A review by fortheloveoffictionalworlds
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

5.0

Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds

Disclaimer: An eARC was provided via The Fantastic Flying Book Club and the Author as part of the Blog Tour. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.

If you have read the blurb of this beauty – then there will be a part that will definitely resonate with you, especially if you are a Desi who has grown up being stuck between the traditional ways of your parents and society; but also has been able to open yourself up by having your thoughts and opinion influenced by the whole wide world through the powers of internet – yes, I am talking to the generation who is living in the finite divide between being open and being true to your own traditions.

Nishat, our protagonist is a the first generation Bangladeshi Muslim living in Ireland, a predominantly white and Catholic community – they are a minority community and face a discrimination that, no matter how subtle still makes Nishat and her sister Priti feel uncomfortable in their own skin and identity.


The fact that Nishat is homosexual is open to the readers right from the get go, from Nishat admiring a girl she had a crush on as a pre – schooler, though she admits she didn’t exactly know it was a crush then, at a Bengali wedding of her cousin  – we also read about Nishat’s conviction to come out to her parents – a fact that took a lot of courage, especially considering the way it turns out at first – for a proud Muslim family, this is something that is abominable and Nishat’s understanding that though she is firm in her own sexuality; it breaks her heart to see her parent’s acting like she doesn’t matter, that “this” will bring shame to their family. Just saying, IT IS hard to change a whole way of thinking, but do know that a parent’s love can surpass any hurdle.

The book, however, is all about a business competition being held in Nishat’s school. Nishat’s idea of opening a henna business, the art of henna being passed down to her, not just within her culture; but also in her family, by her own grandmother – is something that she knows she can actually be good at!


But when her crush, Flávia uses the same idea for the competition – she sees it as a betrayal and stealing of her culture. The icing on the cake? Flávia’s business parner is none other than Chyna, a white girl who is not just racist but is also a bully to Nishat! Along with this, Nishat also has to handle the fact that she has been outed via “text message”to the whole school – a catholic all – girl school, which has quite the effect on her mental health!

The Henna Wars was nothing short of stupendous – as a Desi reader, it was easy to see reflection of my own culture within the book – Nishat’s culture, so close to my own, felt coming home within the pages of the book. The sensitive way that the author has handled the issues of homophobia, racism and the cultural appropriation is commendable (yes, I had a couple of issues, but they were not major ones in  the whole scheme of things)– and it is a book that is recommended to EVERYONE!



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