Jude lives in a Syrian town with her family, loves American movies and dreams of acting, until the war comes close. Her parents send her to Cincinnati to live with her aunt, uncle and cousin Sarah, while her brother Issa stays behind. Written in free verse, the novel follows Jude's first months at an American middle school, where she learns English, wears the hijab among classmates who do not understand, and tries to hold on to a sense of home while worrying for her family.
Aimed at middle-grade readers, it is a gentle introduction to the experience of refugees and to being new at school. Adults who want to explain immigration to a child could share it too.
Inward-looking, clear-cut and thought-provoking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2019
- Language
- EN
