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brogan7's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This is a difficult book, and yet told through the eyes of a child. A family decides to relocate from Kabul to Australia. Their journey is not just challenging, it's deadly and demeaning and unusually cruel. Government policies set far away have extreme consequences on these families and individuals, trapped in a camp, in limbo, not knowing their status, constantly being offered a return flight to Afghanistan. After all their torment to get as far as they have! The family's distress is palpable. The author refers to pills everyone is taking, to sleep, and this part is a little muddy in terms of what exactly the refugees are being given, and whether they're addicted to these pills or what.
The writing is sparse and poetic. The character development is excellent. If I see one small drawback, it's that huge plot points emerge late in the story, and it feels like neither the characters nor the reader have time to absorb them. Maybe that's more like real life, but as a reader I felt projected out of the story.
The writing is sparse and poetic. The character development is excellent. If I see one small drawback, it's that huge plot points emerge late in the story, and it feels like neither the characters nor the reader have time to absorb them. Maybe that's more like real life, but as a reader I felt projected out of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Grief, Child death, Suicide, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Xenophobia
kmj91's review
challenging
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Racism
Minor: Sexual assault
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