Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this book, but this author's strength is really in her poetry. The few lines of poetry that headed each chapter and were occasionally written in the notebooks of the fourteen-year-old main character were more interesting to me than the plot of the story. Full disclosure: I met this author when she came to my elementary school to do an "artist in residence" workshop where she did poetry workshops with us. She published one of my poems ([b:Salting the Ocean: 100 Poems by Young Poets|620965|Salting the Ocean 100 Poems by Young Poets|Naomi Shihab Nye|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347643075s/620965.jpg|607338]). So I picked this book mostly out of sentimentality. Still, a perfectly readable young adult novel that lightly skirts the Israel/Palestine conflict.
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:
No
Amazing middle grade
emotional
informative
reflective
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:
No
I really like Liyana and the way Shihab Nye portrays her family's move from Missouri to Jerusalem, but I can't figure out the meaning of the abrupt ending. Is it supposed to be hopeful? Or maybe it's supposed to represent that, regardless of the relationships between individuals in Israel/Palestine, the conflicts have a life of their own?
I read this with my son as part of Level 7 of the Build Your Library homeschool curriculum.
I read this with my son as part of Level 7 of the Build Your Library homeschool curriculum.
this was the first book i read that had a character "like me." the main character is a young girl with a palestinian father and white american mother. habibi is one of my adolescent classics.
This was okay. A cute story set against a backdrop that's important to read about. It was okay, quiet, but not really my thing, so I won't be reading it again.
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:
Yes
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
"They are bonded for life. Whether they like it or not. Like that kind of glue that won't let go."
I found this book on a Barnes & Noble on a trip and was hooked to the premise from the start. I really liked the writing, and it made me feel as if I was 14 all over again.
Liyana's cluelessness surrounding her moving to Palestine felt familiar, even though I never moved from one country to another (especially one in which the language is completely unknown to me).
I loved the cultural impact this book has and how Liyana is able to communicate with her family even though she doesn't speak Arabic. It was really heartwarming to see her share moments with Sitti and her family circle as well.
I also appreciated how the other characters adapted to this change, especially Liyana's mother and Rafik, Liyana's brother.
Overall, this book is filled with a rich and compelling story which also tackles important issues surrounding our values.
Rating: 8/10
I found this book on a Barnes & Noble on a trip and was hooked to the premise from the start. I really liked the writing, and it made me feel as if I was 14 all over again.
Liyana's cluelessness surrounding her moving to Palestine felt familiar, even though I never moved from one country to another (especially one in which the language is completely unknown to me).
I loved the cultural impact this book has and how Liyana is able to communicate with her family even though she doesn't speak Arabic. It was really heartwarming to see her share moments with Sitti and her family circle as well.
I also appreciated how the other characters adapted to this change, especially Liyana's mother and Rafik, Liyana's brother.
Overall, this book is filled with a rich and compelling story which also tackles important issues surrounding our values.
Rating: 8/10
An interesting plot that gets utterly muddled by unrealistic characters and forced lyrical style. And I like Nye's poetry, but this was just unbearable. I've heard that her newest book, Turtles for Oman, has a similar plot without all the extraneous nonsense. I might give that a try for future book clubs.
Brain Food:
Scandal Level:
Violence:
Must be ___ old to read:
Read if you liked:
Re-readability:
Thoughts:
Scandal Level:
Violence:
Must be ___ old to read:
Read if you liked:
Re-readability:
Thoughts: