LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD “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 flowerits sweetness garlands made for pretty girlsi 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.
A mesmerizing novel in verse about family, identity, and finding yourself in the most unexpected places--for fans of The Poet X, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, and Jason Reynolds.
Nima doesn't feel understood. By her mother, who grew up far away in a different land. By her suburban town, which makes her feel too much like an outsider to fit in and not enough like an outsider to feel like that she belongs somewhere else. At least she has her childhood friend Haitham, with whom she can let her guard down and be herself.Until she doesn't.
As the ground is pulled out from under her, Nima must grapple with the phantom of a life not chosen, the name her parents didn't give her at birth: Yasmeen. But that other name, that other girl, might just be more real than Nima knows. And more hungry.And the life Nima has, the one she keeps wishing were someone else's. . .she might have to fight for it with a fierceness she never knew she had.
"Nothing short of magic...One of the best writers of our times."-- Elizabeth Acevedo, New York Times Bestselling author of The Poet X
“
Movingly unravels themes of belonging, Islamophobia, and the interlocking oppressions thrust upon immigrant women.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“
[A] surreal crash-course in perspective, agency, and self-love.”
—Booklist, starred review
“Artfully profound and
achingly beautiful, Elhillo’s verse
aptly explores diasporic yearning for one’s home and a universal fascination with possibilities.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Elhillo's
tender and descriptive writing may leave readers feeling the need to live life to the fullest…[a]
passionate, piercing YA collection of poems."
—Shelf Awareness, starred review
“A
love letter to anyone who has ever been an outsider, or searched to understand their history, no matter where they come from.”
—NPR"
Richly imagined [...] An
immersive experience of the intersectionality of gender, class, race, religion, and identity."
—The Horn Book
