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keljo484's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death, Genocide, Rape, Violence, and War
miss_alaina's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great (and important) story, but it was very... disjointed? I guess that's the best way to describe it. I was disappointed that we didn't see the immediate aftermath of the attack and its impact on Nisrin - the story just jumped ahead several months. I feel like that chunk of time was crucial to Nisrin's story and her eventual decision to wear a hijab.
I thought it was great that Priya Huq included Nisrin's struggles not only with strangers and classmates accepting her hijab, but also her own family members, as well. In the stories I've read featuring characters with hijabs, I haven't seen that family issue addressed before.
Overall, I liked this book, but I definitely wanted more from it. There were areas where I thought the story could have been greatly expanded. As much as I adore graphic novels, perhaps this particular story would've been even better if it was explored more in a traditional novel format.
I thought it was great that Priya Huq included Nisrin's struggles not only with strangers and classmates accepting her hijab, but also her own family members, as well. In the stories I've read featuring characters with hijabs, I haven't seen that family issue addressed before.
Overall, I liked this book, but I definitely wanted more from it. There were areas where I thought the story could have been greatly expanded. As much as I adore graphic novels, perhaps this particular story would've been even better if it was explored more in a traditional novel format.
chazdragon13's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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? No
4.0
ecroot's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
pipn_t's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
Very good graphic novel, the images and colours were very good at showing the emotions of the main characters. I couldn’t put it down.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
emeelee's review against another edition
3.0
Set in 2002 Oregon, Piece by Piece follows a Bangladeshi American teen called Nisrin. Walking home in Bangladeshi dress after a school presentation, she and her friend Firuzeh are assaulted in an Islamophobic-fueled attack. As part of Nisrin's healing process from this incident, she decides to begin wearing hijab as an expression of pride in her identity. This is against the wishes of her family, who are not religious; Nisrin begins to learn more about her family's experiences in Bangladesh and the complicated history of her ancestral country.
I'm not sure why this graphic novel is categorized as Middle Grade when the protagonist's age (entering high school) and the story themes seem more suited to Young Adult. Deep topics are explored, including prejudice, mental health, and intergenerational trauma, though I wish the book had been longer and provided a bit more explanation about certain things. The pacing was a bit wonky, and I unfortunately found the conflict with Nisrin's friend Firuzeh to crowd the story. There is a little hint of wlw representation in Nisrin's friends Firuzeh and Veronica, but nothing overt. I LOVED Nisrin's Nani (grandmother); she was so supportive and gentle with Nisrin, but you could tell that she was carrying trauma of her own, too. I'd have appreciated more insight into Nisrin's family and their complicated relationship with religion.
I found it really interesting that Nisrin's choice to wear hijab was a reaction to her traumatic experience and a desire to express pride in her heritage rather than a religious decision. She doesn't really know anything about Islam or how to observe hijab-- there's a scene where she becomes upset because she didn't realize that she is "not supposed to" wear shorts/show her legs. She realizes how much she doesn't know and decides to research Islam and attend mosque, but faith doesn't really seem to be a motivator for her. In another scene, a Christian girl at her school compliments her hijab and says it's admirable that Nisrin "want[s] to be closer to God," which Nisrin responds to with confusion. Nisrin's mom tells her she doesn't need to keep hijab at home, but Nisrin admits she feels safer wearing it. I found myself wondering what Nisrin's feelings toward religion are, and whether she thinks of herself as a religious person for wearing hijab or if hijab can be separate from religion altogether. Far be it from me to judge, but it seemed like Nisrin was using hijab as a coping mechanism for her trauma rather than its intended(?) purpose... and I wish that had been explored more.
The book ends with a look at Nisrin's school project on Bangladesh, which was very informative and a neat way to include background information about the country, culture, and Nisrin's family.
TW: Islamophobia, violent assault/hate crime, hospitalization and therapy, PTSD, agoraphobia, mention of genocide and rape
I'm not sure why this graphic novel is categorized as Middle Grade when the protagonist's age (entering high school) and the story themes seem more suited to Young Adult. Deep topics are explored, including prejudice, mental health, and intergenerational trauma, though I wish the book had been longer and provided a bit more explanation about certain things. The pacing was a bit wonky, and I unfortunately found the conflict with Nisrin's friend Firuzeh to crowd the story. There is a little hint of wlw representation in Nisrin's friends Firuzeh and Veronica, but nothing overt. I LOVED Nisrin's Nani (grandmother); she was so supportive and gentle with Nisrin, but you could tell that she was carrying trauma of her own, too. I'd have appreciated more insight into Nisrin's family and their complicated relationship with religion.
"When I see you wearing those clothes... I just don't want you to feel afraid to walk down the street. Like I did when I was your age."
"But... I am afraid. I can't walk down the street and be safe. If I can't be safe... Then can't I at least be proud?"
I found it really interesting that Nisrin's choice to wear hijab was a reaction to her traumatic experience and a desire to express pride in her heritage rather than a religious decision. She doesn't really know anything about Islam or how to observe hijab-- there's a scene where she becomes upset because she didn't realize that she is "not supposed to" wear shorts/show her legs. She realizes how much she doesn't know and decides to research Islam and attend mosque, but faith doesn't really seem to be a motivator for her. In another scene, a Christian girl at her school compliments her hijab and says it's admirable that Nisrin "want[s] to be closer to God," which Nisrin responds to with confusion. Nisrin's mom tells her she doesn't need to keep hijab at home, but Nisrin admits she feels safer wearing it. I found myself wondering what Nisrin's feelings toward religion are, and whether she thinks of herself as a religious person for wearing hijab or if hijab can be separate from religion altogether. Far be it from me to judge, but it seemed like Nisrin was using hijab as a coping mechanism for her trauma rather than its intended(?) purpose... and I wish that had been explored more.
The book ends with a look at Nisrin's school project on Bangladesh, which was very informative and a neat way to include background information about the country, culture, and Nisrin's family.
TW: Islamophobia, violent assault/hate crime, hospitalization and therapy, PTSD, agoraphobia, mention of genocide and rape
karinaeliza's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, and Islamophobia
emily_mh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.25
This graphic novel felt short, but it really packed a punch. It is widely about the relationship Muslim women have to the hijab: what the hijab represents, why Muslim women might choose to wear the hijab or not, and also how outside forces can impact on how they experience this practice. I also loved the focus on relationships, especially on Nisrin and Firuzeh's relationship and the nuance that was given there. The art style was absolutely unique: colour and art were both used in a way I haven't really seen in graphic novels before. It was so emotive and expressive, and metaphoric as well. I think the best way to describe it is that it placed the importance on telling the story through art, not words. Finally the extra material of Nisrin's project on Bangladesh was a wonderful addition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, Hate crime, Racism, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, War, Colonisation, and Genocide
Minor: Racial slurs, Medical content, Misogyny, Child death, Rape, and Ableism
Moderate: PTSD (or similar) experiences, depiction of a neo-Nazi, mass death Minor: loss of a loved oneknockoffrainbow's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Religious bigotry, Blood, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Bullying, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Genocide, War, Gun violence, Murder, and Death