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“Nothing short of magic.” —Elizabeth Acevedo, New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X
From the acclaimed poet featured on Forbes Africa’s “30 Under 30” list, this powerful novel-in-verse captures one girl, caught between cultures, on an unexpected journey to face the ephemeral girl she might have been. Woven through with moments of lyrical beauty, this is a tender meditation on family, belonging, and home.
my mother meant to name me for her favorite flower
its sweetness garlands made for pretty girls
i imagine her yasmeen bright & alive
& i ache to have been born her instead
Nima wishes she were someone else. She doesn’t feel understood by her mother, who grew up in a different land. She doesn’t feel accepted in her suburban town; yet somehow, she isn't different enough to belong elsewhere. Her best friend, Haitham, is the only person with whom she can truly be herself. Until she can't, and suddenly her only refuge is gone.
As the ground is pulled out from under her, Nima must grapple with the phantom of a life not chosen—the name her parents meant to give her at birth—Yasmeen. But that other name, that other girl, might be more real than Nima knows. And the life Nima wishes were someone else's. . . is one she will need to fight for with a fierceness she never knew she possessed.
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Creators
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Awards
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Release date
March 2, 2021 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593343715
- File size: 92134 KB
- Duration: 03:11:56
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Author and narrator Safia Elhillo delivers an unflinching performance of this light fantasy told in verse, introduced by narrator Christopher Myers. Nima feels trapped--ostracized by her town yet not accepted by the country her mother comes from. When her friend is hospitalized because of an Islamophobic attack, Nima begins a journey accompanied by a version of herself that never came to be but fights to exist. Together, they explore the choices Nima's mother made that led to the present. Elhillo's narration is consistently paced to support the verse. However, listeners may struggle to differentiate characters in conversation, and some of the story's emotional impact is blunted by her detached tone. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
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