Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing) Violence: PG13 (sexual assault attempt)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
16yo Samira has an unearned bad reputation. When she was younger, a boy she knew bragged a lie, and now adults and others in her community believe the worst. She's not yet even kissed a boy, but who she's with, and what she's wearing are reported to her mother, who doesn't believe Samira. So she's closely watched. Samira is a poet, and wants to go to college and New York where her life can be different. She meets a poet "Horus" online, and although he's much older she agrees to meet him IRL when he comes to D.C. for a reading.
I love that Samira's story was told in verse, although I know they aren't for everyone. Samira is young and naive, but trying to break free of the strict rules of her culture, so it's no wonder she gets caught up in the excitement of this older man. Considering the topic, I was pleasantly surprised that the story is told without swears or adult content. Elhillo has woven the Persephone myth throughout which was genius. Oh, I loved this so much. Highly recommended.
Samira is Sudanese, many of her friends attend Arabic school with her.
Lisa Librarian
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