A review by jenmangler
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

4.0

This is such a beautiful book. It explores the difficulty of leaving your home and all you know to move to a place that seems so strange, the Islamophobia that makes it difficult to exist and feel welcome in this new place, the guilt you feel when you start to like this new place and know people that you love are still in danger, and the struggle to figure out what home really means. I loved Jude's family, both in Syria and in Cincinnati. I especially adored all the scenes in Jude's ELL class. The teacher and her classmates are so supportive of each other, and they become such a beautiful, welcoming, and safe community for every member. This book needs to get into a lot of hands. I highly recommend it.