Reviews with content warning for Cultural appropriation - Love from A to Z

I read this for my Diversity is Lit bookclub, but this just wasn't for me. I can see why others like it, but I was just really bored throughout it. My full thoughts here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Af2pR2L0SWw?si=0AV_X3T9midIX20W

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ellaticonstellation's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

Marvel: A and Z
Oddity: Mr. Fencer

Hey! I love this story. The love, the hate, the bravery. It's unfortunate that bullying happens in any shape or form, it saddens me that people have to experience cruel remarks because they believe on certain things. It's difficult to stand up and fight. It takes guts and support. Cheers to everyone who is fighting for their rights. You guys are the best.✨

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onegalonelife27's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

I do have to warn that there are some HP references-mainly to the houses and using them for personality traits, like the Meyers Briggs deal. It's sprinkled throughout the book, so just be advised.

By fate, happen-stance, two young teenagers come across upon the same art-the Marvels of Creations and the Oddities of Existence and decide to create their own journals to record marvels and oddities in their lives. Adam focusing on the marvel and Zayneb focusing on the oddities-and in the same vein-they meet once at airport, the next while she’s on vacation in his hometown.

I really love the opposite attract going on between these two Adams like to keep the peace-keep a quiet life going while keeping his diagnosis from his dad. Zayneb is all fury, fighting the wrongs of the world which does loudly and gets her in trouble.

And what I love about this trope is have characters learn from one another, Adams learns to speak up for himself despite the changes it may brings. Zayneb learns not to give up her fury but focus it not just using anger but other emotions to help her cause. There’s a poignant moment when Zayneb tells her Mom about what’s happened to her, but focusing on her sorrow rather than her anger which is so moving and touching.

So I recommend this for anyone that feels like they need to keep the peace or feel unheard in their fights for justice.

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notsobinaryart's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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alainajreads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

I read S.K. Ali’s Saints and Misfits a few years ago and enjoyed Love from A to Z even more! Everything I wanted from a Young Adult romance— sweet, emotional, and hopeful, and oh-so-swoony. With a fateful first meeting at the airport on their spring break trip to Qatar, Adam and Zayneb find their paths crossing again and again. Adam is hiding his Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis from his family as his mother died from the same disease years earlier. Zayneb and her friends are trying to take down an Islamophobic teacher when she is suspended from school in the process. The similarity— they both have a Marvels and Oddities journal to reflect about the universe.

I was captivated by Adam and Zayneb’s love story, and how their connection was emotional and respectful as according to their Muslim faith, as both are devout and their religious identity is a large part of their relationship. Adam’s MS is handled with sensitivity and care and he and Zayneb help each other grow and bring out the best in each other, and his relationships with his father and sister truly shine. This novel addressed social issues such as Islamophobia, white feminism and how it can be weaponized against hijabi women, and drone strikes and war (which hit especially hard when considering the U.S.’ role in the genocide in Gaza), and Zayneb is a passionate and outspoken activist. Though didactic at times, these topics were all handled well and inspired by the author’s own experiences as a Muslim woman. There are a number of HP and other references which dated the book a little bit for me but didn’t impact my overall enjoyment or rating of the book. With beautiful messages about family, grief, young love, and the complexities and beauty of the universe and our place in it, Love from A to Z is unforgettable.

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kenzieburke's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? No

5.0

Oh gosh, this book just rips at your soul. While a beautiful story about two young Muslim teens experiencing the vastness of human connection and finding love. It’s also a story about a young girl trying to find justice in a world so hateful, finding that fire, that courage, to stand up against hate. Learning how to exist and move in a world that doesn’t feel fair in the slightest, and how to still see beauty and goodness or Marvels despite immense fear and tragedy.

I will say, I wanted to fight so many characters while reading this. Especially after having several teachers like Fender. People around you like Madison. Just a lot of raw feelings this book brings out.

Zayneb is beautifully human and I wish I knew someone like her while growing up. To have someone who fights so much for those she cares about and what is right. Adam is one of those characters whose heart and soul you wish you just had yourself sometimes. And watching them grow throughout this novel together was everything. Zayneb and Adam are really a great duality of one another, and their experience as teens.

Some of my favorite lines *there were many*:

Girls like me who see and feel the pains and problems of the world don’t make sense to people. So maybe we’re meant to be alone, or only with people exactly like us.

As Jo traipsed around being allowed to be angry when she wanted to be, and Amy threw things in the fire during one of her rage sessions, it hit me that maybe it was because Jo and Amy were considered cute that they got away with showing their emotions. …

Was that a factor in me not being able to just be messy me?

This way of noticing that even during the suckiest moments in life there was something marvelous to be seen, heard, touched. Or just a tiny awe felt in the heart.

I don’t think I can actually write much more about this book without crying again. But from Adam, Ayaan, Hanna, Auntie Nandy, Kavi to Zayneb, you truly have an amazing cast of characters who you will forever connect to. 💕

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kimapede's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

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mahaofhyrule's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

4.25

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