I love that despite a huge life change she’s able to continue putting one foot in front of the other and showing up in school and in life, and that she is determined to follow her dream of acting.

She loves her brother Issa more than anything and above all, she wants to be seen and to be brave. She asks lots of questions, likes to talk to people, and wants to be in the movies. Main Character: I love Jude and her persistent and brave spirit. Free Verse makes the story feel more personal and accessible for all reading levels. If you’ve followed my blog and reviews for a while, you know that I adore an occasional heartfelt Middle Grade read….especially one in free verse! I definitely fall hard for refugee stories. Middle Grade and Free Verse: It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a middle grade book on the blog. Ultimately, she summons all her bravery and tries out for the school musical. and her new label as “Middle Eastern.” Jude makes the best of some difficult situations and is suprised to make a new friend. Even though Jude has learned some English, she is unprepared for life in an American family, starting school in the U.S. My Summary:īecause of instability in Syria, Jude and her mother leave her father and older brother to live with relatives in America (Cincinnati). *This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Jude's mother is pregnant, and she and Jude have decided to leave Syria for the United States.Genre/Categories/Setting: Middle Grade+, Contemporary Fiction, Syria (and U.S.), Refugee, Coming of Age, Novel in Free Verse, Diverse Reads Issa's apartment is raided by the Syrian police. Issa moves out of his family's house at the relatively young age of 16. Issa's views cause a rift between him and Jude's father. Issa, Jude's older brother, is a revolutionary, who opposes the Syrian government. While they were once very close, they have started to drift away, as Fatima begins to mature and wear the hijab. Fatima is Jude's neighbor and best friend. Jude is forbidden by her father to talk to the tourists.

The city's primary income depends on tourism, and tourists from around the world come. The story introduces Jude, a Syrian girl who aspires to be a movie star, and the sea-bordering city she lives in. The story is about a family of Syrian refugees with Jude, a 12-year-old girl, as protagonist. Other Words for Home is a 2019 free verse children's book by Jasmine Warga.

Other words for home by jasmine warga