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multitalented_egg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It also shows how Salama suffers from PTSD, which materializes in the form of a man named Khawf - which literally translates to 'fear' in English.
This story features the blooming of hope in a battered heart that believes hope is a luxury, and a brain that creates multiple coping mechanisms to help its owner keep up.
But most of all, it shows the suffering of those who are ignored, whose lives are mere numbers, who are forgotten after the bullet goes through their skulls, and the rigid dichotomy between the suffering of the Palestinians and Syrians.
With a halal romance subplot going on, this book is a refreshing representation, and a perfect segue into educating ourselves more about the unfortunate.
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and War
Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Torture
scarlettmay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
nbwalks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Salama's voice is very young and I didn't understand her relationship with Kenan, but perhaps that is the whole point being that in a war zone, every moment could be your last. She was also very contradicting and at times seemed to be yelling at Kenan for feeling the same way that she had been feeling just moments ago. It made no sense. Kenan was always apologizing to her and I didn't even know why.
The timeline also felt a little all over the place and I felt the last chapters could have been expanded on. Majority of the book felt repetitive to me, it was all leading to the journey to safety, then that only lasts 2 small chapters. Pacing could have been improved for sure. I don't know, it was a decent read but nothing that stood out for me personally. Kind of feels like it's so highly rated because of the topic, not because of the execution.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and War
kia_y_k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sydneylmeyer7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Genocide, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and War
jules6469's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
cleverruhs's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Eating disorder, Medical content, and Pregnancy
gtmommy05's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, and War
grace_muriithi's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Palestine.
Congo.
Haiti.
Tigray.
Sudan.
Those are just a few of the ones I know of off the top of my head.
I felt guilty for knowing that all I can do is read, uplift their voices and donate.
But also, I felt hope in reading this story. Hope is something that I never want to lose sight of, and dreaming of a better tomorrow and fighting for it is what all oppressed people deserve. Free all those that are victims of Western greed, exploitation and colonialism. This is a novel about the fight for liberation and its uglier sides, but most of all it encourages me to continue to resist and fight for what is right.
5/5 stars, absolutely no notes. (Actually, PLEASE check trigger warnings before you read this book. It's a heavy read, but one that should be read in my opinion.)
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, Islamophobia, and Abandonment
proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This is a sad and tragic story, but beautifully told. The fact that it shows Syria's own history is almost unfathomable, but also very real when faced with pictures of what's happening in G*za every day. My heart breaks, gets mended - and breaks again.
"We don't have to stop living because we might die. Anyone might die at any given moment, anywhere in the world. We're not an exception. We just see death more regularly than they do."
Alongside all awfulness a love story grows. Maybe because it's a YA novel, but the contrast between love and war makes everything even more clear, and I needed those breathing holes. The author also has a skilled way of showing how PDTS can express itself, and it's a vital part of the story.
I went through all kinds of emotions while reading, and I needed to take a break and read something else in between. Although it's partly hard to read I wish that many do. It will stay in my mind for a long time.
"Everyone is dying. Nothing I do works. My brain hurts. I haven't slept well in over a year. I feel like I'm screaming into an abyss that just swallows everything up. Soon enough it will swallow me too."
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail