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maweets's review against another edition
2.0
I didnt love this one. There is a lot about this story that I don't have enough information to comment on, but there was a lot of casual racsim and homophobia thrown in that doesn't really help the story and was really cringy to read. For a road trip novel, I thought it would be more optimistic and high-energy but it really was not. Mariam and her friends and her mom all feel flat, unrelatable and often unrealistic. Like some of the dialogue just felt like a bunch of talking heads saying "hip" phrases from contemporary pop culture. Not a fun read.
danicaskro's review against another edition
2.0
Well, I'm glad I'm done with this book. I read this book in two sittings, not because it was really good, but so I could move on with another book. The characters were just kinda boring and hypocritical. They didn't want to be judged, but they literally judged everyone. The author had them saying the same things over and over again, i.e. Starvation Nation. I felt like they ate during most of the book. It wasn't a long book, but I feel like the focus on Umar and Ghaz could have been better, especially since the whole reason for the road trip was for Ghaz. Can't really recommend, but I did manage to fulfill to reading prompts with this one.
alisha222's review against another edition
2.0
i feel like mariam felt more muslim than ghaze even tho she was muslim. imo ghaze talked why too much; and had a comment for everything. the plot was just bad. in some parts even tho all 3 were together, only one was talking the whole time and there was no mention of the other two. it was a quick read tho.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
The writing leaves something to be desired, as do some of the choices made in the story...but that is easy to let go of when you consider this is a YA book about three brown teens on a road trip from New Jersey to New Orleans. All three are seeking some kind of closure in their lives and find it on the road. They also dig into racism, both that directed toward them and that they direct outward. The exploration of sexuality is more shallow than I'd like to have seen, but given this is really Mariam's story and not Umar's, it makes sense.
Fun, with older teens (out of their freshman year of college), and with a good look at life as brown/Pakistani- and Muslim- American kids struggling with everyday things like family, religion, sexuality, and figuring out what it is they want in their lives.
Fun, with older teens (out of their freshman year of college), and with a good look at life as brown/Pakistani- and Muslim- American kids struggling with everyday things like family, religion, sexuality, and figuring out what it is they want in their lives.
books_xoxo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It was a good read :)
sapphicreads64's review against another edition
emotional
medium-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
4.5
mshiiken's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book - I had an advanced readers' copy so it wasn't perfect, but it was still very solid. I really appreciated the road trip premise, and the dynamic between the three main characters was realistic and a great catalyst for the events of the story. I definitely recommend this!
randrus's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Really sweet book that deals with serious issues in a great way that's easily accessible. Love the diversity and the road trip aspect. So excited for more people to read this!!