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larebe's review against another edition
5.0
LOVED this coming of age memoir. Ibtasam infuses such warmth into her characters and the spirited girl will make you laugh and cheer.
charlotteregan's review against another edition
sad
This was absolutely beautiful and sad. A must-read.
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
Reading this memoir makes me appreciate bring an American even more. This is a powerful story of a young girl growing up, striving for an education that many take for granted.
kamckim's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful follow-up to TASTING THE SKY. On the surface, it's simply a biography of a Palestinian girl pinning her hopes and dreams on writing to lift her above the war, poverty and oppression she faces. Barakat is able to write the truth without asking for pity, which is difficult to do when talking about Palestine. By focusing on character development, the author avoids over-indulgence in history, allowing most of those details to be seen in the character of her father, who lives with a great sense of loss. The book could also be seen as a feminist manifesto for Palestinian women. Not only Ibtisam but also her mother commit themselves to education as the way toward personal peace and human dignity. Barakat is a world-class writer, committed to the power of words, a motif that started in TASTING THE SKY and continues to this day. I can't wait for her next book to learn about her college adventures.
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
My review of this must-read title is up at: http://theloudlibrarylady.com/2017/05/17/balcony-on-the-moon-ya-title-feature
masucolmusings's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
an enjoyable read. it felt like reading a kid’s diary (not in a bad way). as a fledging creative, ibtisam coming of age into her craft and as a young woman living under occupation was a refreshing, insightful look. throughly enjoyed and will continue looking out for more of her work!
annebennett1957's review against another edition
4.0
Very well-written with a nice use of Arabic words, customs, and holidays worked in to the story to make it feel educational as well. I know more are the plight of the Palestinian person and about the culture from this book , yet I didn't feel clobbered over the head with the information.
kinleyanne's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Incredible story of a young creative mind growing in a course unforgiving environment.