Scan barcode
pagingmrsvarnum's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Look, how can you NOT judge a book by this cover? It is gorgeous! Middle Grade books always get the most beautiful covers (or maybe it’s that I have the aesthetic of a tween girl). The characters are just as engaging and stunning as the cover. I loved Samira as well as her whole family, especially Umma!
This book focuses on mean girls and bullying, and I do feel like some of the toxic friendships in this book are realistic to how girls so often treat one another. It also touches on Islamophobia in the US in a way that is not only very realistic but also very accessible to young readers. The grocery store scene - this book is probably reading just for that one scene. I loved it!
There were a few components of this book that kept me from really connecting with the story. I felt that the chapters were a little choppy, and the overall story could have been edited down to a much shorter book. Not only would that make the writing more concise, but the book would be more palatable to young readers. I think some of the characters and scenes could have been condensed as well.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book that I will be adding to the elementary library!
More...