Welcome to Litsy!

I have to say that reading books starting with A in my library is introducing me to a whole other world of novels.

After fleeing Afghanistan 10 years ago and landing in Australia, Mina is starting a new school where she meets a boy, Michael whose father has built a foundation of Islamophobia to push the refugees out. They clash as they navigate their beliefs and figure out their world.

"I'm grateful that I made it to a country that offers peace, but what upsets me is that it offers peace to some and not others. That's the way the world works, isn't it? A lottery of winners and losers."

But why must it be that way?

So many good quotes in this book.

"It's so much easier to live in a world where everything is black and white. I've never done gray before, but it's one of those things that, tried once, you can never go back."

I loved Mina, I really did, but I've just finished reading the book and feel like nothing really happened.

So, I went to my little brother‘s school and they had a scholastic book fair and I ended up buying these beauties. ♥️😍
I really look forward to reading “The Lines We cross”. It‘s supposed to be about immigration, religion tolerance and teenage love.

Although this book is centered around a cultural divide, it reminded me a bit of Romeo and Juliet. Of course this story is not nearly as heavy handed as the Shakespearean classic. That's not to say this book doesn't deal with hard hitting issues, because it does. It sort of just skims the surface though instead of digging deep. It's perfect fare for those (perhaps teens) who want a taste of the harshness of the world without the cruel details.

Anyone read this yet? I'm trying it out next for #litsyatoz #letterl

For #riotgrams, my current read. I've only a couple more chapters and think it's a great read.

Teaching a writing class to teens tonight at the library and spending the time before studying for my yoga teacher test and, of course, reading. Best place to use unexpected free time.

Heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. @WhatDeeReads put this on your TBR IMMEDIATELY.

We had people over for dinner tonight and they just left, which means I can get in some quality reading time before I fall asleep. #LitsyPartyofOne #TBRBingo

There was something about the writing style that didn't completely click for me but this was still a moving, important YA book. Told in alternating points of view, the story follows the emerging friendship of a teenage refugee from Afghanistan and her male classmate whose parents run an anti-immigration organization in their Australian town.

This book was a good ya introduction to standing up for what you believe in and learning to think for yourself. It was not particularly new or ground breaking, but it was a good discussion on a very topical issue.

I wanted to like this more then I did, but there was something off about it that I can't quite articulate. While the issues are important, it was heavy handed throughout instead of skillfully interwoven. What was well done was Michael's character development. Unfortunately, I didn't find the romance believable and there were a lot of extraneous plot points and characters. And, why does the Asian boy, have to be portrayed in stereotypical terms?

"Sometimes you have to get in the trenches. Some people are worth the risk."

This book literally makes me laugh out loud sometimes! It covers pretty deep stuff but the way the author writes some dialogue between the friends Mina and Paula makes me laugh! They're the kind of friends I'd love to have around!

Soooooo goood. 😍🎉