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thereadingwren's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
typedtruths's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, and Islamophobia
Minor: Kidnapping
➸ Trigger warnings for racist and Islamophobic hate crime, child abuse, and kidnapping of an infant.emily_mh's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
This is a road-trip story at its core, which did make me nervous. Usually I find these kinds of narratives drag out, much like their real-life counterparts, to the point where I am begging for the book to end. Happily I can report that this book, and its road-trip, were fantastic.
The road trip itself was actually very entertaining, spearheaded as it was by the MC’s sister Huda. Huda is a fierce, competent girl who basically has got it together at the tender age of nine. She is utterly hilarious and confident and the mastermind behind getting herself and MC Akeal from Melbourne to Beirut. They share a journey full of deception and hijinks. Not only this, but Hayek makes the time for great character work. Akeal grows throughout the story to become a more confident and brave person and big brother. I really adored his relationship with Huda. It was a great depiction of how siblings can simultaneously be your greatest source of annoyance and of love.
Already Hayek has created a well-crafted road-trip storyline, but what makes it better is that she balances it with a dual timeline. On the present timeline, we follow Akeal and Huda on their way to Beirut. On the past timeline, we learn of the events that made them so desperate as to secretly fly there in the first place. This was a great way of reducing any repetitiveness of the road-trip, while also building a background for the main plot and characters.
I really enjoyed my time with this one and would highly recommend it.
Rep: Muslim Lebanese-Australian MC and SCs
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Islamophobia
Minor: Cursing, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: sick parent/grandparentisobel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jadejade's review against another edition
5.0
I read this to the smallest member of the household, and multiple nights they specifically requested that we continue it. The style reminded me of Roald Dahl, in that many adults are over the top, in contrast to our capable child protagonists.
elleceeveee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
melbsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Trigger warnings: seriously ill grandparent, racism, Islamophobia, bullying behaviour towards children by an adult
I picked this up because I got the impression that it was going to be predominantly set in Lebanon and would therefore help me tick off Lebanon for my Read Around the World challenge. Unfortunately, only about 10% of the book is set in Lebanon. Fortunately, it was absolutely delightful.
I laughed. I teared up. I had a lot of rage. It was very well written and I absolutely loved the characters and the sibling dynamic between them. I flew through this in a couple of hours and enjoyed every single second of it. Look, elements of it were slightly predictable but also I'm a grown ass woman reading a book written for 10 year olds so...there's that.
I picked this up because I got the impression that it was going to be predominantly set in Lebanon and would therefore help me tick off Lebanon for my Read Around the World challenge. Unfortunately, only about 10% of the book is set in Lebanon. Fortunately, it was absolutely delightful.
I laughed. I teared up. I had a lot of rage. It was very well written and I absolutely loved the characters and the sibling dynamic between them. I flew through this in a couple of hours and enjoyed every single second of it. Look, elements of it were slightly predictable but also I'm a grown ass woman reading a book written for 10 year olds so...there's that.