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A review by robina_khalid
Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. Loved, loved, loved it. It's a very quick read, but before I started it my sister warned me that the prose was so rich that it had to be savored,, and I agree. I loved the prose style of this book: beautiful and lyrical but also, at times, laugh-at-loud funny. It rang so true to me that some sections brought me back really palpably to the feelings attached to moments like the first time I kissed my first love -- Nye's descriptions are just that vivid.
It's also one of the few recent books I've read where I found myself genuinely fond of all the characters, most of whom felt incredibly three-dimensional (with the exception, I would say, of Liyana's mother who wasn't as developed as the rest of the characters). Loved the dad (even when I felt myself infuriated by him on Liyana's behalf), loved Sitti (the grandmother), loved the relationship between Liyana and her brother Rafiq, loved Omer, and most of all LOVED Liyana. Lately I have noticed that most of the YA novels I read feature a strong and brave young woman, but often that young woman is somewhat petulant and so headstrong as to be blind at pivotal moments. It's kind of tiresome, honestly, that a "powerful" teenage girl also has to be kind of a stubborn pain in the ass. Liyana is a totally different kind of YA protagonist: she's vulnerable, loving, thoughtful, but is also incredibly brave and has a lot of integrity.
I highly, highly recommend this novel.
It's also one of the few recent books I've read where I found myself genuinely fond of all the characters, most of whom felt incredibly three-dimensional (with the exception, I would say, of Liyana's mother who wasn't as developed as the rest of the characters). Loved the dad (even when I felt myself infuriated by him on Liyana's behalf), loved Sitti (the grandmother), loved the relationship between Liyana and her brother Rafiq, loved Omer, and most of all LOVED Liyana. Lately I have noticed that most of the YA novels I read feature a strong and brave young woman, but often that young woman is somewhat petulant and so headstrong as to be blind at pivotal moments. It's kind of tiresome, honestly, that a "powerful" teenage girl also has to be kind of a stubborn pain in the ass. Liyana is a totally different kind of YA protagonist: she's vulnerable, loving, thoughtful, but is also incredibly brave and has a lot of integrity.
I highly, highly recommend this novel.