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yvkhan's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, this book was pretty great at first. The characters were slightly stereotypical, but they had heart. The way the relationship between Amina and Jenna was emphasised showed promise. The part when shook me to the core. Moral ambiguity? Good. Jenna's development as a character? Good. Overall ideas of stories as a means of distraction and good ol' sisterly love? Good.
But there was one part of the plot that really damaged the book -
Perhaps it was just Amina's imagination, perhaps it was reality, but either way, the love triangle seemed wholly unnecessary. At first, I was hopeful about the crushes Aron and Amina clearly had on each other. Perhaps the young lovers could have clung to one another for hope and joy. Perhaps their crushes and passion could've arose entirely out of necessity. Perhaps their love could've been a symbol of hope to the people in the camp, or at least something that Cosima and Jenna could tease them about to distract them from the brutal reality around them. Something that could accomplish the same things that Amina's stories did. And if their love did, indeed, rise out of necessity, it would seem as if their love was a story that Amina had spun up for herself, adding an oddly poetic touch.
In that case, Jenna wouldn't need to truly be in love with Aron. It could've just been Amina's suspicions. Unnecessary love triangle solved. And even if Jenna was in love with Aron, we could see her brushing that aside for her sister's happiness, hence adding to the greater theme of sisterly love.
Or we could keep the love triangle the way it is. We could keep it and have Amina and Jenna both fall for Aron. But let them see beyond it. Let them decide that their bond to one another as sisters is far more important than romance. Let them decide what to do together. Let Amina be with Aron, let Jenna be with Aron, let neither of them be with Aron. It doesn't matter*. Either way, it'd have strengthened their bond as sisters, a theme that's clearly focused on throughout the book and in the ending itself.
But in the end, what happened with the love triangle was... nothing. The love triangle had absolutely no resolution, in my opinion, unless you count that weird sleeping thing that happened once in a tent. It felt like a subplot added simply to spice things up, like a plastic plant in the middle of a nature reserve (pardon my bad analogies). There was already love in the novel - familial love. We didn't need this too.
Something else that disappointed me was Amina's sickness, or rather, how it was executed. I wish we got to see how Jenna broke down in greater detail, how she simply couldn't stand the thought of living without her sister. But we didn't get more than a few measly paragraphs.
All in all, the book was pretty good. But the relationship between Amina and Jenna really suffered in the later half.
(Also, pardon me if I'm wrong, but isn't the use of the word "g----" instead of Romani rather offensive? Perhaps that was the intention, but if so, the Romani still shouldn't have referred to themselves with that same term.)
* = I say this, but in my opinion, a situation where Aron was in love with Jenna and Amina had to learn to deal with her feelings or a situation where both Jenna and Amina decided not to pursue their loves would've been better.
Spoiler
Potta was murderedBut there was one part of the plot that really damaged the book -
Spoiler
the love triangle between the two sisters and Aron.Perhaps it was just Amina's imagination, perhaps it was reality, but either way, the love triangle seemed wholly unnecessary. At first, I was hopeful about the crushes Aron and Amina clearly had on each other. Perhaps the young lovers could have clung to one another for hope and joy. Perhaps their crushes and passion could've arose entirely out of necessity. Perhaps their love could've been a symbol of hope to the people in the camp, or at least something that Cosima and Jenna could tease them about to distract them from the brutal reality around them. Something that could accomplish the same things that Amina's stories did. And if their love did, indeed, rise out of necessity, it would seem as if their love was a story that Amina had spun up for herself, adding an oddly poetic touch.
In that case, Jenna wouldn't need to truly be in love with Aron. It could've just been Amina's suspicions. Unnecessary love triangle solved. And even if Jenna was in love with Aron, we could see her brushing that aside for her sister's happiness, hence adding to the greater theme of sisterly love.
Or we could keep the love triangle the way it is. We could keep it and have Amina and Jenna both fall for Aron. But let them see beyond it. Let them decide that their bond to one another as sisters is far more important than romance. Let them decide what to do together. Let Amina be with Aron, let Jenna be with Aron, let neither of them be with Aron. It doesn't matter*. Either way, it'd have strengthened their bond as sisters, a theme that's clearly focused on throughout the book and in the ending itself.
But in the end, what happened with the love triangle was... nothing. The love triangle had absolutely no resolution, in my opinion, unless you count that weird sleeping thing that happened once in a tent. It felt like a subplot added simply to spice things up, like a plastic plant in the middle of a nature reserve (pardon my bad analogies). There was already love in the novel - familial love. We didn't need this too.
Something else that disappointed me was Amina's sickness, or rather, how it was executed. I wish we got to see how Jenna broke down in greater detail, how she simply couldn't stand the thought of living without her sister. But we didn't get more than a few measly paragraphs.
All in all, the book was pretty good. But the relationship between Amina and Jenna really suffered in the later half.
(Also, pardon me if I'm wrong, but isn't the use of the word "g----" instead of Romani rather offensive? Perhaps that was the intention, but if so, the Romani still shouldn't have referred to themselves with that same term.)
* = I say this, but in my opinion, a situation where Aron was in love with Jenna and Amina had to learn to deal with her feelings or a situation where both Jenna and Amina decided not to pursue their loves would've been better.
alos3478's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-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
5.0
ainiali's review against another edition
3.0
It takes almost a whole day for me to gather my thoughts & put up a review because there's so much that I want to talk about. In the end, just put in a list form:
6. According to the author, the story is based on a few countries that at war like Syria, Palestine, Congo (?)... I dont remember..but in here we dont get to see the religious aspect of the community. There's only a couple of moments that Amina said something about culture forbade them to do this and that (this book is from her POV) and for not touching religious aspects, I really appreciate it because IT IS a touchy subject even how modernized our generation is.
Cons:
1. It was really typical story about civil war & personally, I've seen a few movies that cover the same story arc minus the storytelling talent of Amina.
2. That whole scene when the soldiers dragged Potta & Amina lied to save them was genius but when Potta actually died and the girls just move on "after crying till their tears dries up". I was expecting something gut wrenching scene where my tears would actually drop...
3. When they said that they can go back home, I felt like it was most anti-climatic ending because for refugees, their waiting is almost indefinite. Tho they still dont know what the actual situation at home. It's still felt like, for lack of better word, a bad getaway or holiday turn bad (?). I'm sorry...
4. That teenage angst that the author attempted to put in between Amina, Aron & Jenna. God! I hate love triangle that involves siblings. I almost dnf it when Amina realized her feeling and that backhug while sleeping (MY GOD HELP ME!). the only theory that enable me to move on is that Aron actually told Jenna that he likes Amina & there's nothing between themselves. Tho he do admire Jenna in platonic way. Amen.
Pro:
1. First and foremost, this book hold a record for being a book with 300+ pages that I read the fastest. Almost overnight and I'm a slow reader.
2. Amina personality & her desire for education.
3. I like the relationship between the family members.
4. The companionship that formed at the refugee camp.
5. This reminded me of [b: Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] by [a: Rainbow Rowell|4208569|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1342324527p2/4208569.jpg]
Spoiler
because there's a story within a story and in this case we got some from Amina's storytelling. I dont have an issue with it, not like in the said book.6. According to the author, the story is based on a few countries that at war like Syria, Palestine, Congo (?)... I dont remember..but in here we dont get to see the religious aspect of the community. There's only a couple of moments that Amina said something about culture forbade them to do this and that (this book is from her POV) and for not touching religious aspects, I really appreciate it because IT IS a touchy subject even how modernized our generation is.
Cons:
Spoiler
1. It was really typical story about civil war & personally, I've seen a few movies that cover the same story arc minus the storytelling talent of Amina.
2. That whole scene when the soldiers dragged Potta & Amina lied to save them was genius but when Potta actually died and the girls just move on "after crying till their tears dries up". I was expecting something gut wrenching scene where my tears would actually drop...
3. When they said that they can go back home, I felt like it was most anti-climatic ending because for refugees, their waiting is almost indefinite. Tho they still dont know what the actual situation at home. It's still felt like, for lack of better word, a bad getaway or holiday turn bad (?). I'm sorry...
4. That teenage angst that the author attempted to put in between Amina, Aron & Jenna. God! I hate love triangle that involves siblings. I almost dnf it when Amina realized her feeling and that backhug while sleeping (MY GOD HELP ME!). the only theory that enable me to move on is that Aron actually told Jenna that he likes Amina & there's nothing between themselves. Tho he do admire Jenna in platonic way. Amen.
meghanlovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.0
zoe_yay3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
janedallaway's review against another edition
5.0
This book has been on my to-read list for at least the last year. I found it when I was attempting to broaden my reading to include stories I didn’t have, or was unlikely to have, or hope never to have, first hand experience of.
Well written characters, all with different strengths, and skills. A story of stories, told to escape, told to bring strength, told to bring hope.
Overall, I think it’s a story of hope.
Well written characters, all with different strengths, and skills. A story of stories, told to escape, told to bring strength, told to bring hope.
Overall, I think it’s a story of hope.
darlingfarthing's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, this book was pretty great at first. The characters were slightly stereotypical, but they had heart. The way the relationship between Amina and Jenna was emphasised showed promise. The part when shook me to the core. Moral ambiguity? Good. Jenna's development as a character? Good. Overall ideas of stories as a means of distraction and good ol' sisterly love? Good.
But there was one part of the plot that really damaged the book -
Perhaps it was just Amina's imagination, perhaps it was reality, but either way, the love triangle seemed wholly unnecessary. At first, I was hopeful about the crushes Aron and Amina clearly had on each other. Perhaps the young lovers could have clung to one another for hope and joy. Perhaps their crushes and passion could've arose entirely out of necessity. Perhaps their love could've been a symbol of hope to the people in the camp, or at least something that Cosima and Jenna could tease them about to distract them from the brutal reality around them. Something that could accomplish the same things that Amina's stories did. And if their love did, indeed, rise out of necessity, it would seem as if their love was a story that Amina had spun up for herself, adding an oddly poetic touch.
In that case, Jenna wouldn't need to truly be in love with Aron. It could've just been Amina's suspicions. Unnecessary love triangle solved. And even if Jenna was in love with Aron, we could see her brushing that aside for her sister's happiness, hence adding to the greater theme of sisterly love.
Or we could keep the love triangle the way it is. We could keep it and have Amina and Jenna both fall for Aron. But let them see beyond it. Let them decide that their bond to one another as sisters is far more important than romance. Let them decide what to do together. Let Amina be with Aron, let Jenna be with Aron, let neither of them be with Aron. It doesn't matter*. Either way, it'd have strengthened their bond as sisters, a theme that's clearly focused on throughout the book and in the ending itself.
But in the end, what happened with the love triangle was... nothing. The love triangle had absolutely no resolution, in my opinion, unless you count that weird sleeping thing that happened once in a tent. It felt like a subplot added simply to spice things up, like a plastic plant in the middle of a nature reserve (pardon my bad analogies). There was already love in the novel - familial love. We didn't need this too.
Something else that disappointed me was Amina's sickness, or rather, how it was executed. I wish we got to see how Jenna broke down in greater detail, how she simply couldn't stand the thought of living without her sister. But we didn't get more than a few measly paragraphs.
All in all, the book was pretty good. But the relationship between Amina and Jenna really suffered in the later half.
(Also, pardon me if I'm wrong, but isn't the use of the word "g----" instead of Romani rather offensive? Perhaps that was the intention, but if so, the Romani still shouldn't have referred to themselves with that same term.)
* = I say this, but in my opinion, a situation where Aron was in love with Jenna and Amina had to learn to deal with her feelings or a situation where both Jenna and Amina decided not to pursue their loves would've been better.
Spoiler
Potta was murderedBut there was one part of the plot that really damaged the book -
Spoiler
the love triangle between the two sisters and Aron.Perhaps it was just Amina's imagination, perhaps it was reality, but either way, the love triangle seemed wholly unnecessary. At first, I was hopeful about the crushes Aron and Amina clearly had on each other. Perhaps the young lovers could have clung to one another for hope and joy. Perhaps their crushes and passion could've arose entirely out of necessity. Perhaps their love could've been a symbol of hope to the people in the camp, or at least something that Cosima and Jenna could tease them about to distract them from the brutal reality around them. Something that could accomplish the same things that Amina's stories did. And if their love did, indeed, rise out of necessity, it would seem as if their love was a story that Amina had spun up for herself, adding an oddly poetic touch.
In that case, Jenna wouldn't need to truly be in love with Aron. It could've just been Amina's suspicions. Unnecessary love triangle solved. And even if Jenna was in love with Aron, we could see her brushing that aside for her sister's happiness, hence adding to the greater theme of sisterly love.
Or we could keep the love triangle the way it is. We could keep it and have Amina and Jenna both fall for Aron. But let them see beyond it. Let them decide that their bond to one another as sisters is far more important than romance. Let them decide what to do together. Let Amina be with Aron, let Jenna be with Aron, let neither of them be with Aron. It doesn't matter*. Either way, it'd have strengthened their bond as sisters, a theme that's clearly focused on throughout the book and in the ending itself.
But in the end, what happened with the love triangle was... nothing. The love triangle had absolutely no resolution, in my opinion, unless you count that weird sleeping thing that happened once in a tent. It felt like a subplot added simply to spice things up, like a plastic plant in the middle of a nature reserve (pardon my bad analogies). There was already love in the novel - familial love. We didn't need this too.
Something else that disappointed me was Amina's sickness, or rather, how it was executed. I wish we got to see how Jenna broke down in greater detail, how she simply couldn't stand the thought of living without her sister. But we didn't get more than a few measly paragraphs.
All in all, the book was pretty good. But the relationship between Amina and Jenna really suffered in the later half.
(Also, pardon me if I'm wrong, but isn't the use of the word "g----" instead of Romani rather offensive? Perhaps that was the intention, but if so, the Romani still shouldn't have referred to themselves with that same term.)
* = I say this, but in my opinion, a situation where Aron was in love with Jenna and Amina had to learn to deal with her feelings or a situation where both Jenna and Amina decided not to pursue their loves would've been better.
brookep's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nimra's review
3.0
It was beautiful. I felt very grateful to not be in a war and have my family, i cried for the characters but it was also very hopeful. Kindness is still living!
It is about a family who live in a country which is ruled by Kwana, a military political power and they are basically trapped on their own land. They do not have democratic rights, they can't even speak against their government or else they're badly punished. It deals with the horrors of war and the characters go through alot.
The writing in this one is very easy and the character development, plot were also good.
I would recommend it.
It is about a family who live in a country which is ruled by Kwana, a military political power and they are basically trapped on their own land. They do not have democratic rights, they can't even speak against their government or else they're badly punished. It deals with the horrors of war and the characters go through alot.
The writing in this one is very easy and the character development, plot were also good.
I would recommend it.
the_bookishkat's review
5.0
An absolutely stunning book which can hit hard and make you cry. I know I certainly did! The author's writing is so creative and powerful in this that I think this is possibly one of the best books that I've ever read. I would recommend it to anybody that's into powerful books.
Inside Cover:
What if you had nothing left but the tales inside your head?
This is the tale of an ordinary child, just like any other, apart from the terrible times in which she lives.
This is the tale of an extraordinary child, whose wild imagination gives the people around her a reason to survive.
This is the tale of Amina, separated from her family and forced to flee the war ravaging her country, who finds hope in the power of stories to never give up on the people she loves.
This is a tale of love and war, family and friendship, and it will stay with you for as long as the stars are in the sky.
Inside Cover:
What if you had nothing left but the tales inside your head?
This is the tale of an ordinary child, just like any other, apart from the terrible times in which she lives.
This is the tale of an extraordinary child, whose wild imagination gives the people around her a reason to survive.
This is the tale of Amina, separated from her family and forced to flee the war ravaging her country, who finds hope in the power of stories to never give up on the people she loves.
This is a tale of love and war, family and friendship, and it will stay with you for as long as the stars are in the sky.