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booksbybrady's review
emotional
inspiring
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
4.75
pib003's review
5.0
Ariel asks the questions that everyone should ask of themselves, their loved ones, and the world around them. I'm so grateful that this character models change-making behaviors for young readers.
kbucheit's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kristinakg's review
challenging
hopeful
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
paytonwileyp's review
4.25
For a middle grade book this tackles some really tough subject matter but it does so in a very thoughtful and comprehensible manner. I did not think that I would get emotional over this but I cried so much at the end!! It felt so real and so human, and I really enjoyed it
emilysbookishlife's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.5
gabieowleyess's review
3.0
Very thought provoking and would bring up a bunch of critical conversations with a classroom.
leahsbooks's review
4.0
CONTENT WARNING: antisemitism, racism, ableism, xenophobia
For an MG book, I felt like this dealt with a lot, but it was done really well. It was written in the second person narrative, which I’m not accustomed to, so it took me a little while to get into it. Ariel is smack dab in the center of a time of great change — political rights, the Vietnam War, and the free love movement was all going on, and is talked about in story. I can only imagine that these times would be confusing for a 12 year old, and Ariel’s story reflects that. As she tries to figure out how she feels about all these issues, a bunch of issues hit closer to home for her with the landmark decision that allows interracial marriage in the country.
“So far, nobody has done a report on anything really serious, like the Vietnam War or Dr. Martin Luther kin Jr.’s speeches. There’s been nothing about the protests and riots, nothing about San Francisco and the hippies, or about Thurgood Marshall’s Supreme Court confirmation or the Six-Day War, and nothing about Loving v. Virginia…"
Her sister takes advantage of that and marries a young Hindu man from India, sparking strife within her family. Her family cuts her sister Leah off, and Ariel is struck with the loss of her big sister, since Leah was a stabilizing influence in her life. Leah was the one who supported her, explained things to her, and often assisted her with things that her parents were too busy or unable to help with. After Leah is gone, Ariel is left with a major void in her life.
“Who else can help you figure out the world in the same way?”
On top of that, Ariel struggles with a learning disability. She has difficulty with writing, and her parents consistently tell her to “stop being lazy,” and encourage her to strengthen her hands by working with them in their bakery. The outright ableism made me uncomfortable, especially when it’s employed during a conference with her teacher, who tries to explain her learning disability (dysgraphia) and suggest some helpful techniques to assist her in school. The teacher outright compliments Ariel’s intelligence, while her parents seem to put her down in an effort to contradict the teacher. However, the learning disability is explained clearly enough to make it understandable and I thought it was ultimately dealt with positively.
“You want to know if there’s a name for what makes writing difficult.”
Prejudice is a major theme throughout the book. While Ariel and her family struggle with antisemitism in the story from a variety of sources, they are also a source of prejudice themselves. Despite being a minority, they still hold prejudicial beliefs of their own, viewing Leah’s husband as a foreigner and turn their backs on their own daughter for marrying someone of a different religion. Raj’s parents aren’t thrilled with their son marrying what they also view as a “foreigner” and someone of a different religion. Ariel voices her questions about the expectations that people place on her and others:
“But you wonder, if you were who everyone wants you to be, would it even make a difference?”
I love the fact that Hiranandani wrote this book as someone who has experienced life as someone who has grown up biracial, with a Jewish American mother and an Indian immigrant father. It lends additional context to a potentially sensitive story, and allows her to tell it in a way that resonates without being harmful to the community. I like to think that society has come a long way, but it makes me realize how little things have changed in some ways. This is an important book that has a story that benefits the reader, and the fact that this is designed for young readers is incredible.
For an MG book, I felt like this dealt with a lot, but it was done really well. It was written in the second person narrative, which I’m not accustomed to, so it took me a little while to get into it. Ariel is smack dab in the center of a time of great change — political rights, the Vietnam War, and the free love movement was all going on, and is talked about in story. I can only imagine that these times would be confusing for a 12 year old, and Ariel’s story reflects that. As she tries to figure out how she feels about all these issues, a bunch of issues hit closer to home for her with the landmark decision that allows interracial marriage in the country.
“So far, nobody has done a report on anything really serious, like the Vietnam War or Dr. Martin Luther kin Jr.’s speeches. There’s been nothing about the protests and riots, nothing about San Francisco and the hippies, or about Thurgood Marshall’s Supreme Court confirmation or the Six-Day War, and nothing about Loving v. Virginia…"
Her sister takes advantage of that and marries a young Hindu man from India, sparking strife within her family. Her family cuts her sister Leah off, and Ariel is struck with the loss of her big sister, since Leah was a stabilizing influence in her life. Leah was the one who supported her, explained things to her, and often assisted her with things that her parents were too busy or unable to help with. After Leah is gone, Ariel is left with a major void in her life.
“Who else can help you figure out the world in the same way?”
On top of that, Ariel struggles with a learning disability. She has difficulty with writing, and her parents consistently tell her to “stop being lazy,” and encourage her to strengthen her hands by working with them in their bakery. The outright ableism made me uncomfortable, especially when it’s employed during a conference with her teacher, who tries to explain her learning disability (dysgraphia) and suggest some helpful techniques to assist her in school. The teacher outright compliments Ariel’s intelligence, while her parents seem to put her down in an effort to contradict the teacher. However, the learning disability is explained clearly enough to make it understandable and I thought it was ultimately dealt with positively.
“You want to know if there’s a name for what makes writing difficult.”
Prejudice is a major theme throughout the book. While Ariel and her family struggle with antisemitism in the story from a variety of sources, they are also a source of prejudice themselves. Despite being a minority, they still hold prejudicial beliefs of their own, viewing Leah’s husband as a foreigner and turn their backs on their own daughter for marrying someone of a different religion. Raj’s parents aren’t thrilled with their son marrying what they also view as a “foreigner” and someone of a different religion. Ariel voices her questions about the expectations that people place on her and others:
“But you wonder, if you were who everyone wants you to be, would it even make a difference?”
I love the fact that Hiranandani wrote this book as someone who has experienced life as someone who has grown up biracial, with a Jewish American mother and an Indian immigrant father. It lends additional context to a potentially sensitive story, and allows her to tell it in a way that resonates without being harmful to the community. I like to think that society has come a long way, but it makes me realize how little things have changed in some ways. This is an important book that has a story that benefits the reader, and the fact that this is designed for young readers is incredible.
readingthroughtheages's review
4.0
Another historical fiction story from Veera Hiranandani, this time focusing on her Jewish roots.
Set during the time following the "Loving vs. Virginia" case, this story follows Ari after her older sister Leah secretly marries her Indian boyfriends and leaves with him, severing her ties with her family. Ari and Leah's parents want Leah to marry a Jewish boy and cannot accepts Leah's relationship. This becomes more complicated when Leah announces she's pregnant. Ari has a hard time accepting her parents' decision while also trying to figure out her own feelings - does she accept her parents old ways of thinking, or does her ideas about relationships change with the times? More upheaval comes with the uncertainty of her parents bakery needing to be sold and the understanding of her own learning disability.
The narrating is different as it utilizes the second person point of view and each chapter title uses "how to". It's a longer story (upwards of 400 pages), I would recommend 5th grade+.
Set during the time following the "Loving vs. Virginia" case, this story follows Ari after her older sister Leah secretly marries her Indian boyfriends and leaves with him, severing her ties with her family. Ari and Leah's parents want Leah to marry a Jewish boy and cannot accepts Leah's relationship. This becomes more complicated when Leah announces she's pregnant. Ari has a hard time accepting her parents' decision while also trying to figure out her own feelings - does she accept her parents old ways of thinking, or does her ideas about relationships change with the times? More upheaval comes with the uncertainty of her parents bakery needing to be sold and the understanding of her own learning disability.
The narrating is different as it utilizes the second person point of view and each chapter title uses "how to". It's a longer story (upwards of 400 pages), I would recommend 5th grade+.
ejbheartsrbg's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5