disabledbookdragon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ensara's review against another edition
5.0
God, this book has just left me speechless! Please read it.
lisaluvsliterature's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
mjsteimle's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
This is a story about two teenagers who are basically trying not to drown under the weight of responsibility each holds. Salahudin is trying to keep his family's motel business afloat after his mom gets sick and his dad turns to alcohol. Noor is trying to keep her college applications a secret from her uncle, who wants her to help run his liquor store instead of leaving their small community to become a doctor. This summary feels a bit simplistic, especially because was I best liked about this book is that it felt very real. The characters encounter issues like racism, bullying, drugs, and abuse without this feeling like an "issue book." It's just a story about two people with hard lives doing the best they can. One of the main things I took away from this book is that you can never be sure what something is struggling with.
Although this is a YA book focused on teenaged main characters, it doesn't really read like YA. It's good read for adults and older teens.
This is a story about two teenagers who are basically trying not to drown under the weight of responsibility each holds. Salahudin is trying to keep his family's motel business afloat after his mom gets sick and his dad turns to alcohol. Noor is trying to keep her college applications a secret from her uncle, who wants her to help run his liquor store instead of leaving their small community to become a doctor. This summary feels a bit simplistic, especially because was I best liked about this book is that it felt very real. The characters encounter issues like racism, bullying, drugs, and abuse without this feeling like an "issue book." It's just a story about two people with hard lives doing the best they can. One of the main things I took away from this book is that you can never be sure what something is struggling with.
Although this is a YA book focused on teenaged main characters, it doesn't really read like YA. It's good read for adults and older teens.
heatherbermingham's review against another edition
5.0
Yes. I love everything about this book. I think it does a couple of things particularly well. One, it demonstrates how a lot of social forces interact with each other. Healthcare leads to debt leads to poverty leads to desperation leads to interaction with the criminal justice system etc. with racism and attitudes towards immigrants affecting all of the above. Second, it's such a good demonstration of generational trauma. The two main characters are fighting their own fights but they're exacerbated by the things the adults raising them have experienced and brought into their parenting. Not always an easy read but it feels very true about two complex, interesting characters, and it does have hope at its core. Just really good.
damnedmuddle's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
rachelkristine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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