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trin's review against another edition
4.0
Reread, although the last time I read this YA novel I was actually in the intended age group. To my happy surprise, it is just as good as I remember. Based on an Iraqi legend, the novel follows Buran, one (the Elizabeth Bennet one, to be precise) of seven daughters of a poor father. To help her family get some badly needed money (and to avoid having to marry anyone unpleasant), Buran dresses up as a boy and sets off to make her fortune. Enter: one prince, and oh man, it's just so much fun. There's a truly fantastic scene where a disguised Buran and Prince Mahmud go for a walk at dusk, and then—as boys do—decide to play a little chase-y chase-y. When Mahmud catches Buran, he pins her against a wall and they have a total moment—at which point Mahmud of course has a minor gay freak out. I loved that scene when I was younger; I should not have been at all surprised when I grew up to be a slasher.
I only have two complaints, really, which are that Mahmud makes the leap from "I like my male best friend!" to "OMG, he must be a chick!" a bit too fast and too easily, and that their final reunion scene doesn't quite have the impact I would like. But those are both minor. I need to somehow acquire my own copy of this. And hey, besides this and [b:The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle|310146|The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle|Avi|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1200883701s/310146.jpg|997358], does anybody know of any other good crossdressing/genderfuck-y YA novels?
I only have two complaints, really, which are that Mahmud makes the leap from "I like my male best friend!" to "OMG, he must be a chick!" a bit too fast and too easily, and that their final reunion scene doesn't quite have the impact I would like. But those are both minor. I need to somehow acquire my own copy of this. And hey, besides this and [b:The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle|310146|The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle|Avi|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1200883701s/310146.jpg|997358], does anybody know of any other good crossdressing/genderfuck-y YA novels?
themoonphoenix's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
4.0
storiesandsours's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
christina_likes_to_read's review against another edition
4.0
This book felt so familiar to me. I don’t think that I’ve ever read it before. . . But, maybe at some point in the past someone told me the story? . . . I was worried as I started out that the book would be slow and boring because I knew the plot. However, I found myself engaged and eager to continue reading once I had started. It was a very quick read and lovely read.
rheren's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great story, fun to hear and interesting. I think we all felt like the ending was a bit abrupt, but it was satisfying in its own way.
moodiereads's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 stars
I couldn't remember when I started reading this book but there were many months gap when I picked it up again. I felt that it was timely that I was reading a novel with a Muslim/Arab culture representation given the current events taking place in the middle east.
The book was a representation of the Muslim/Arab culture in ancient times—the way they lived, family dynamics and how women were viewed during those times. The main character, Buran, the 4th child in her family dared to break the stereotype society has placed on women and ventured to men's world due to poverty. She disguised herself as a man, joined a caravan and learned how to be a merchant and eventually becomes successful. She was able to help he family and her sisters were able to find good husbands.
Buran crosses paths with Mahmoud, the prince of Tyre and develops feelings for him. It wasn't unrequited since Mahmoud feels the same way. However fear, deceit breaks them apart until Mahmoud decides to find her no matter what.
This is a story quite amazing during the ancient times. A love the breaks boundaries. And a determination that you can be whatever you want to be as long as you have willpower and the strength to survive.
I couldn't remember when I started reading this book but there were many months gap when I picked it up again. I felt that it was timely that I was reading a novel with a Muslim/Arab culture representation given the current events taking place in the middle east.
The book was a representation of the Muslim/Arab culture in ancient times—the way they lived, family dynamics and how women were viewed during those times. The main character, Buran, the 4th child in her family dared to break the stereotype society has placed on women and ventured to men's world due to poverty. She disguised herself as a man, joined a caravan and learned how to be a merchant and eventually becomes successful. She was able to help he family and her sisters were able to find good husbands.
Buran crosses paths with Mahmoud, the prince of Tyre and develops feelings for him. It wasn't unrequited since Mahmoud feels the same way. However fear, deceit breaks them apart until Mahmoud decides to find her no matter what.
This is a story quite amazing during the ancient times. A love the breaks boundaries. And a determination that you can be whatever you want to be as long as you have willpower and the strength to survive.
thatkorigirl's review against another edition
5.0
I haven't read this book in its entirety for a while, but I skimmed it again recently and it still captivates me, much as I'm out of the intended age range. I read this book a good seven or eight times in Fifth and sixth grade, and it was one of my favorite books at the time. Rereading I see where a lot of real issues relevant to historic nomadic culture in the middle eastern area is concerned are glazed over to give the issue a sugared look, but considering the target audience I can't complain much. No promises that every kid will be as entertained as I was, but this is the perfect love story for a young kid who hates or loves romance, in my opinion.
beatricetwilliams's review against another edition
5.0
I genuinely went into re-reading this book expecting it to be a 3-star read at best, BUT IT WASN'T. First off, the plot is very interesting, the writing style is engaging. I love both the characters. Mahmud is the OG book boyfriend tbh. "Well if that's what the whole world knows, then the whole world is wrong." That whole speech killed me a lil bit. Also, he was a very flawed character with flawed sexist ideas, but he began to realize these as the book continued, and it was cool to see his perspective change. Buran didn't have any particular character growth, aside from simply growing wiser. She had flaws as well, such as resentment and want for revenge (both of which were totally valid though) and both neither of those were really addressed, which is fine in general, but since this is a kid's book (I think.... at least, I read it as a kid) I think it would have done better to address them more.
EDIT: upon reading other reviews and looking at the tags, apparently it's YA, which checks out.
EDIT: upon reading other reviews and looking at the tags, apparently it's YA, which checks out.