Take a photo of a barcode or cover
mari1532 's review for:
Four Eids and a Funeral
by Adiba Jaigirdar, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed this book very much. Even though it deals with some very big issues such as feelings of grief and feelings of abandonment, as well as racism and religious bigotry the authors created a heartfelt story about finding your way to your back to the person who understands you better than anyone else.
I enjoyed how Tiwa and Said are forced to interact with one another after having a falling out several years prior. The way that their mentor was able to give them a parting gift of not only an adorable cat but a way back to each other was really beautiful.
The tension between Tiwa and Said was also really fun in the ways that they would poke at each other throughout the book. It was obvious from the beginning that even though there were hurt feelings on both sides there was also still a great deal of affection for one another. The dual perspectives between Tiwa and Said added a deep layer of the dynamics between the two of them because as events began to unfold it was clear what each of their perspectives was.
Additionally, the dual timelines between present events of trying to work together and past events that drove them apart added an air of mystery to the story. The way that Tiwa and Said are written it was clear that this is a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers type of story, but the way the novel was constructed allowed for the full breadth of that journey to be explored.
I will say that I am a little conflicted about how Tiwa reacts when the secret is revealed in the third act. She seems very quick to not trust Said and is also dealing with her grief, such that bright colors are something she appears to avoid (granted I was unclear if this was grief-related or just teenage angst-related). However, when the largest secret of the book is revealed she seems not mad about it. I don't expect her to yell or anything as that would be out of character, but her calm evaluation of the situation did seem a little subdued for what was called for.
Also, I loved how the villain of the book is portrayed it was so funny and I completely agreed with the child asking questions about the love story of Tiwa and Said at the end.
A fun coming-of-age romance with plenty of complicated relationship dynamics throughout.
I enjoyed how Tiwa and Said are forced to interact with one another after having a falling out several years prior. The way that their mentor was able to give them a parting gift of not only an adorable cat but a way back to each other was really beautiful.
The tension between Tiwa and Said was also really fun in the ways that they would poke at each other throughout the book. It was obvious from the beginning that even though there were hurt feelings on both sides there was also still a great deal of affection for one another. The dual perspectives between Tiwa and Said added a deep layer of the dynamics between the two of them because as events began to unfold it was clear what each of their perspectives was.
Additionally, the dual timelines between present events of trying to work together and past events that drove them apart added an air of mystery to the story. The way that Tiwa and Said are written it was clear that this is a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers type of story, but the way the novel was constructed allowed for the full breadth of that journey to be explored.
I will say that I am a little conflicted about how Tiwa reacts when the secret is revealed in the third act. She seems very quick to not trust Said and is also dealing with her grief, such that bright colors are something she appears to avoid (granted I was unclear if this was grief-related or just teenage angst-related). However, when the largest secret of the book is revealed she seems not mad about it. I don't expect her to yell or anything as that would be out of character, but her calm evaluation of the situation did seem a little subdued for what was called for.
Also, I loved how the villain of the book is portrayed it was so funny and I completely agreed with the child asking questions about the love story of Tiwa and Said at the end.
A fun coming-of-age romance with plenty of complicated relationship dynamics throughout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cancer, Racism
Minor: Islamophobia