A review by emilyusuallyreading
When Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah
3.0
What I Liked
The issues broached here are disturbingly relevant, including the arguments that Michael's parents throw out. I've heard the same hate speech in my own town - and by people that I love! The thought of a forbidden romance between a Muslim girl and a boy who is the child of far-right activists was fascinating and intriguing.
What I Didn't Like
The romance never did make sense to me. Michael said way too many thoughtless things, to the point that it shocked me that Mina could ever feel attraction to him to even let him in enough - and it also confuses me that Michael would feel attraction to her.
Also, the extremism was very extreme. Nuanced negative opinions almost would have made the book even more powerful.
The issues broached here are disturbingly relevant, including the arguments that Michael's parents throw out. I've heard the same hate speech in my own town - and by people that I love! The thought of a forbidden romance between a Muslim girl and a boy who is the child of far-right activists was fascinating and intriguing.
What I Didn't Like
The romance never did make sense to me. Michael said way too many thoughtless things, to the point that it shocked me that Mina could ever feel attraction to him to even let him in enough - and it also confuses me that Michael would feel attraction to her.
Also, the extremism was very extreme. Nuanced negative opinions almost would have made the book even more powerful.