ghada_mohammed's reviews
513 reviews

أرض زيكولا by عمرو عبد الحميد

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 A heartbreakingly candid exploration of grief, family, and Black masculinity.

Told in verse, Long Way Down is the story of a young man who lost his brother in a senseless turf war. Faced with that injustice, he sets out to take revenge on the culprit, but when he is visited by ghosts from his past, his worldview is gradually dismantled and he starts to rethink everything he used to regard as a fact.

Nearlywed by Nicolas DiDomizio

emotional funny hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A delightful and candid exploration of relationships, validation, sacrifice, and how they all shape one's identity.

Despite what the cover might suggest, Nearlywed is not a sweeping light-hearted romance: there is love, yes, but it is messy and bumpy, crowded with insecurities, and raising multiple question marks throughout: whether any of these nearlywed couples would (or should even) get married.

My favourite part about this book was the realistic growth curve depicted in both Ray and Kip: how they were both flawed humans in their own ways, making a mess of things even while doing their very best not to. I loved how the author handled the “opposites attract”: not merely for the sake of the gap appeal, but also by showing how much work is required of two inherently different people to build something together.

Thank you to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Kabu Kabu by Nnedi Okorafor

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 

"I see so much of my face in hers I almost think to love it"

A candid exploration of family, grief, and belonging. Told in verse, a young daughter of a Sudanese immigrant reflects on her struggles of not fitting in as well as missing being at home in a country where she has never been. Equally heartbreaking and uplifting, Home is not a Country is a warm homage to culture and a nudge to see one's life for what it is instead of what we hope it could have been. 

Medical Artificial Intelligence Breakthroughs by Heather E Schwartz

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

An compelling introduction into the novel and exciting intersection where AI meets medicine. From prosthetics, to psychotherapy, to cancer screening, to surgery: the books offers examples that showcase the positive role AI have and continues to play in healthcare. The subject was presented clearly in beginner-friendly vocabulary; the narrator's voice and pace were both easy to follow. All in all, an exhilarating concept coupled with neat execution. I recommend this to young readers who are interested in machines, medicine, or both.

Thank you to Netalley and Dreamscape Media for providing this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Full of Myself: A Graphic Memoir about Body Image by Siobhán Gallagher

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

5.0

Full of Myself is a candid and heartfelt exploration of womanhood and mental health. It takes an equally humorous and honest approach to address many of the struggles associated with being young and female, including but not limited to: toxic beauty standards and how they warp our own perception of ourselves, the indignity of being subjected to the male gaze, depression, and the struggle to find self-love and self-esteem. 5 stars. I cannot recommend this hard enough.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Here Be Dragons: One Man’s Quest to Make Healthcare More Accessible & Affordable by Web Golinkin

informative inspiring

3.5

An illuminating perspective into the origin and inner working of the retail healthcare business written by the founder of retail clinics himself. Web Golinkin narrates his multi-decade endeavour to make healthcare more accessible and affordable: from introducing cost-effective retail clinics to striving to make health-related information more accessible to the average individual. He also addresses some of the shortcomings pertaining to today's American healthcare system and introduces proposals to overcome them.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Pluralities by Avi Silver

4.0

Pluralities is an exploration of identity and intimacy. It challenges boundaries as well as the belief that everything must be labeled before it can be valid, and it propels the reader to ponder the questions of "who am I, really?" and "Does it even matter?".

Frankly, I am still not sure what to make of this book or whether it is even meant to be one thing. Pluralities is, in a word, chaotic. Still, there is wild beauty in the mess it makes: there is a lot of raw feelings in this book and although not all are straightforward, they are indisputably candid.

I recommend it to anyone who had ever struggled or is currently struggling with a quarter life crisis and or a part of their identity. Being interested in spaceships and accurately portrayed young people might do as well.

49 Days by Agnes Lee

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

An exploration of life, all that makes one's own fulfilling, and what comes after, through the lens of Bardo, the state between life and rebirth where a person's soul travels for 49 days before it can move on to the next life in Buddist tradition.

Equally heartbreaking and bittersweet, 49 days is a story about family, grief, and all of the little things that make one's life worth living. It celebrates Korean culture even while it subtly touches on the frustration of being percieved as different. I loved how grief was portrayed in this book: it was subtle and unpredictable, sneaking in on the characters instead of being the narrative's dominant theme. I also loved how, while 49 days is mainly about death and grief, the author had managed to keep the overall atmosphere casual, even lighthearted every now and then.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.