Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

 

Two days ago, I finished reading Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga. This realistic novel-in-verse is about a Syrian girl, Jude, whose father sends her and her mother to live with family in Cincinnati, Ohio when things become too dangerous in their hometown due to the increasing violence in nearby towns. Life in America is different and it takes some time for Jude to adjust, especially because she misses her older brother, Issa, and her best friend, Fatima, so much. Even bonding with her cousin, Sarah, is hard. Not to mention, starting at a new school brings its own challenges. Although Jude knows the answers to math problems, she doesn't know how to explain how she got to the answers in English, and she's also skeptical of her ESL class. Fortunately, her classmates in ESL are great, and she decides that she likes the class after her first day. As the months go by, she makes new friends and even decides to try out for the school musical, Beauty and the Beast, because she wants to be an actress someday. When Issa disappears back in Syria and a terrorist attack occurs in the West, Jude has to cope with her fear for her brother and faces racism in her new home. Through it all, Jude maintains her identity and remains hopeful.

This novel-in-verse was a joy to read because it was so beautifully written. I especially loved the line, "I am learning how to be sad and happy at the same time." I thought it was very powerful and profound. While the book was sad and a little scary at times, there was a sense of hope throughout. I really enjoyed the anticipation that built for Jude's new sister to be born and rooted for Jude to get a speaking role in Beauty and the Beast. The friendships that Jude made with Layla and Miles were very special, too. Jude and Layla connected over their shared heritage when Jude decided to visit a Muslim restaurant that Layla's parents happened to own, while Jude and Miles bonded over his dog, Sputnik, and his love for astronomy. It was also interesting to read how Jude's relationships with her mom and Sarah evolved over the course of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by the end. All in all, Other Words for Home was a very satisfying read, and it's perfect for those who are exploring their identity and/or sometimes don't feel like they belong.