Sunflower

Jamila #2

by Ingrid Laguna

Jamila is happy in her new home in Australia, though she still misses her old life in Iraq. She and her new best friend Eva sing side-by-side in the choir at school and have picnics together on the weekends.

One day, Jamila gets some exciting news: Mina, her oldest friend from Iraq, is coming to Australia. Jamila can’t wait to see her and introduce her to Eva. But when Mina arrives, things do not go as planned.

Jamila feels torn between her two friends, and sad that Mina isn’t the same person she remembers. Can Jamila be a true friend to Mina, and help her feel safe and happy in her new home?

Genres: Childrens

176 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2020

About the author

Ingrid Laguna is an author, teacher and Education Advisor for the Melbourne Writers Festival. Her memoir, Serenade for a Small Family (A&U) was awarded a Varuna Fellowship and, after publication, The Age Non-Fiction Book of The Week. Songbird (Text Publishing) was Ingrid’s debut children’s fiction novel, and was released in May 2019. It was given Notable recognition by the Children’s Book Council of Australia and shortlisted for Speech Pathology Australia’s Book of the Year Award 2021. It has been published in Australia, NZ, the UK and the US. The companion novel and sequel, Sunflower, was released in August, 2020 and was long listed for the ABIA. Bailey Finch Takes a Stand is Ingrid’s latest middle grade novel. She has written for numerous publications including The Monthly, The Age, Magpies Magazine and the AEU magazine.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunflower is #2 in the Jamila series by Aussie author Ingrid Laguna and I enjoyed it very much. A follow on from Songbird which saw Jamila and her family arrive in Australia from Iraq, Sunflower is set six months after their arrival with Jamila and her best friend Eva doing everything together, including singing in the school choir.

Jamila’s father had some news for her one day and it was exciting for Jamila. Mina, her long-time friend from Iraq, would be arriving in Australia with her family very soon. Jamila couldn’t wait to see her. But when Mina and her family arrived, Jamila was shocked at how thin her friend was, how drawn and pale with dark circles around her eyes. The war in Iraq was ongoing – what had Mina and her family seen to cause this change? And would Jamila’s two best friends get along once Mina met Eva?

Sunflower is a lovely story of refugees and their struggle to settle into a new country after the dreadful trauma that had been their lives in their home country. The author has worked with new migrant and refugee children for many years and both Songbird and Sunflower were inspired by these children. Recommended.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunflower is the companion novel to Songbird, and almost feels like it could have been combined into one volume. This continues Jamila's story, but moves away from focusing on Jamila fitting in, to her friendship with Eva and Mina.

Jamila struggles with how to have two best friends and include them both without always being caught in the middle. She also tries to help both of them with their own issues. Mina is suffering significant trauma from what she has experienced in Iraq, while Eva seems to be suffering from depression to do with Jamila's friendship, but also the loss of her mother some years ago.

Both of these issues are important for readers to understand, but we only just scratch the surface in this short book. I would have liked them to be explored in more detail, including how Jamila could be a good, supportive friend to them both.

[Audrey (Warped Shelves) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is based on an ARC of Sunflower which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Text Publishing).

As far as middle-grade/children's books go, this wasn't a terrible read. Sunflower is a great choice as far as being inclusive, fast, and (for the most part) light-hearted. Unfortunately, I found the story to be pretty unengaging. The pacing was a bit weird--some scenes are too drawn out and others are not nearly expounded upon enough. The characters also felt a little flat; I wish Jamila's friends had some more defining qualities, one's that come across in their words and actions. This brings me to my biggest complaint: telling, not showing. The author tells us readers what is said, what is felt, but these emotions aren't evidenced by any actions. Lastly, I felt that the climax was leaning toward melodramatic. It definitely felt forced to me.

Overall, as I said, not a terrible book. I can see lots of children enjoying Sunflower and learning from Jamila and her story. Personally, I could have done without this one.

[Saloni Porwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunflower is the sweet story of Jamila- a young Iraqi who has moved to Australia after the dangers of bombs and rifles. Six months after settling into her new home, she learns that Mina, her best friend , is coming to Iraq to. Jamila is excited to tell Mina about her life here, and introduce her to all her teachers and friends, especially Eva. But she never thought that she would be torn between two friends, both of whom she loves equally.

I picked this book up because of it's beautiful cover, and it's contents are just a good. Not only will it educate children about how life is for people in civil war prone areas, but it also gives them a little inspiration and boost in the not so 'look at that kid with nothing, they had to leave their home, their so brave and strong' way that [parents usually describe these things to their kids. I loved Laguna's general way of normalizing things with some classic relatable friendship dilemma. Jamila, Mina, and Eva's characters comprised of many traits that I remember in myself and my friends from my childhood. Living in the Gulf, I hear a lot of Arabic words on a regular basis, and while I knew what some meant, I learnt many through this quick read, so it's great for new lingo too. I think this book will be a great addition to libraries, schools, and bookstores, and I'll definitely try getting it into some in my area. Perfect read for new readers.

I got this e-ARC from NetGalley and Text Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunflower
by Ingrid Laguna
Pub Date 08 Mar 2022
Text Publishing, Text Publishing Company
Children's Fiction | Middle Grade


Jamila has found happiness in her new home in Australia, despite missing her old life in Iraq. She and her new best friend Eva sing side-by-side in the choir at school and have picnics together on the weekends. When Jamila learns her oldest friend from Iraq is coming to Australia, she can’t wait to introduce Mina to Eva.



Unfortunately when Mina arrives things do not go as planned. Jamila feels torn between her two friends, and sad that Mina isn’t the same person she remembers. Will Jamila be able to be a true friend to Mina and help her feel safe and happy in her new home?




I give Sunflower five out of five stars!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always appreciate the opportunity to read books as early readers on NetGalley.

I LOVED this book! I did not read the 1st one, but I MUST read it now. I teach in middle school and this is similar is style to A Bridge Home and A Long Walk to Water. I appreciate that the story is short but still tells the story well.

******SPOILER BELOW*****



My ONLY con is the ending conversation up in the tree. It felt a bit rushed in dialog and everything was resolved right when the girls got up there. There was such a big build up with finding Eva and it left me feeling "that's it?". BBUUTTT I still thought the ending was good and worth the read.

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series. I think I enjoyed the first book more.

In this book we are still following Jamila, who was forced to leave her home in Iraq to go to Australia for her familes safety. In the second book we follow her friendship with her new friend Eva and her old friend Mia, who finally comes to Australia as well.

It felt like the characters seemed younger in this book than the first one. I did like how the author really thought out how someone would feel if they were forced to leave their home.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of new beginnings, acceptance, and friendship, this is an easy to follow middle-grades novel. Young readers will have no trouble following the storyline even if they did not read Songbird. My only complaint is the author did quite a bit of telling, rather than showing when it came to how the characters felt.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC of this title.

[Aria Harlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book really quickly and it was a lighthearted read but that was as far as it goes. The writing style was quite hard to get into and just seemed to be all over the place and I found there to be a lot of writing that told the writer everything they needed to know rather than gently leading them there and then letting their imaginations taking over. This could be good for younger middle graders but it just wasnt for me.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet middle grade fiction about an Iraqi girl living in Australia. When her best friend from Iraq moves to Australia, how will Jamila balance her old world and her new world? Beautiful book for upper elementary shelves for sure.

[Siobhan Roulston · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
A heartwarming, realistic story about the joys and challenges of friendship.

[Ezel Kucukbas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly I feel like the first one was better but still a really nice read

[Ravenclaw Library Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunflower by Ingrid Laguna gives a new perspective on immigration that is very important. This is the second book in the Jamila series and I haven't read the first but you do not need to as this can be read as a standalone.
Sunflower flowers Jamila a young Iraqi who fled her home to Australia and her experiences. Jamila is really excited when her best friend Mina from Iraq finally arrives in Australia and as she helps Mina to integrate with her new life she inadvertently neglects Eva who has become her best friend in her new home. She soon learns how hard it is to juggle both of her best friends when they have different needs but through the course of the book with patience and understanding they learn to overcome the problems and reconcile with each other.
This is a great book which I highly recommend.

[Text Publishing]

The following reviews are shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Sunflower

‘A moving, insightful book, informed by Laguna’s long experience as a teacher of migrant and refugee children and written with great clarity and empathy.’
Magpies

'Real and honest… A poignant book about changing and growing friendships.'
Kirkus