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A review by jennybeastie
Farah Rocks Fifth Grade by Susan Muaddi Darraj
4.0
Things I really liked -- Farah is an engaging and big-hearted character, who clearly loves her younger brother and wants to look out for him.
She does try to approach adults before taking things into her own hands, but I also like that the message is about trying more than once/ choosing your adults wisely, and about microaggressions. Altogether, a pretty balanced story -- balance in consequences, in compassion, in self-confidence. Love that Farah is invited to come and speak to her teachers afterwards as a group, to point out where things went wrong.
I feel like the bullying girl is a bit too broad strokes. Farah ends up having some sympathy for her (divorce) but she's kind of a throwaway bad guy, who conveniently leaves at the end of the book.
Another cool thing -- Farah refers to herself as an Arab, her family is Arabic speaking, but they attend St. Jude's, an Orthodox church -- I don't think I've seen a character who is of Arab Christian background before.
She does try to approach adults before taking things into her own hands, but I also like that the message is about trying more than once/ choosing your adults wisely, and about microaggressions. Altogether, a pretty balanced story -- balance in consequences, in compassion, in self-confidence. Love that Farah is invited to come and speak to her teachers afterwards as a group, to point out where things went wrong.
I feel like the bullying girl is a bit too broad strokes. Farah ends up having some sympathy for her (divorce) but she's kind of a throwaway bad guy, who conveniently leaves at the end of the book.
Another cool thing -- Farah refers to herself as an Arab, her family is Arabic speaking, but they attend St. Jude's, an Orthodox church -- I don't think I've seen a character who is of Arab Christian background before.