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eeyoresprncss's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
saraej2001's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jenlovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Partner NetGalley for the digital ARC of Aisha Saeed’s Aladdin: Far from Agrabah in exchange for an honest review. The book releases on April 2.
I requested Saeed’s new novel for two reasons: (1) I (and the other hosts of Unabridged) absolutely adored her own voices novel Amal Unbound, which was one of the 2018 Global Read Aloud selections, and (2) Aladdin is one of my favorite Disney movies ever. I can’t count the number of times my best friend and I watched that film when we were in high school.
I am, however, not a member of this book’s target audience, and I felt that vividly through the book. A middle-grade read, Aladdin: Far from Agrabah begins with an excerpt from the fictional Legendary Leaders Across the Ages. This first section details the tragic disintegration of the friendship of Sultan Waleed and his advisor Abbas, whose greed for power and gold leads him to betray his friend. In a structure that I appreciated, these tales from Legendary Leaders continue throughout the novel, reinforcing the feeling that we’re reading a story rooted in folk tales and history and reinforcing the experiences and lessons of the book’s protagonists.
Saeed launches into the story of Aladdin and Jasmine a few days after they’ve met, alternating between their points of view. Fans of the movie know that Jasmine meets Aladdin, a “street rat,” when she has disguised herself to explore the “true” Agrabah--with his knowledge of the streets, the impoverished orphan is able to keep her safe. Now, however, Aladdin has used his first wish from the genie to transform him into Prince Ali of Ababwa, a show off who is failing to impress Princess Jasmine.
For a while, Saeed follows the movie, which is both satisfying for fans and a little frustrating for those who want more. The author does effectively create a character in Jasmine who yearns for real leadership opportunities: she is frustrated with her father’s distant and cold rule over Agrabah and wishes that she could act as her deceased mother did to bring real compassion to her kingdom.
When Aladdin and Jasmine take off on their magic carpet ride (who else is singing “A Whole New World” in their heads?), Saeed begins to build her own facet of the narrative. Jasmine requests a detour to visit Prince Ali’s home in Ababwa, and Aladdin uses a loophole to convince Genie to make it happen. It’s in Ababwa that the couple truly connects and also begins to develop a firm idea of what it means to be both a good leader and a good person.
I appreciated so much the details of the kingdom of Ababwa, and the people Aladdin and Jasmine encounter teach them a plethora of lessons throughout their visit. It’s here, however, that I most felt my distance from the young readers at whom this book is aimed: the overly explicit expression of neatly encapsulated morals to the story left me wishing for more subtlety. These lessons fit more in the sections from Legendary Leaders but feel less an organic part of the main narrative. Saeed takes on compassion, economic disparity, education, truth, the importance of actions . . . watching Aladdin and Jasmine grow and seeing Jasmine become more determined to take on a leadership role in Agrabah (go, feminism!) offers clear character arcs but left me wishing for the more complex and nuanced Amal Unbound.
I do think many young readers will enjoy Aisha Saeed’s Aladdin: Far from Agrabah in advance of the release of the new film, and the novel will certainly enrich their experience.
I requested Saeed’s new novel for two reasons: (1) I (and the other hosts of Unabridged) absolutely adored her own voices novel Amal Unbound, which was one of the 2018 Global Read Aloud selections, and (2) Aladdin is one of my favorite Disney movies ever. I can’t count the number of times my best friend and I watched that film when we were in high school.
I am, however, not a member of this book’s target audience, and I felt that vividly through the book. A middle-grade read, Aladdin: Far from Agrabah begins with an excerpt from the fictional Legendary Leaders Across the Ages. This first section details the tragic disintegration of the friendship of Sultan Waleed and his advisor Abbas, whose greed for power and gold leads him to betray his friend. In a structure that I appreciated, these tales from Legendary Leaders continue throughout the novel, reinforcing the feeling that we’re reading a story rooted in folk tales and history and reinforcing the experiences and lessons of the book’s protagonists.
Saeed launches into the story of Aladdin and Jasmine a few days after they’ve met, alternating between their points of view. Fans of the movie know that Jasmine meets Aladdin, a “street rat,” when she has disguised herself to explore the “true” Agrabah--with his knowledge of the streets, the impoverished orphan is able to keep her safe. Now, however, Aladdin has used his first wish from the genie to transform him into Prince Ali of Ababwa, a show off who is failing to impress Princess Jasmine.
For a while, Saeed follows the movie, which is both satisfying for fans and a little frustrating for those who want more. The author does effectively create a character in Jasmine who yearns for real leadership opportunities: she is frustrated with her father’s distant and cold rule over Agrabah and wishes that she could act as her deceased mother did to bring real compassion to her kingdom.
When Aladdin and Jasmine take off on their magic carpet ride (who else is singing “A Whole New World” in their heads?), Saeed begins to build her own facet of the narrative. Jasmine requests a detour to visit Prince Ali’s home in Ababwa, and Aladdin uses a loophole to convince Genie to make it happen. It’s in Ababwa that the couple truly connects and also begins to develop a firm idea of what it means to be both a good leader and a good person.
I appreciated so much the details of the kingdom of Ababwa, and the people Aladdin and Jasmine encounter teach them a plethora of lessons throughout their visit. It’s here, however, that I most felt my distance from the young readers at whom this book is aimed: the overly explicit expression of neatly encapsulated morals to the story left me wishing for more subtlety. These lessons fit more in the sections from Legendary Leaders but feel less an organic part of the main narrative. Saeed takes on compassion, economic disparity, education, truth, the importance of actions . . . watching Aladdin and Jasmine grow and seeing Jasmine become more determined to take on a leadership role in Agrabah (go, feminism!) offers clear character arcs but left me wishing for the more complex and nuanced Amal Unbound.
I do think many young readers will enjoy Aisha Saeed’s Aladdin: Far from Agrabah in advance of the release of the new film, and the novel will certainly enrich their experience.
saracat's review against another edition
3.0
This is very much a book within the Disney realm. Everything works out for the best. Conflicts do arise but resolve much easier than they ever would. But, sometimes it's nice to read a book that idealizes how things could be. (Even though you know that isn't really true because real life is more complicated than that.)
The thing that took me most out of the story though was a lot of things that just felt like very modern ideas or ways of doing things. Maybe some of those things actually have been around and used by people for hundreds of years and we just think of them as more modern. So, maybe I need to update my reference for older time periods and how life was. Either way though, because of what I have learned and heard about earlier parts of history, some things did feel out of place in the novel.
Of course though, this is looking at the story through an adult's lens. I think most younger readers who love Aladdin will also love this book.
The thing that took me most out of the story though was a lot of things that just felt like very modern ideas or ways of doing things. Maybe some of those things actually have been around and used by people for hundreds of years and we just think of them as more modern. So, maybe I need to update my reference for older time periods and how life was. Either way though, because of what I have learned and heard about earlier parts of history, some things did feel out of place in the novel.
Of course though, this is looking at the story through an adult's lens. I think most younger readers who love Aladdin will also love this book.
thegingerpageturner's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to @scholastic_au for sending me a copy of this one for review. This was a fun new tale of Aladdin and Jasmine that i enjoyed. It took me a couple of chapters to realise this wasn't just the novelization of the new movie but rather another story within the world of it. The story alternates between Jasmine and Aladdins POV and tells the story of them travelling to other kingdoms. The story flows well and younger readers will enjoy this tale.
.
I loved getting to know Jasmine and Aladdin more throughout this story. They both want the same things in life but are both unsure how to achieve them. Together though they go on a journey in which they learn more about each other and themselves. Genie was still in the story, but only a little bit, would love to have seen more of him.
.
I loved getting to know Jasmine and Aladdin more throughout this story. They both want the same things in life but are both unsure how to achieve them. Together though they go on a journey in which they learn more about each other and themselves. Genie was still in the story, but only a little bit, would love to have seen more of him.
mrs_bookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
Growing up, I loved Aladdin, so when I saw Aisha Saeed had written an Aladdin story, I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed. I did not want a rehash of the movies I knew by heart. This story was new and engaging and fun. I really enjoyed the adventure and learning more about Jasmine and Aladdin and getting to see their inner thoughts. I would recommend to fantasy lovers and those who love a happy story.
I received this copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
lostinafairytale's review against another edition
4.0
Full review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ROCDr23HJ8&lc=z23tzzvoiv3hwpcwi04t1aokgq3sib5rhwecltj0ywo5rk0h00410
warnersvaccumcleaner's review against another edition
3.0
My disney book phase was sad. And expensive.