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idreamofallthebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-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
3.5
tiffani_reads's review against another edition
Didn’t like the main character or her constant greedy nature.
atrailofpages's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVE this story! If you love Spirited Away as much as I do, then you will also adore this story! a
This book follows Nura, a young girl who mines for mica to help her family survive and get food. One evening, her mother tells her tomorrow is the last day she will mine because it is just too dangerous. So, on that next day Nura is determined to find the mythical Demon's Tongue. Unfortunately, she digs too far, and a cave in is caused collapsing on other kids that are in the caves including her best friend, Faisal. After searching the rubble, they only find one kid. Nura knows it's her fault this happened and so she starts digging to find her best friend and ends up in the world of jinn, and at the Sijj Palace, a hotel for jinn to stay in. She becomes distracted by the opulence of this world and ends up crossing the palace's owner's son who banishes her to the working quarters where she finds other humans who are now bound to the hotel forever. She does not want this to happen to her or Faisal, so with the help of the other children and a mysterious jinn, they work together to find a way out before they are bound to the hotel forever.
This gave me such Spirited Away vibes I was practically crying from the nostalgia of it all! It's so similar in ways, and yet so different. Nura is similar to Chihiro in that she's rather headstrong and maybe thinks about herself a little too much. They both grow in the story so much though. Nura used her headstrongness and stubbornness to work against the jinn, and she learns so much along the way to be a better person and more caring about others and the feelings of others.
The world is as you would expect. It's opulent, glittery, colorful, and just sounds like a lot of fun! But those tricksy jinn! They can be a lot of fun, but boy are they manipulative and tricky! They reminded me of some of the works in Spirited Away, their focus is on the wealthy jinn and taking care of them, and they don't care about humans and instead try to take advantage of them.
This story also dealt with a heavy subject, which the author does mention at the end of the book about child labor. This book just showed how greed can effect others, and how there are children who are just too young to work are forced to work in order to help provide for their families, and the work is generally dangerous, and these kids should have the opportunity to go to school, not work. I also loved how it did focus on the fact that even if you don't come from much, that does not mean your future is not bright, especially when you work for it.
"Sometimes if you dig hard enough, you can find sparkles in the dirt". Love this quote!
I really, really, REALLY love this book! I highly recommend it! 5 glowing stars for me! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book follows Nura, a young girl who mines for mica to help her family survive and get food. One evening, her mother tells her tomorrow is the last day she will mine because it is just too dangerous. So, on that next day Nura is determined to find the mythical Demon's Tongue. Unfortunately, she digs too far, and a cave in is caused collapsing on other kids that are in the caves including her best friend, Faisal. After searching the rubble, they only find one kid. Nura knows it's her fault this happened and so she starts digging to find her best friend and ends up in the world of jinn, and at the Sijj Palace, a hotel for jinn to stay in. She becomes distracted by the opulence of this world and ends up crossing the palace's owner's son who banishes her to the working quarters where she finds other humans who are now bound to the hotel forever. She does not want this to happen to her or Faisal, so with the help of the other children and a mysterious jinn, they work together to find a way out before they are bound to the hotel forever.
This gave me such Spirited Away vibes I was practically crying from the nostalgia of it all! It's so similar in ways, and yet so different. Nura is similar to Chihiro in that she's rather headstrong and maybe thinks about herself a little too much. They both grow in the story so much though. Nura used her headstrongness and stubbornness to work against the jinn, and she learns so much along the way to be a better person and more caring about others and the feelings of others.
The world is as you would expect. It's opulent, glittery, colorful, and just sounds like a lot of fun! But those tricksy jinn! They can be a lot of fun, but boy are they manipulative and tricky! They reminded me of some of the works in Spirited Away, their focus is on the wealthy jinn and taking care of them, and they don't care about humans and instead try to take advantage of them.
This story also dealt with a heavy subject, which the author does mention at the end of the book about child labor. This book just showed how greed can effect others, and how there are children who are just too young to work are forced to work in order to help provide for their families, and the work is generally dangerous, and these kids should have the opportunity to go to school, not work. I also loved how it did focus on the fact that even if you don't come from much, that does not mean your future is not bright, especially when you work for it.
"Sometimes if you dig hard enough, you can find sparkles in the dirt". Love this quote!
I really, really, REALLY love this book! I highly recommend it! 5 glowing stars for me! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
hpfan1's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
gumihoreviews's review against another edition
5.0
Trigger Warning: child labor, death, grief, mine collapse
Grief presents itself in many ways, even portals to other worlds.
[b:Nura and the Immortal Palace|54913540|Nura and the Immortal Palace|M.T. Khan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1636395021l/54913540._SX50_.jpg|85687968] by [a:M.T. Khan|20591593|M.T. Khan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1621134588p2/20591593.jpg] was a story of dealing with grief and sadness at its core. This was deep. Nura is a determined and spunky 12 yr old girl who is working hard to make money for her family. Nura, her friends as well as other kids, are working in a mine because the adults are too big to fit. One day at the mining site, there’s an accident and four people die including her best friend. She doesn’t believe it and can’t wrap her head around it at all. She goes to the site to prove everyone wrong and ends up in another world.
There were so many tough real life experiences that tend to be hush hush in society. I’m glad that it was mentioned in this middle grade book. Children having the opportunity to see what others experience will help them grow as well. With the story being about a young Pakistani girl, it all focused on her tough experiences, like child labor, her culture and even language. Let’s not forget the theme of rich vs poor and dealing with death and grief. It is always amazing to see a culture’s lore mixed into a story, it exposes us to something we may have never known and can be inspiring. This was a needed story and I’m glad it was created!
As this book covers some really deep, dark, even controversial topics, it would be better for older middle grade students. They’d be able to process what’s happening a bit easier than the lower leveled readers. Additionally, it’d be a great opportunity for open discussion, whether it’s with family or educators of another form. Excluding the themes, it’s still an interesting story and many readers will love it!
I’ll be looking out for the next book!
*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Nura and the Immortal Palace from M. T. Khan via NetGalley
Grief presents itself in many ways, even portals to other worlds.
[b:Nura and the Immortal Palace|54913540|Nura and the Immortal Palace|M.T. Khan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1636395021l/54913540._SX50_.jpg|85687968] by [a:M.T. Khan|20591593|M.T. Khan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1621134588p2/20591593.jpg] was a story of dealing with grief and sadness at its core. This was deep. Nura is a determined and spunky 12 yr old girl who is working hard to make money for her family. Nura, her friends as well as other kids, are working in a mine because the adults are too big to fit. One day at the mining site, there’s an accident and four people die including her best friend. She doesn’t believe it and can’t wrap her head around it at all. She goes to the site to prove everyone wrong and ends up in another world.
There were so many tough real life experiences that tend to be hush hush in society. I’m glad that it was mentioned in this middle grade book. Children having the opportunity to see what others experience will help them grow as well. With the story being about a young Pakistani girl, it all focused on her tough experiences, like child labor, her culture and even language. Let’s not forget the theme of rich vs poor and dealing with death and grief. It is always amazing to see a culture’s lore mixed into a story, it exposes us to something we may have never known and can be inspiring. This was a needed story and I’m glad it was created!
As this book covers some really deep, dark, even controversial topics, it would be better for older middle grade students. They’d be able to process what’s happening a bit easier than the lower leveled readers. Additionally, it’d be a great opportunity for open discussion, whether it’s with family or educators of another form. Excluding the themes, it’s still an interesting story and many readers will love it!
I’ll be looking out for the next book!
*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Nura and the Immortal Palace from M. T. Khan via NetGalley
librarygxrl's review against another edition
3.0
how have i NOT HEARD OF THIS preordering immediately
readingonfogo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
hownovelofher's review against another edition
4.0
Nura’s tale is the tale of millions of child laborers around the world. Greedy corporations illegally employ these children for cheap labor used in the manufacture of certain goods.
Nura works in the mica mines with many other children and labors to earn meager funds for her large family, including 3 siblings and her widowed mother.
Her mother wishes for her to cease working in the mines and pursue an education but Nura doesn’t share her mother’s vision and would rather be a help than a perceived hindrance.
When she decides to go after the infamous Devils Tongue, things don’t go as planned and Nura and her friend Faisal end up in the fabled land of the jinn.
In a very Spirited Away like fashion, this story follows Nura and Faisal as they work together to outwit the powers that be at the Sijj Palace.
They must use their wit, strength, and love for one another to conquer the trials that await them, if they ever hope to be free again.
Shedding light on complex issues involving poverty cycles and child labor, Nura and the Immortal Palace is not just a wonderful middle-grade book - it’s a commentary on things that happen right under our very noses, that most of us are unaware of.
This tender tale of family and friendship will have you on the edge of your seat.
The world-building is solid, the characters are balanced and so very human. All in all, a strong middle-grade read!
Nura works in the mica mines with many other children and labors to earn meager funds for her large family, including 3 siblings and her widowed mother.
Her mother wishes for her to cease working in the mines and pursue an education but Nura doesn’t share her mother’s vision and would rather be a help than a perceived hindrance.
When she decides to go after the infamous Devils Tongue, things don’t go as planned and Nura and her friend Faisal end up in the fabled land of the jinn.
In a very Spirited Away like fashion, this story follows Nura and Faisal as they work together to outwit the powers that be at the Sijj Palace.
They must use their wit, strength, and love for one another to conquer the trials that await them, if they ever hope to be free again.
Shedding light on complex issues involving poverty cycles and child labor, Nura and the Immortal Palace is not just a wonderful middle-grade book - it’s a commentary on things that happen right under our very noses, that most of us are unaware of.
This tender tale of family and friendship will have you on the edge of your seat.
The world-building is solid, the characters are balanced and so very human. All in all, a strong middle-grade read!
bay_ann4's review against another edition
3.0
Book is a 3 but its message is a 5. Mica is a mineral that is used in makeup, automobiles, electronics, etc. And children are forced to mine for it all over the world. The Authors Note is super important to read to learn more.