A review by rhodesee
Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan

2.0

I know I'm supposed to like this book more. I can see the reasons why I should like this book more and I appreciate it's message about cultural differences and the immigrant experience but it just makes me so angry. I am willing to admit that perhaps my experience with this book is colored by the fact that I am the oldest child but I think that anyone can see and feel how unfairly Rubina is treated. The story is very well written, because I viscerally felt Rubina's frustration and anger at the utter unfairness of the situation, and for that and the illustrations it gets 2.5 stars. I just want to hug Rubina and tell her that she is special and that she deserves nice things that are only hers. Also, some people are simply not worthy of forgiveness. That is not to say that Sana, a literal child, isn't worthy of it but a book is not deserving of praise just because it has a message of forgiveness. Sana (and by extension Ami) has done nothing to earn forgiveness, she never had to take her little sister to a party she wasn't invited to. Rubina is just being taught to let people take advantage of her and that makes me sad for her.