Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. Today we are featuring OTHER WORDS FOR HOME by Jasmine Warga.
When life at home begins to get too dangerous for Jude and her expectant mom, they leave her papa and beloved, but rebellious brother behind in Syria and go to Cincinnati to stay with Jude’s uncle.
Everything in America is different from home. The way things look, taste, smell, feel. Jude tries to find the comforts of home in her new everyday life–trying new things, making friends, adjusting to her uncle’s family. Despite all this trying to fit in, she can’t help but worry about her brother and papa in war-torn Syria, and then there’s the fact that everything in America seems to be labeled and categorized. Even Jude herself is now a “Middle Easterner.” Unfortunately, that label causes her a lot of strife, and while Jude tries her best to muddle through all the everyday problems every middle grader faces in America, she also must deal with Islamaphobia and racism. But with her persistence of spirit, Jude works to find home in America, a place where she can simply be herself.
I love that the author chose to share this evocative story in verse. The writing is sparse, but deliberate in its word choice. The plot is completely immersive–we live with Jude through her transition from Syrian to immigrant to middle school student. Jude is naïve and vulnerable, but she approaches her problems without fear of failure. Her character is luminous and a great inspiration for all. Jude’s voice carries her story to a place deep inside your heart.
This timely and relevant book is an important read for everyone, regardless of age. It would be an excellent classroom read for the story alone, but the use of figurative language to show depth of emotion is a master class in itself too. As Jason Reynolds says in his blurb for OTHER WORDS FROM HOME, “This is a necessary story. We’re lucky to have it in the world.” I couldn’t agree more.
OTHER WORDS FROM HOME is available at bookstores and libraries everywhere.
Jasmine Warga is the author of teen books HERE WE ARE NOW and MY HEART AND OTHER BLACK HOLES. This is her first novel for middle graders. I long to see many more middle grade novels from Jasmine, especially in verse. Connect with her on her website, Twitter, or on Instagram.
