mil_0's review against another edition
5.0
i really fall in deep with this book so when the ending comes i was like WHAT? i need to read the sequel asap
obstinateheadstrongcurl's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.5
ccceylinn_'s review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading this, but I prefer her other book more. Enjoyable read, nothing more than that.
greergreer's review against another edition
4.0
Even though this book revolved around a serious issue it had wonderful lighthearted moments as well.
saralynnburnett's review against another edition
4.0
Read this & loved it — as I do everything SK Ali writes! Plus YA is on point for me right now. Looking forward to getting my hands on the second installment—Misfit in Love.
alisarae's review against another edition
This is a cute slice-of-life story about a young Muslim girl navigating being a teenager, friendships, boys, family, religion, and finding her voice after being assaulted.
I liked that Janna has a young voice--she sounds like an authentic teenage girl. She has no special talents, doesn't do anything out of the ordinary, and doesn't magically come up with perfect solutions to her problems. But she does rely on her community, older people (both a few years older and a few decades older), and books to find encouragement, wisdom, and advice.
I liked that her early opinions about people change as she gets to know them.
I liked that her faith is important to her daily life and influences how she makes relational decisions. It is also a source of personal conflict that she has to struggle through. Growing up in a practicing Christian home, I understand many of the conflicts and choices that Janna had to mull over. Church kids and Muslim kids have pretty similar rules.
The story is imbued with Muslim-ness but not in a preachy way. For example, it doesn't touch the five pillars and briefly mentions ramadan but doesn't go into detail. Instead, it shows scenes of what you might pick up if you just hung around a Muslim family for a while-- someone yelling at a kid who is getting a little too into washing before prayers, the names of different clothing pieces, the fact that you can't make visual depictions of the Prophet.
Recommended if you like reading about teens being teens.
PS audiobook was so-so. Narrator sounded like a teenager reading a diary... unnatural sentence emphasis.
I liked that Janna has a young voice--she sounds like an authentic teenage girl. She has no special talents, doesn't do anything out of the ordinary, and doesn't magically come up with perfect solutions to her problems. But she does rely on her community, older people (both a few years older and a few decades older), and books to find encouragement, wisdom, and advice.
I liked that her early opinions about people change as she gets to know them.
I liked that her faith is important to her daily life and influences how she makes relational decisions. It is also a source of personal conflict that she has to struggle through. Growing up in a practicing Christian home, I understand many of the conflicts and choices that Janna had to mull over. Church kids and Muslim kids have pretty similar rules.
The story is imbued with Muslim-ness but not in a preachy way. For example, it doesn't touch the five pillars and briefly mentions ramadan but doesn't go into detail. Instead, it shows scenes of what you might pick up if you just hung around a Muslim family for a while-- someone yelling at a kid who is getting a little too into washing before prayers, the names of different clothing pieces, the fact that you can't make visual depictions of the Prophet.
Recommended if you like reading about teens being teens.
PS audiobook was so-so. Narrator sounded like a teenager reading a diary... unnatural sentence emphasis.
maryam162424's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amazing book that showed the difficulties a Muslim may face in the world. I LOVED IT! Really relatable and funny and it properly dealt with the abuse that was in the story. Just one thing I didn't like was the lack of attention placed on Janna's irrational actions she did for Jeremy. There wasn't really an 'after the fact' which would've been REALLT important to show how she actually perceives what she did. BUT other than that, it was amazing, funny, beautiful, and totally relatable for anyone struggling to figure out their place in the world.
emdowd's review against another edition
4.0
I think I just need to read more YA contemporaries when I start to get annoyed with YA narrators not sounding like teenagers. I love Janna and her voice - she's a lovable, funny, surly, brave, flawed narrator.
akpjw24's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75