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yasidiaz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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
4.5
A Map of Home tells the story of Nidali, the oldest daughter of a Palestinian man and an Egyptian and Greek mother. Born in Boston, we see how she and her family move from country to country and how she tries to make sense of the life she lives.
This is a book about identity, about being mixed, about being not enough of one thing or too much of another. It’s the ramblings and the rants of a complicated teen from a complicated and dysfunctional family. And it’s both funny and emotional.
Nidali is a complicated character, sometimes frustrating, but it is what makes this book more dynamic and fun. She’s imperfect and she is meant to be. You are meant to accept that this is a teen growing up in a dysfunctional environment, both at home and outside with society. You are reading about a teen whose life is contradictory and she knows it, she is also trying to make sense of it.
It’s vulgar, over the top, messy, and all those things we want to forget about being teens.
I also want to note about what happened to Randa Jarrar about a week ago. The disrespect and disregard towards Palestine and its people keep reaching new lows every day. Her being forcefully removed for protesting the zionist stances of a fellow writer, who was given the platform and a mic, but then it is her who is called a suppressor of free speech should be completely unacceptable. We need to keep showing up for Palestinians and let publishers know this behavior is not ok, and that we reviewers and book lovers cannot accept this behavior. It’s been over 100 days and no major print has stood up for Palestine. We need to demand better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
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