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A review by booklore_forevemore
The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This was such an incredible novel. There are multiple timelines: one is the present day during a school shooting, and the others are various period from the main character’s life from her childhood to early adulthood. I initially had to put this book down after about 20% because it was so dark, but I’m glad I picked it back up a few days ago.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to absolutely everyone. A vast majority of the book is from the perspective of Afaf, who is currently the principal of a Muslim girls school in NYC. From the eyes of Afaf, the reader gets the sense of what it’s like to grow up as a Muslim Arab girl in the United States (“spoiler alert” - there’s a lot of Islamophobia). There are also short chapters from the perspective of the school shooter (i.e., terrorist), which are infuriating to say the least. I think part of the reason his perspective was so upsetting was that it was eerily familiar - I have heard so many of his Islamophobic thoughts echoed in the words of people I was around growing up.
As I was reading, I kept forgetting this book is not a memoir. Everything felt so real and personal; probably because the scenario is 100% realistic and the author drew from her personal experience. This isn’t a genre I typically read, but it’s definitely a stand-out of the year.
Graphic: Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse