Dec 23

Dec 23 Other Words for Home

Author: Jasmine Warga
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Goodreads | The StoryGraph

Click above to buy this book from my Bookshop.org shop, which supports independent bookstores (not Amazon). You can also find it via your favorite indie bookstore here.

Note: Trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the full review.

Cover Description

Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives.

At first, everything in America seems too fast and too loud. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven’t quite prepared her for starting school in the US — and her new label of “Middle Eastern,” an identity she’s never known before. But this life also brings unexpected surprises — there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude might just try out for. Maybe America, too, is a place where Jude can be seen as she really is.

TL;DR Review

Other Words for Home is a middle grade novel written in verse, told from the perspective of a young Syrian girl who comes to live in the US. And yes, it’s as beautiful and moving as it sounds.

For you if: You want to read more novels written in verse, and/or novels about xenophobia and Islamophobia.

Full Review

“Just like I am no longer
a girl.
I am a Middle Eastern girl.
A Syrian girl.
A Muslim girl.

Americans love labels.
They help them know what to expect.
Sometimes, though,
I think labels stop them from
thinking.”

This was Malala’s December book club pick with Literati. It probably wouldn’t have landed on my radar without them, but I’m so glad it did! This was a quick, moving, beautifully told story that will stick with me.

Other Words for Home is a middle grade novel written in verse. (That alone would catch my attention.) It’s written from the perspective of a preteen named Jude, a young Syrian girl who comes to live in the US. (Sign me UP for this book.) The story starts in Syria, where she lives with her mother, father, and brother. When political tensions escalate and her mother becomes pregnant, she and Jude go to live with Jude’s uncle near Cincinnati. There, she finds a cousin who’s also growing into herself, a new best friend, acceptance and prejudice, and even a place in her own spotlight.

This book is everything I love about well-done middle grade — heartwarming and resonant, a hug and a statement. I learned new things about Jude’s culture, and I saw new experiences through her eyes. I hope it reaches so, so many young people. But this one will stick with me, and I think it will stick with anyone — young people and adults alike.

FYI, I received this book for free in my capacity as a Literati ambassador. I also borrowed the audiobook from the library to listen along while I read, and it was beautifully performed.