Starred review from November 20, 2023
Sixteen-year-old Samira has never kissed a boy, let alone done any of the things her former crush claims they did. Still, rumors spread like wildfire throughout her tight-knit Sudanese community. Now labeled a “bad girl,” her strict mother upends Samira’s vision of a perfect summer by placing her on indefinite house arrest, the monotony of which is only broken by Samira’s attending a teen poetry workshop that her aunt drives her to and from. When social media posts of her classmates enjoying the summer and the distance between her and her mother become too much, Samira looks to an online poetry message board for connection. There, she meets an older, magnetic poet named Horus. For the first time, someone is complimenting her poetry—and her. But as their relationship develops, Samira is forced to keep secrets that jeopardize her reputation, her relationships, and herself. In perceptive verse, Elhillo (Home Is Not a Country) navigates hard-hitting topics such as grooming, predation, and sex shaming. Samira’s journey of self-discovery—and the external forces trying to dim her light—are sensitively and richly wrought, culminating in both a mesmerizing verse novel and a gripping exploration of the hyper-policing of Black girls’ bodies and sexuality. Ages 12–up. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary.
Starred review from December 15, 2023
A teen poet in Washington, D.C., becomes entangled with an older man as she tries to break free from her mother's expectations. Sixteen-year-old Sudanese American Samira Abdullahi has long had a tarnished reputation within her ever watchful community. She continually challenges her strict mother's rules, yearning for the freedom to express herself: "i want the world, / all of it, & it is on the other side / of our front door, outside my mother's / house &, it seems, outside my mother's love." Samira's defiance leads to her being grounded for the summer, save for the poetry workshop her aunt already paid for. Bored, she connects with Horus on an online poetry forum; he initially appears kind and attentive, providing the affection she craves--but over time, his controlling tendencies surface, and Samira neglects her other relationships. Through the poetry workshop, however, Samira forms new connections, discovers her own identity as a poet, and finally sees Horus clearly. Elhillo masterfully portrays the universal theme of na�ve first romance, including the potential for exploitation in moments of vulnerability, through the perspective of a girl who's grounded in the Sudanese diaspora. Notably, the intricate relationship between Samira and her mother is authentic, highlighting the complex connections between immigrant mothers and their daughters. The poems eloquently convey Samira's experiences, making the novel relatable to readers whether or not they've faced similar challenges. A stunning work that deeply explores poetry, the complexities of identity, and the longing for love. (Verse fiction. 13-18)
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Starred review from January 1, 2024
Grades 8-12 *Starred Review* Samira is used to rumors. She's spent her life surrounded by them in her close-knit Sudanese community. There, reputation is everything, and Samira just wants to be a normal teenager. When Samira's mother gets a hold of an incriminating photo, Samira finds herself grounded for the summer, cut off from her friends and her summer plans. When Samira starts to post her poetry online, she meets a man whose insidious charm causes her to spiral down a path of deception and heartbreak. Elhillo's novel is written in a combination of poetry, texts, and internet exchanges, a form that changes as Samira herself evolves. The clever integration of the Persephone myth highlights the inherent danger of girls coming of age in a world where women are often still seen as commodities. Samira's journey throughout the novel is one of haunting self-discovery. The reader learns, along with Samira, that there is a necessity to community and family, even when those institutions themselves are flawed. In particular, we are able to see the viscerally honest rendering of the changing relationship between Samira and her mother. Elhillo has created more than a cautionary tale. Much like the tale of Persephone's abduction, she has crafted a story that contains misery, but, at its very core, harbors hope.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
March 1, 2024
Sixteen-year-old Samira feels restricted by the watchful eyes of her tight-knit Sudanese American community, especially those of her protective mother. The community has labeled her a "bad girl" because of a false rumor that a boy started years ago. Now, while trying to sneak out to a party with friends, Samira is caught by her mom and grounded. Forbidden from leaving the house, she turns to an online poetry forum to stay connected. She begins chatting with an older poet, Horus, with whom she quickly finds herself falling in love. She begins to question him, though, when he pretends her poem is his. Through vivid free-verse poetry, text messages, and emails, Elhillo (Home Is Not a Country, rev. 7/21) creates a realistic picture of a teenage girl trying to push against unfair perceptions. She also highlights the fears of parents who are trying to raise children in a foreign country. In addition, the book offers a glimpse into the world of poetry and how young artists may be manipulated by older ones. Readers will appreciate the believable portrayal of a teen who is dealing with complex issues of family, friendship, and romantic love. Nicholl Denice Montgomery
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 19, 2024
Gr 8 Up-Set in Washington, D.C., Elhillo's novel depicts the story of a Sudanese American teen who is coming of age in what appears to be an unforgiving world. Samira's life unfolds as she reveals her reputational ruin from one young man's lies and how it impacts her development as a young Sudanese woman. Growing up in a multigenerational family shaped by Sudanese cultural standards of duty and community, Samira seeks to survive by carving out her own sense of identity through the use of poetry. A supportive aunt stands in the wings; a doting mother and a small kaleidoscope of allies flutter about to protect as Samira tastes the bright, red fruit of life. This is a cautionary tale, if ever, juxtaposed with snippets of the life of Persephone, the Greek goddess through which a revelation of the changing seasons came to pass. Samira's story unfurls her passage into womanhood through her own voice, wavering, childlike, insecure yet told through vivid, moving lines in verse. VERDICT Told through emails, letters, and poetry in its many forms, Samira's story becomes one to remember. For YA collections. -Mitzi Mack
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2024
Sixteen-year-old Samira feels restricted by the watchful eyes of her tight-knit Sudanese American community, especially those of her protective mother. The community has labeled her a "bad girl" because of a false rumor that a boy started years ago. Now, while trying to sneak out to a party with friends, Samira is caught by her mom and grounded. Forbidden from leaving the house, she turns to an online poetry forum to stay connected. She begins chatting with an older poet, Horus, with whom she quickly finds herself falling in love. She begins to question him, though, when he pretends her poem is his. Through vivid free-verse poetry, text messages, and emails, Elhillo (Home Is Not a Country, rev. 7/21) creates a realistic picture of a teenage girl trying to push against unfair perceptions. She also highlights the fears of parents who are trying to raise children in a foreign country. In addition, the book offers a glimpse into the world of poetry and how young artists may be manipulated by older ones. Readers will appreciate the believable portrayal of a teen who is dealing with complex issues of family, friendship, and romantic love.
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)