This story starts off strong and just does not give in. It’s a powerful and emotionally arresting look into the lives of families made and found and the struggles that tear them apart and stitch them back together.
Told from multiple points of view, in dual timelines, the pieces slowly click into place. A truly YA story, with teen protagonists, that deals with poignant contemporary adult themes. It’s such a beautiful and haunting story of heartbreak, dreams, faith, hopelessness and seething rage compounded by a unique immigrant experience.
Generational trauma is a very big part of the story, unhealed emotional trauma, constant acts of racism and so much death and loss. Noor’s silent coping. Salahudin’s childhood trauma, flinches and sense memories. There is such a richness to these characters that makes them feel real, lived.
Despite the turmoil, it is also about hope and the fulfillment of dreams. Living and learning through one’s faith, or lack thereof. About finding ones purpose and accepting love.
This book will hold your heart in its hands and squeeze and squeeze and squeeze until it finally breaks in a million different ways. Left puffy eyed and overflowing with emotion. It is beautiful. And perfect.
Told from multiple points of view, in dual timelines, the pieces slowly click into place. A truly YA story, with teen protagonists, that deals with poignant contemporary adult themes. It’s such a beautiful and haunting story of heartbreak, dreams, faith, hopelessness and seething rage compounded by a unique immigrant experience.
Generational trauma is a very big part of the story, unhealed emotional trauma, constant acts of racism and so much death and loss. Noor’s silent coping. Salahudin’s childhood trauma, flinches and sense memories. There is such a richness to these characters that makes them feel real, lived.
Despite the turmoil, it is also about hope and the fulfillment of dreams. Living and learning through one’s faith, or lack thereof. About finding ones purpose and accepting love.
This book will hold your heart in its hands and squeeze and squeeze and squeeze until it finally breaks in a million different ways. Left puffy eyed and overflowing with emotion. It is beautiful. And perfect.