notyourhijabi 's review for:

The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon

4.0

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Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley

Subhi is a boy born in a refugee centre, and all the life he has known has been within the fence of the Centre. It's boring as can be in this place, and it's Subhi's vivid imagination that helps him bear it all. Jimmie is a young girl from the Outside who needs someone to read her dead mother's stories to her, and it's Subhi who offers to do it. The story focuses on their slowly developing friendship and the conflicts that come along with it.

The author has managed to capture the voice of a nine year old highly imaginative boy very well. However that right there can be a problem when it comes to younger readers. Considering that this book is targeted at middle grade readers, I'm somewhat concerned about the voice of this book. It's not easy being Subhi, and it's not easy being in his thoughts either. So at points I had to struggle to make myself read on because that, coupled with the rich, literary writing made it quite difficult to understand what was being said. Of course, the writing was beautiful and enchanting, but it's the MG tag that comes along with it that I'm not too sure of.

A very brave story that confronts political, ethical and moral issues relating to refugees, narrates a story that needs to be told. It deals with refugees living in squalor and foul conditions, and the author should be definitely be lauded for doing such a great job in highlighting such issues. Sad, heartbreaking and poignant, this is a book I'd recommend to anyone and everyone. It is truly a story that needs to reach many, many more people and I hope it does. I really hope it does.