shockyreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
5.0
This book is a must read.
Powerful. Emotional. Raw. This book tore my heart out, in the best way. It was like a kick in the gut. But one I think every white person needs. A heart-wrenching and heavy story on the state of our world. Of bigotry. Of injustice. Of blind hate. But also, of friendship, love, family, faith, and a dash of hope. Samira Ahmed, you are an incredible story teller. Thank you for sharing Jawads story. Thank you for sharing the truth of discrimination in our country. I think this story is going to stay with me for a long time.
Powerful. Emotional. Raw. This book tore my heart out, in the best way. It was like a kick in the gut. But one I think every white person needs. A heart-wrenching and heavy story on the state of our world. Of bigotry. Of injustice. Of blind hate. But also, of friendship, love, family, faith, and a dash of hope. Samira Ahmed, you are an incredible story teller. Thank you for sharing Jawads story. Thank you for sharing the truth of discrimination in our country. I think this story is going to stay with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Racism
Moderate: Violence, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Murder
Minor: Sexism
nemoslittlelibrary's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“I wrote this book because we’ve lost too many people to hate and because so often we’ve witnessed the powerful and the privileged get away with murder. I wrote this book to tell a truth” - Samira Ahmed
Wow. This book is truly heart breaking and astonishing. I learnt and felt so much from the very first page.
Based on the horrifying real life slaying of 14 year old Bobby Franks in 1924, Hollow Fires is the painful story of 14 year old Jawad Ali being falsely accused of bringing a bomb to school by his teacher. He was then bullied and labelled “Bomb Boy” and then he goes missing. Safiya, a student journalist at a preppy private school sets out on a mission, facing her own racist and misogynistic obstacles in her path, to uncover what happened to Jawad. Guided by his ghost, she aims to ensure people do not forget about him - to remember him for his name and the injustice he suffered not his birthplace or religion.
Some points I loved completely:
⭐️Ahmed’s writing is very poetic even when talking about such a heavy topic, she creates mesmerising visuals.
⭐️Islamophobia is explored through various angles, as the characters are very diverse, having varied Islamic backgrounds.
⭐️Most chapters have prompts of “fact” “truth” “alternative truth” and “lie” really making you sit and ponder over the statements.
⭐️The chapters are set out in articles & transcripts as well as the usual chapter style which I loved as it varied and made me feel like I was also doing some investigative work alongside Safiya.
This is such a powerful story, I love how this is young adult, it is written in such a way that any age group can read and follow the story. Most adult readers may see the ‘plot twist’ from a mile off however I think it’s a good way to read around such a social issue.
⚠️There’s commentary on racism, islamophobia, patriarchy, bigotry, misogyny and right wing politics. It can be a heavy read so please check trigger warnings before. Some of the chapters were truly tear inducing but I believe it to be such an important book that everyone should read - learn a little more, be a little better.
Wow. This book is truly heart breaking and astonishing. I learnt and felt so much from the very first page.
Based on the horrifying real life slaying of 14 year old Bobby Franks in 1924, Hollow Fires is the painful story of 14 year old Jawad Ali being falsely accused of bringing a bomb to school by his teacher. He was then bullied and labelled “Bomb Boy” and then he goes missing. Safiya, a student journalist at a preppy private school sets out on a mission, facing her own racist and misogynistic obstacles in her path, to uncover what happened to Jawad. Guided by his ghost, she aims to ensure people do not forget about him - to remember him for his name and the injustice he suffered not his birthplace or religion.
Some points I loved completely:
⭐️Ahmed’s writing is very poetic even when talking about such a heavy topic, she creates mesmerising visuals.
⭐️Islamophobia is explored through various angles, as the characters are very diverse, having varied Islamic backgrounds.
⭐️Most chapters have prompts of “fact” “truth” “alternative truth” and “lie” really making you sit and ponder over the statements.
⭐️The chapters are set out in articles & transcripts as well as the usual chapter style which I loved as it varied and made me feel like I was also doing some investigative work alongside Safiya.
This is such a powerful story, I love how this is young adult, it is written in such a way that any age group can read and follow the story. Most adult readers may see the ‘plot twist’ from a mile off however I think it’s a good way to read around such a social issue.
⚠️There’s commentary on racism, islamophobia, patriarchy, bigotry, misogyny and right wing politics. It can be a heavy read so please check trigger warnings before. Some of the chapters were truly tear inducing but I believe it to be such an important book that everyone should read - learn a little more, be a little better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Violence
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
5.0
I have so many feelings after finishing this. I’m angry, sad, frustrated but this book is nothing short of amazing. It jumps around many years, using multiple forms of media (think a good girls guide to murder with the podcasts, news outlets and such), it has so much going on, I know I can’t do it justice and I don’t even know where to start about how much I love this book.
I don’t know if I’d necessarily say it was an enjoyable reading experience because of the weight of the tw/cw in this book but it was beautifully written, with interesting and engaging formatting and dear god is it fucking accurate as all hell; I’m mixed/Arab and oh boy…I can’t count how many times someone has called me a terrorist, and like that is the tip of the shit iceberg Arab/middle eastern/bipoc people face on a daily basis and this book does not shy away from all of it and calling it out/talking about it; hence why it is such an anger inducing book but if you can take the tw’s and do not take them lightly at all! Really think if you can cope with it before you read but if you can then I cannnot recommend this book more
*⬆️ these are my initial thoughts ⬆️*
*full review to come*
⚠️DO NOT take TW/CW lightly! This book doesn’t shy away from the ugly, so really think about them and if you can cope with them before you read this book… but, if you think you can take them then I cannnot recommend this book more⚠️
I don’t know if I’d necessarily say it was an enjoyable reading experience because of the weight of the tw/cw in this book but it was beautifully written, with interesting and engaging formatting and dear god is it fucking accurate as all hell; I’m mixed/Arab and oh boy…I can’t count how many times someone has called me a terrorist, and like that is the tip of the shit iceberg Arab/middle eastern/bipoc people face on a daily basis and this book does not shy away from all of it and calling it out/talking about it; hence why it is such an anger inducing book but if you can take the tw’s and do not take them lightly at all! Really think if you can cope with it before you read but if you can then I cannnot recommend this book more
*⬆️ these are my initial thoughts ⬆️*
*full review to come*
⚠️DO NOT take TW/CW lightly! This book doesn’t shy away from the ugly, so really think about them and if you can cope with them before you read this book… but, if you think you can take them then I cannnot recommend this book more⚠️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, Islamophobia, Murder, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Car accident, Classism, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Antisemitism, and Misogyny
Minor: Rape and Stalking
More...