sarahelisewrites's review
5.0
A piece of fiction set in the contemporary world of Syria. Nadia must navigate war-torn Aleppo with the help of a mysterious old man and other children they meet along the way. This story is engaging while also providing a historical context to the strife currently ongoing in the Middle East. It is an important read, especially for its target age group (middle-grade/early high school).
karibaumann's review
3.0
I didn’t think the characterization of Nadia was strong enough. And wow, this was a book that needed a map!
atestroete's review
3.0
“Allah loved his people, but sent them hardships to test their faith. Nadia had listened but deep in her heart she could not reconcile how such cruelty could be love. She sighed, the bruise in her heart a festering wound.”
“This is our land, our home. We will be buried here with our forefathers, in the dirt of Syria.”
“‘My girl, do not weep,’ he said. ‘You are much stronger than you think.”
I enjoyed the journey of Nadia as she tries to make her way out of Syria and found the factual information interesting, but it felt disjointed and stuffed into the story at odd moments.
Also, I found it really disheartening that Nadia was left behind by her whole family despite the fact they knew she was still alive. Nadia obviously didn’t know her way around the city well enough to escape by herself, so why didn’t someone stay at the dentist’s office until she arrived?
“This is our land, our home. We will be buried here with our forefathers, in the dirt of Syria.”
“‘My girl, do not weep,’ he said. ‘You are much stronger than you think.”
I enjoyed the journey of Nadia as she tries to make her way out of Syria and found the factual information interesting, but it felt disjointed and stuffed into the story at odd moments.
Also, I found it really disheartening that Nadia was left behind by her whole family despite the fact they knew she was still alive. Nadia obviously didn’t know her way around the city well enough to escape by herself, so why didn’t someone stay at the dentist’s office until she arrived?
mrssloan's review
4.0
Definitely a great book to read with my 6th graders. It was not the strongest narrative I've ever read, but it brought a different culture and a real-world issue alive for my kids. It was a great classroom tool.
sincerelychia's review
3.0
It’s not that I dislike this book, no. I think what is missing is the part where I can connect with the character and sympathize with her. I think this is an important book with the Arab Spring being the center of the plot.
lauralynnwalsh's review
4.0
As many times as I have read both fiction and non-fiction about the Middle East, I never manage to remember who at least one and usually most of the groups are. Some, I know nothing about (e.g., Druze), some I know a little about (Hezbollah), some I know a lot about (Sunni, Shia, Kurd). But usually, it just leaves me confused and discouraged. This book is no exception - too many groups fighting each other; too much danger and privation. The story was interesting enough to pull me in, though, and I did get a sense of how difficult and scary the situation must be, especially for children. I just wish there were some way out of the conflicts. I wish my own country's involvement had been for mercy and humanitarian intervention. I wish it weren't SO HARD to find a way to solve the problems in the Middle East.
smitty86's review
5.0
A great story about the Syrian war! Very eye opening for readers to understand the events of Syria in the past few years through the eyes of a child. Fantastic source for anyone who enjoys learning through realistic fiction without the politics involved!