kind0fdarkness's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Colonisation, Death, Child death, Islamophobia, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Violence, Police brutality, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Torture, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Rape
ollie_again's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: War, Death, Violence, Islamophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Gun violence, Torture, and Child abuse
Moderate: Antisemitism, Racism, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Child death, Blood, and Mental illness
Minor: Pedophilia and Incest
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Genocide, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Murder, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Child death, Death, Religious bigotry, and War
Moderate: Kidnapping, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Dementia, Violence, Rape, and Police brutality
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, War, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, Torture, Blood, and Sexism
Minor: Rape and Pedophilia
annainthebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: War, Death, Gun violence, Genocide, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual content and Torture
Minor: Rape, Child abuse, Incest, and Dementia
busyblackbookworm's review against another edition
- 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
While the novel primarily focuses on the life and lived experiences of Amal Abulheja, a girl born to Palestinian refugees who were ousted from their ancestral home during the Nakba, it also follows her entire family's trajectory, contemplating the ramifications of displacement and dispossession for her friends and loved ones.
I honestly am not sure that I have anything meaningful to add here because this book conveys everything so powerfully. However, I was particularly struck by Abulhawa's ability to convey the unending trauma experienced by Palestinian adults and children alike amidst the more universally relatable experiences such as childhood crushes and lasting friendships; the isolating sense of not only being an immigrant, but living abroad while one's family is suffering and struggling back home; and being brown in the United States (particularly, Philadelphia, where life is often viewed as being bifurcated between Black and white experiences). Finally, I found myself thinking about the immense privilege I and other people have of being able to wait until we are in a good headspace to delve into this book, while those living through such traumatic, heartbreaking circumstances don't have the ability to easily distance themselves from such pain and turmoil.
Anyway, all of this is to say that Mornings in Jenin is an absolutely stunning, but challenging, novel, and I think that everyone should place it on their reading lists if they haven't done so already.
Graphic: Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, War, Genocide, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, and Child abuse
kait_sixcrowsbooks's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
- full Palestinian cast
- Muslim MCs and SCs
- Jewish MC and SCs
...I don't even know where to start.
If you're looking for a book that may put you through a bunch of emotional turmoil as the reader, this is your book. It follows four generations of a Palestinian family, from before Al Nakba to a couple years after 9/11, as they try to make a life after Israeli occupation and war uproots them from their ancestral home. It dealt with the horrors of war and genocide, which was contrasted by the beautiful purple prose. If you connect with the writing early on, you will probably be put through the wringer repeatedly as you read.
I will say this: I do not regret reading Mornings in Jenin. It's unbelievably sad and, at times, hard to get through. But I appreciate every minute I put in to reading it, and I hope you do, too, if you decide to pick it up.
However, please pay attention to the content warnings.
A full review will be on my blog next week.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping and Sexual content
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
The ableism also includes internalized ableism. Other warnings include: war (graphic); bombing (graphic); execution (graphic); effects of trauma (moderate to graphic)