This book was heavy topic after heavy topic, and hard to read, but important. Racism, death, and so many more issues plague the lives of two American Pakistani teens, Sal and Noor, as they work to embrace their futures post high school in the face of all of the trauma they face.
As all of Sabaa Tahir’s writing is, the prose was lovely with gorgeous descriptions and scenery, and gut wrenching emotion. Just when you thought our characters couldn’t have it worse, it got worse. But ultimately every step of their journeys was earned and the happiness all the sweeter for the trials before them. It certainly didn’t leave the reader with the same takeaways as the An Ember in the Ashes quartet, but the rage Noor feels and how it can fuel you resonates and will be something I think on. I think this is an important book, and is certainly award winning for a reason.
As all of Sabaa Tahir’s writing is, the prose was lovely with gorgeous descriptions and scenery, and gut wrenching emotion. Just when you thought our characters couldn’t have it worse, it got worse. But ultimately every step of their journeys was earned and the happiness all the sweeter for the trials before them. It certainly didn’t leave the reader with the same takeaways as the An Ember in the Ashes quartet, but the rage Noor feels and how it can fuel you resonates and will be something I think on. I think this is an important book, and is certainly award winning for a reason.