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A review by naomiysl
Silverworld by Diana Abu-Jaber
2.0
I felt so conflicted about this book, but in the end I come down on the side of not recommending it AND following this author for future reads.
On the plus side, it's #ownvoices about a multiracial child with Lebanese heritage, there is nuance and no magic including "shadow creatures" is bad necessarily, and obstacles are overcome with mindfulness and deep breaths and self knowledge. I love that!
On the minus side, the plot is confusing, and in the end and that really bothers me.
Children who might have grandparents in similar situations would not be helped by this ending, and that is why I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. I would, however, read more this author writes, because as I said above I love the way the magic works, and the #ownvoices aspect really comes singing through beautifully.
On the plus side, it's #ownvoices about a multiracial child with Lebanese heritage, there is nuance and no magic including "shadow creatures" is bad necessarily, and obstacles are overcome with mindfulness and deep breaths and self knowledge. I love that!
On the minus side, the plot is confusing, and in the end
Spoiler
the magic saves the grandmother such that she no longer has dementia. And.. maybe I'm just too much an adult reading this book, but I don't think "saving from dementia" should be a thing. At all. Come to peace with it, find connection and love anyway, grieve as needed, yes to all that. But like the grandmother gets to come home from the care facility she was in because she doesn't have dementia anymoreChildren who might have grandparents in similar situations would not be helped by this ending, and that is why I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. I would, however, read more this author writes, because as I said above I love the way the magic works, and the #ownvoices aspect really comes singing through beautifully.