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A review by rachelle_reads
The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
5.0
This book is brilliant. It has two parallel stories - one in the 12th century following a mapmaker and his apprentices, and one in (almost) modern day Syria following a family of refugees. The narrator in both stories is a girl on the cusp of womanhood, underestimated by those around her and ready for the world.
The stark realities of refugee journeys in the 21st century make for tough reading. The author did not flinch from the worst parts. And yet, the historical fantasy story gave the readers breaks from the harshness of real life, even while that narrator got into some really scary situations, too. It underscores the power of story in helping us make sense of our experiences and survive the worst days.
Did I cry? Yes, I did. This sits alongside Solito as a must read book for anyone who wanting a deeper understanding of how people escape the worst circumstances in their home countries.
The stark realities of refugee journeys in the 21st century make for tough reading. The author did not flinch from the worst parts. And yet, the historical fantasy story gave the readers breaks from the harshness of real life, even while that narrator got into some really scary situations, too. It underscores the power of story in helping us make sense of our experiences and survive the worst days.
Did I cry? Yes, I did. This sits alongside Solito as a must read book for anyone who wanting a deeper understanding of how people escape the worst circumstances in their home countries.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail