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A review by dragongirl271
Squire by Sara Alfageeh, Nadia Shammas
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
“Characters are a tool. History, altogether, is a tool, and tools are neutral until they're wielded. When you listen to a story, think about who is telling it. When you listen to a history, think about who it serves.”
Nadia Shammas in her author's note for Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh
If you've even remotely been in the same corner of booktok or bookstagram as I have, you've probably seen this book hyped up a lot. Let me spare you the dramatic reveal: it's worth the hype and it was worth the long wait on the Libby holds list (seriously I started to wonder if I would ever finally get to the front of the line for this book). It's a beautifully drawn story about a scrappy young girl with a sword. What could go wrong?
Seriously though, this is a really well-told story about the importance of accurate history, resisting colonization, rejecting the idea of finding glory in war, and embracing your true identity. The author and illustrator put so much love into this story that it's palpable. I think Aiza’s story is beautiful and I almost wish there was a sequel (if the ending wasn't already perfectly done). The level of nuance the authors depicted was also impressive for a YA book. Aiza and her friends all come to realize the truth of empire in different ways, and it doesn't mean the same thing for all of them. There's a real messiness to that process that can be hard to show, and I really applaud how it was executed.
“‘We saw what happened.’
‘No. We saw what we were told to see.’”
I'm not sure how many fiction YA books out there are so painfully relevant to navigating such a bleak moment in history, but this is definitely one of them.
“In many ways, fantasy and history walk hand in hand, but there’s an important thing about the way we view history in comparison: history is, above all else, neutral. If you are on the outskirts of the empire’s convenient history, however, you know it’s anything but.”
Nadia Shammas in her author's note for Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh
If you've even remotely been in the same corner of booktok or bookstagram as I have, you've probably seen this book hyped up a lot. Let me spare you the dramatic reveal: it's worth the hype and it was worth the long wait on the Libby holds list (seriously I started to wonder if I would ever finally get to the front of the line for this book). It's a beautifully drawn story about a scrappy young girl with a sword. What could go wrong?
Seriously though, this is a really well-told story about the importance of accurate history, resisting colonization, rejecting the idea of finding glory in war, and embracing your true identity. The author and illustrator put so much love into this story that it's palpable. I think Aiza’s story is beautiful and I almost wish there was a sequel (if the ending wasn't already perfectly done). The level of nuance the authors depicted was also impressive for a YA book. Aiza and her friends all come to realize the truth of empire in different ways, and it doesn't mean the same thing for all of them. There's a real messiness to that process that can be hard to show, and I really applaud how it was executed.
“‘We saw what happened.’
‘No. We saw what we were told to see.’”
I'm not sure how many fiction YA books out there are so painfully relevant to navigating such a bleak moment in history, but this is definitely one of them.
“In many ways, fantasy and history walk hand in hand, but there’s an important thing about the way we view history in comparison: history is, above all else, neutral. If you are on the outskirts of the empire’s convenient history, however, you know it’s anything but.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Violence and Injury/Injury detail