Reviews - Un mapa de sal y estrellas

1.29k reviews for:

Un mapa de sal y estrellas

Zeyn Joukhadar

4.03 AVERAGE

slentz97's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

amyw2's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

hubes's review against another edition

4.5

medium-paced

kaayycee's review against another edition

4.25

beautiful homage to place as external and internal, grounding you as it lets you hope and dream. though i couldn’t quite grasp each bit of the main character (maybe just stuck on how she was said to be twelve but felt much younger), heartbreaking and magical. ode to move through life and see it this way.

kellycavolo's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

gotem's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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: Complicated

So, this story hits me probably a little harder than the average American reader. I was a volunteer for an information and evacuation group for Ukranian refugees in Kviv and other border cities who were subjugated to the initial Russian military wave. I worked with individuals to keep their minutes topped up, stay in contact with families, and navigate public and private transportation in their journey west.

So it is with great confidence that I can say this book took me back to the beginning of last year. Of 20 hour days scouring official and unofficial channels for accurate train times. Of connecting with people who promised a place to stay, only for them to take money and leave groups stranded. Of using Google translate to keep spirits high and tell a kid stories and ask about their favorite foods in an effort to keep their minds from straying to far deep into the rubble of their home.

The parallel of the two intertwined stories was a genius literary move. I have no other words for it.

I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Content Warnings

orinda's review against another edition

2.0

DNF. Twee verschillende verhaallijnen, waarvan eentje niet mijn ding was. Waardoor ik mijn interesse in het boek tegen de helft kwijt geraakte. Het verhaal van Rawiya vond ikzelf iets te gedetailleerd geschreven. Mocht het boek enkel uit het verhaal van Nour bestaan hebben, had ik het waarschijnlijk wel uitgelezen. Los daarvan wel een hele mooie, warme schrijfstijl. Ben benieuwd naar andere boeken van de schrijfster.