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claryrae314's review against another edition
5.0
All I can say is wow. This book was absolutely amazing. I think of it as Judy Blume for the 21st century: a coming of age novel with an ethnic twist.
At one point, I felt so horrible while reading it, I only finished after my husband assured me that the ending provides hope. It scared me because I could relate to the teenager discovering sexuality, and as a result of that relationship with her, I was absolutely horrified at some of the ensuing events.
Keep reading it, despite the parts that make you squirm.
At one point, I felt so horrible while reading it, I only finished after my husband assured me that the ending provides hope. It scared me because I could relate to the teenager discovering sexuality, and as a result of that relationship with her, I was absolutely horrified at some of the ensuing events.
Keep reading it, despite the parts that make you squirm.
deanna_rigney's review against another edition
4.0
This book really pulled me in right away because I got caught up in the conflict and uncomfortable moments that seem to punctuate the story. I can understand the poor girl's confusion regarding adults and her sexuality...her parents seem to really be the children in this book. It was hard at times to read because of the graphic subject matter as well as the fact that I have my own beautiful and looking-too-old-already daughter getting ready to hit this age. A fast read with some powerful commentary.
lwke's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual content
brianne_k's review against another edition
3.0
*3/5*
Ooof. This was not an easy read. It was heart breaking and ugly. And it points out some ugly realities of things that can happen to young girls. This was published in 2006, 15 years ago, but set in 1991, 30 years ago. Teenage girls are even more sexualized now than they were back then and it is horrifying to even think about.
The main character, Jasira, goes through so much. Most of the adults in her life are terrible people. They abuse her physically, sexually, and mentally. Melina and Gil, two of her neighbours, are some of only redeeming characters in the book. They help her when she needs it.
Even the boy her age who 'likes' her, is awful for most of the book.
The 10-year old boy across the street uses racial slurs that I have never even heard of and am glad to banish from my brain now.
Race plays a huge part in this book. Jasira is half Lebanese/half Irish. Her boyfriend Thomas is black and once her father learns this, he bans her from seeing him. The Gulf War is raging in the background. Jasira's father Rifat has an ongoing issues with the bigoted neighbour across the way.
Is the ending satisfying? You would have to gauge that on your own. But there are a ton of trigger and content warnings for this one.
Ooof. This was not an easy read. It was heart breaking and ugly. And it points out some ugly realities of things that can happen to young girls. This was published in 2006, 15 years ago, but set in 1991, 30 years ago. Teenage girls are even more sexualized now than they were back then and it is horrifying to even think about.
The main character, Jasira, goes through so much. Most of the adults in her life are terrible people. They abuse her physically, sexually, and mentally. Melina and Gil, two of her neighbours, are some of only redeeming characters in the book. They help her when she needs it.
Even the boy her age who 'likes' her, is awful for most of the book.
The 10-year old boy across the street uses racial slurs that I have never even heard of and am glad to banish from my brain now.
Race plays a huge part in this book. Jasira is half Lebanese/half Irish. Her boyfriend Thomas is black and once her father learns this, he bans her from seeing him. The Gulf War is raging in the background. Jasira's father Rifat has an ongoing issues with the bigoted neighbour across the way.
Is the ending satisfying? You would have to gauge that on your own. But there are a ton of trigger and content warnings for this one.
caitfoges's review against another edition
4.0
~ 3.5 ~
I was not prepared for this book. I read it right after another very similar heavy hitter and it was too much for my heart to bear. Oh, I want to go up to every young girl in my life and look her in the eyes and make sure she is safe.
Having lived in the Middle East for several years, I can say that many of the cultural attitudes and stigmas bearing down upon Jasira were written accurately (though it ought to be said that not every Arab thinks this way). Her Irish mother, too, modeled deference to male desires and accommodation to their whims or bouts of anger.
It breaks my heart that Jasira lacked loving guidance and thus sought out attention & affection in places far from safe for a 13 year old girl. Thank God for Melina and the life-saving role she played. May we all keep our eyes more open to signs of mistreatment and abuse of the vulnerable among us.
I was not prepared for this book. I read it right after another very similar heavy hitter and it was too much for my heart to bear. Oh, I want to go up to every young girl in my life and look her in the eyes and make sure she is safe.
Having lived in the Middle East for several years, I can say that many of the cultural attitudes and stigmas bearing down upon Jasira were written accurately (though it ought to be said that not every Arab thinks this way). Her Irish mother, too, modeled deference to male desires and accommodation to their whims or bouts of anger.
It breaks my heart that Jasira lacked loving guidance and thus sought out attention & affection in places far from safe for a 13 year old girl. Thank God for Melina and the life-saving role she played. May we all keep our eyes more open to signs of mistreatment and abuse of the vulnerable among us.
mamagames's review against another edition
4.0
A coming-of-age story that is complicated through a number of layers, including moving to live with her middle eastern father in Texas in 1991... discovering her sexuality through a number of inappropriate relationships and events... this novel read like plunging into someone's mind - it had a great flow and was packed with thoughts and events, making it a quick and engaging read.
lisalikesdogs's review against another edition
4.0
I did fully really love this book, but more because I could really relate to it than because it was a good book. It makes me feel a little messed up, but I guess that's ok! I think it really got into teenage sexuality and the consequences of not talking about sex and sexuality especially with teenage girls, though I am also afraid it might for some people reinforce the stereotype that girls can seduce men at a young age and are willing sexual partners. I don't think a 13 year old necessarily understands what it means to consent to sex, or even what it means to have sex for that matter - and we need to talk about it or teens just learn by trying it out themselves, which can have long lasting negative consequences. [end rant].
mollyfy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
samtastic27's review against another edition
3.0
Ok.....so I wasn't crazy about this book. I felt weird reading it due to the content. It was depressing to know that the reality is that things like this happen every day and those children are not protected.