Call Me American (Adapted for Young Adults) by Abdi Nor Iftin

5 out of 5 🌟 Life as we don't know it

'Call Me American' made me astounded since page one. It a memoir of Abdi Nor Iftin, a Somalian man who immigrated from his home country to the USA. The story starts with Abdi's parents who were nomads living in Somalian wilderness herding camels, hunting and, occasionally, fighting with lions and hyenas. His family has settled in the city of Mogadishu where their hard-enough life was brutally interrupted by the war in 1993 and - long story short - anarchy that comes after. Abdi has been always fascinated with American culture and taught himself English watching Hollywood movies. His lifelong dream was to move to the United States and this memoir tells the story of his long and dangerous journey through war and bureaucracy.

This book left me speechless and while I'm gathering my words to write this review, I know I won't be able to do it right. 'Call Me American' tells about a life that's an exact opposite of anything I understand. It gathers all the stories I've ever encountered about the horrible events happening in Africa and puts them together as a background to real people's life.

I remember watching the movie 'Black Hawk Down' with my girlfriends because Orlando Bloom was playing there and everyone I knew had a crush on him... And here's the testimony of that very accident saw from an opposite perspective of someone my age... I can't even... 🤯*mind blown*

All I can write is that memoir is beautifully written, it's fascinating and I read it in just one day. Non-stop. Not to mention my giant book hangover after. The title is packed with cruel images and violence but without detailed description (hence YA adaptation), just enough to show the historical reality without inducing nightmares.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and feelings are my own.

Comments

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World by Elena Favilli

5 out of 5 💪Girl Power International Another tome of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls shows 100 portraits of female immigrants that made their impact on the world. I liked the variety of representation that doesn't focus on the United States and the UK. On the same note, the book shows women from both the past and the ones currently living, both young and old with all skin colors and background history. Each person is represented with a brief description, their immigration route, and a beautiful portrait - each painted by the different talented artists. I greatly admired that eclectic design idea. Overall, this is another great gift for brave young girls and women. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher Rebel Girls for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and feelings are my own.

Songbird

by Ingrid Laguna 4.5 out of 5 🌟A wonderful and emotional story about hope ‘Songbird’ is a name Jamila was called by her best friend Mina back in Baghdad, Iraq. Now she is in Australia, a new country away from her friends and family, speaking a foreign language she doesn’t fully understand. Jamila is trying hard to succeed in school and fit in among her peers despite all difficulties. Singing is her way to escape from troubles, allowing her to be happy and careless again. Jamila’s life is hardly resembling all other middle-grade stories, telling about fear, war, and longing for a missing family member whose whereabouts are unknown. Her experience shows the everyday struggle of thousands of children that often goes unnoticed by colleagues and teachers. The story was captivating and deeply emotional, I felt Jamila's pain when she struggles to communicate and was missing her loved ones abroad. My personal experience as an immigrant is very different from hers but I know ...

Queens of the Resistance: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by Brenda Jones and Krishan Trotman

4 out of 5 💪"...She's still Alex from the block 🎶" 'Queens of the Resistance' is a series of books about modern-day politicians committed to making an impact on our everyday lives. Also, to change the existing administrative model to be more inclusive and welcome for every gender and skin color. These Queens are concerned about racial justice, everyday problems of undocumented Americans, and climate change. The volume about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells the story of AOC since the very beginning, including her childhood through the first steps in politics to her plans for the future. The book is strongly biased but that something the one can guess just by the title. It made my roll my eyes ones or twice in the first chapters but the farthest in the book, the more concrete data, and stories. I enjoyed the background story of Alexandria and all the badass stuff she's done (so far!). The biggest advantage of the series is language, pure gen Z / millennial slang...

What would Ula read?

Search This Blog