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A review by futurama1979
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
4.0
Disclaimer: this was assigned reading for my MG and YA class.
Of the three books and handful of short stories I've had to read for my course so far this is by far my favourite. I think a large part of that was just familiarity - I'm not Syrian, nor am I myself an immigrant, but coming from a Lebanese family so many of the little details were familiar which I usually never get in fiction. Specifically the food. Whenever she talked about food in this book it made me so happy.
I feel like so few Arab stories in the American canon are centered on people rather than on tragedy. No fault of Arab authors, but the fault of the American perception of Arab life and what they want to read and continue believing. It was so refreshing and wonderful to read a story about an Arab girl that turns out alright. It wasn't a crushing tragedy - it had a hopeful - happy - ending, but it didn't avoid sadness either. And the protagonist, Jude, was such a strong, vibrant girl. It was a real joy to read.
I don't know if Warga has fully sold me on verse novels - I don't know if I'll ever be fully convinced they'll tell a story better than prose - but she fully sold me on Jude's story.
Of the three books and handful of short stories I've had to read for my course so far this is by far my favourite. I think a large part of that was just familiarity - I'm not Syrian, nor am I myself an immigrant, but coming from a Lebanese family so many of the little details were familiar which I usually never get in fiction. Specifically the food. Whenever she talked about food in this book it made me so happy.
I feel like so few Arab stories in the American canon are centered on people rather than on tragedy. No fault of Arab authors, but the fault of the American perception of Arab life and what they want to read and continue believing. It was so refreshing and wonderful to read a story about an Arab girl that turns out alright. It wasn't a crushing tragedy - it had a hopeful - happy - ending, but it didn't avoid sadness either. And the protagonist, Jude, was such a strong, vibrant girl. It was a real joy to read.
I don't know if Warga has fully sold me on verse novels - I don't know if I'll ever be fully convinced they'll tell a story better than prose - but she fully sold me on Jude's story.