A review by onthesamepage
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

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? No

5.0

I am scared that I do not belong in
a Middle Eastern restaurant
in the middle of America.

I am scared that the only place
in Middle America that I belong
is a Middle Eastern restaurant.

A beautifully-written book that talks about the experience of refugees, and that feeling of being "other" and not belonging.

Jude and her mother end up moving from Syria to the US when the violence in Syria begins to escalate, and Jude finds herself tossed into a world that sees her as strange, different, dangerous, and oppressed. I found this to be a very powerful book with accessible writing. Despite the heavy subject matter, there's a sense of hope that continues to build throughout the story.

That I cover my head
not because I am ashamed
forced
or hiding.

But because I am
proud
and want to be seen
as I am.

I also really loved the Muslim representation, specifically the way the author handled Jude starting her period and wearing the hijab accordingly. It's something I haven't seen before in a middle grade book, and it's something that I think is important to normalize for young Muslim girls.