Scan barcode
siobhanward's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was one of those books where everything came together right at the end, but the fact that the whole book was just kind of build up to that moment made it hard to enjoy. The idea behind the book was solid, but I found the execution to be lacking at some points. Maybe it's because I tend not to love books that move back and forth through time, but I think the intentional anonymity and lack of details in the present left me with more questions than answers, as things were only kind of answered on the very last page.
Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
lizmart88'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
4.5
The book almost feels like a modern day fable. It's a spare book with few characters and not much plot happening (said in a positive way). The book simply depicts Vanna and Amir as they navigate bureaucracy and hostile geography and a cultural war they don't really understand. You'll be rooting for the kids as they try to make it and praying nothing bad happens.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Xenophobia
jillaay_h's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Classism, and Deportation
danielnski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Gun violence, Trafficking, Grief, and War
lizmarasse'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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
chelsl'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
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Xenophobia
fkshg8465's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Racism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, and Islamophobia
abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I think this book is a well-written (thought not perfectly executed) critique of the apathy of the Western world to the suffering of the global south, and points a finger straight at the idea Western exceptionalism. In picking apart this notion that some people are inherently good and want to help, and are willing to make great sacrifice in order to do so, and some people are inherently ignorant, selfish, and hurtful, El Akkad creates a story that is not really about the story or characters themselves and more about making a thematic point.
This isn’t a good thing or a bad thing, it just is a thing that some people may feel differently about when approaching this book. I’d highly recommend the audio, the narrator is one of the best I’ve ever heard.
Graphic: Death and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child death, Death, Racism, Death of parent, and Classism
butlerebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Death, Racism, Xenophobia, Vomit, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Alcoholism
blueteacup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: War
Minor: Antisemitism