readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Grief, Physical abuse, War, Gun violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse
Moderate: Medical content, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Death, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, and Pregnancy
Minor: Misogyny, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Vomit, Torture, Excrement, and Blood
Forced circumcision.crystal_reading's review
4.0
This is an easy to read memoir of the 6 Days War and the aftermath from a Palestinian girl's perspective.
It is great because since it is a child's view, she includes the interesting details like using dough to glue kite sticks together.
It is great because since it is a child's view, she includes the interesting details like using dough to glue kite sticks together.
carstensena's review against another edition
4.0
I was completely entranced by this beautifully written memoir, and think it should be in every school library and believe it would appeal equally to younger and high school readers.
chadstep's review against another edition
2.0
Slow going, and not as lyrical as I thought it would be (from the title), but as a first-person account as a child learning about the Israeli occupation, it did a decent job.
buffy87's review
3.0
There were some really beautiful lines of poetry written throughout. I enjoyed the language in this one. Sometimes fell flat but on the whole, it was different and better than the quality of language in YA novels I've been reading so far.
In terms of the memoir, I feel conflicted. As someone very well versed in Palestinian history and specifically the occupation and colonization of Palestine, I felt like this did a decent job of bringing those issues and that history forward. It's not too bold yet the truth is still delivered. The part that I'm conflicted about was the presence of tension. While ita written beautifully it was missing that driving force. When something tense happens, it's merely glazed over. I wanted some of those moments explored. That's why I'm conflicted because I realize that I want to sensationalize her struggle. And part of me doesn't. The thing that drives this memoir forward is the beauty of her language, and the memories. Despite being set in a tumultuous period, I guess it doesn't need that high drama.
Anyways, I'm not sure how I feel.
Recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about the Palestine and Israel conflict, anyone who wants the account of a refugee, or someone who wants to read a memoir.
In terms of the memoir, I feel conflicted. As someone very well versed in Palestinian history and specifically the occupation and colonization of Palestine, I felt like this did a decent job of bringing those issues and that history forward. It's not too bold yet the truth is still delivered. The part that I'm conflicted about was the presence of tension. While ita written beautifully it was missing that driving force. When something tense happens, it's merely glazed over. I wanted some of those moments explored. That's why I'm conflicted because I realize that I want to sensationalize her struggle. And part of me doesn't. The thing that drives this memoir forward is the beauty of her language, and the memories. Despite being set in a tumultuous period, I guess it doesn't need that high drama.
Anyways, I'm not sure how I feel.
Recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about the Palestine and Israel conflict, anyone who wants the account of a refugee, or someone who wants to read a memoir.
barbn's review
2.0
I appreciated hearing the author’s experience and story. There was beautiful language and heartbreaking scenes of living as a refugee.
I feel cold-hearted for saying the story just didn’t resonate with me.
I feel cold-hearted for saying the story just didn’t resonate with me.
laurahorn's review against another edition
4.0
I read this for my multicultural lit class and liked the insight it provided into the Palestine/Israeli conflict. It's focus is the 1967 war, but there are a lot of things that still happen today. I LOVED how Ibtisam talked about how language and writing were her "escape" - she talks about the letter A as if it was a friend because learning the alphabet opened a whole new world.