death, and Car accident
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Car accident and Fire/Fire injury
justinekorson's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
I've read books by both Farisah and Adiba and so I was really excited to hear that they were co-writing a book together! I don't know anything really about Eid or the Muslim faith so it was very interesting to read about it in this book. Watching how Said and Tiwa practice their religion (both in different ways) was really cool. In a lot of ways I felt like Said in the story when he talked about not really feeling connected to his religion until he goes back home from boarding school.
The characters were really fun too! I think Said was my favorite. He was really funny and sarcastic and had a really great relationship with his sister Safiya. He was also a creative spirit (with his art) which I can relate too as well. Tiwa was very stubborn (relatable) and I loved how she was so passionate about saving the Islamic Center .I almost wish there was more Julian in the book too because he was really funny! You could tell how much he cared about Said and I enjoyed how he ALWAYS seemed to be talking about Pokemon (same Julian, same).
If you don't enjoy the miscommunication trope (who does enjoy it though) you might not like parts of this book. Basically all of Tiwa and Said's relationship in this story is one BIG misunderstanding. (I was actually a little pissed when I read what Safiya did and I didn't really care for her explanation either). The miscommunication here isn't as bad as it is in other books I've read though. If you can get past the fact that they're constantly snarky at one another i think you'll really enjoy this story!
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Racism, and Car accident
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- 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
Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc and Libro FM for the ALC. I am providing this review of my own accord.
Two favorites teamed up to deliver a banger of a co-written young adult romcom and coming of age story. When their favorite librarian Ms. Barnes passes away, Tiwa and Said are thrown together not only for funeral and memorial services, but are left something from Ms. Barnes' will. The catch is... they haven't talked in years really, since Said left for his boarding school, and tragedy hit Tiwa's family. This new forced proximity leaves an opening for them to finally contend with their disdain for each other, and if there's hope to rekindle their friendship ever again.
I appreciated the commentary on the anti-Blackness that Tiwa experienced by their own community, and the lateral emotional and mental violence that she experienced. I hope this opens more folks eyes that being Muslim does not have to *look* a certain way in order to be valid or "enough".
I also loved that the pain and anger that Tiwa and Said felt towards one another felt so real? Like, I can absolutely imagine being in either of their shoes at their age, and feeling the wrath just as they did. I didn't blame either of them for their frustrations, and I thought AJ & FAI illustrated this teenage angst and betrayal perfectly, as they typically do, so I am not surprised in the least.
Anyway, I loved reading about these two friends finding their way back to one another, amidst grief and pain, and holding onto the hope of a future alongside one another, and reveling in community.
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
nickel_books's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Car accident
Moderate: Cancer and Islamophobia
aromanticreadsromance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
This book is full of Muslim joy and pride! Said and Tiwa are both Muslims from different ethnic backgrounds (like the authors!). Said is Bangladeshi-American, and Tiwa is Nigerian-American. Ironically, Tiwa is much more involved in their faith but gets treated as an outsider by the aunties in their community because she's Black. They don't recognize her as Muslim (it's weird that some of the aunties don't even recognize her from the mosque, considering the Muslim community in their town is small and tight-knit). As a South Asian, Said's Muslim identity is never questioned (which is ironic since he's less involved than Tiwa). I wish the book hadn't glossed over the commentary on anti-Black racism in Muslim communities. Since the issue was raised, I feel it shouldn't have been brushed off or rushed through and should have gone beyond the surface level.
I almost feel like this book suffered from trying to do TOO much that some of the threads were lost. I wanted MORE on so many topics, like Ms. Barnes (the librarian), Timi (Tiwa's little brother), and Tiwa's dad, to name a few. But especially Timi.
My favorite character was Tiwa's best friend/Said's sister Safiyah (we support women's rights AND wrongs). She's so funny AND gay (and you can't tell me those two things aren't related, LOL).
Overall, I liked this book, but I didn't LOVE it. It kinda reminded me of Lark and Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender (ex-best friends explore their feelings for each other, plus a sprinkle of activism), so if you liked that, you'll probably also like this!
A big thanks to Macmillan for the advanced copy of this book! All thoughts are my own.
Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
skye_era_books's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Racism and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Death, Car accident, and Toxic friendship