Other Words for Home

Other Words for Home
Jasmine Warga
HarperCollins, 2019 337 pages
Grades 4-8
Realistic Fiction/Narrative Poetry

Jude is happily living in her ocean home in Syria, watching movies with her best friend and singing pop songs: until life begins to change. Her brother becomes political, eventually moving out of the house and into dangerous situations. Finally, her parents decide that Syria is no longer safe and Jude, along with her pregnant mother, journey to the United States to live with Mom's brother and his American family in Cincinnati. Cousin Sarah is as unlike Jude as you can possibly imagine and seems less than enthusiastic, introducing Jude to her cool American friends. Missing her best friend, family, and life back in Syria, Jude makes a new friend named Layla, who though American, has middle eastern parents who operate a restaurant with food that makes Jude feel as if she is home. Adjustment does not come easily, yet help is found in the form of a supportive bunch of new pals from ESL class and the opportunity to get involved in the school play. Jude intends to work on the stage crew, yet finds herself auditioning and surprising everyone, including herself, by landing a speaking part. Can this strange new country be home after all?

As we enter into the end of the year it is time to crack into those books that are showing up on the "best of" lists. This books has excellent reviews and is getting some buzz--enough that I felt compelled to read it. I kept putting it off because it seemed very long and heavy. This is not the case. Because it is narrative poetry, it reads very quickly. The subject matter is a little heavy, yet the story has a quickly moving plot and never drags. At heart, Jude is normal girl. Even though she is from a distant culture, her personality, fears, and interests mirror American girls, who will relate to the character and fall into her story. Seeing the conflict in Syria and then adjustment to American life through Jude's eyes will allow other young people to experience the same without leaving the comforts of their own living rooms. An obvious choice for schools and book groups, this story can also be enjoyed for pleasure with a little hand selling. Muslim girls will appreciate seeing a character like themselves reflected on the cover and other readers will catch a glimpse into a window of what life is like for that new kid who seems so different and sits alone at lunch. An author's note at the end talks about her own experiences and offers websites for learning more about refugee needs. An important, current story, beautifully written, yet highly readable and entertaining.