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Unsettled
A stirring, hopeful immigration story of Nurah and her family, who move from Karachi, Pakistan, to Peachtree City, Georgia, from Reem Faruqi, ALA Notable author of the award-winning picture book Lailah’s Lunchbox. Powerful and charming, Other Words for Home meets Front Desk in this debut middle grade novel in verse about finding your footing in a new world.
From Pakistan to Peachtree City—Nurah’s stirring story of finding your place.
When Nurah’s family moves from Karachi, Pakistan, to Peachtree City, Georgia, all she really wants is to blend in, but she stands out for all the wrong reasons. Nurah’s accent, floral-print kurtas, and tea-colored skin make her feel excluded, and she’s left to eat lunch alone under the stairwell, until she meets Stahr at swimming tryouts. Stahr covers her body when in the water, just like Nurah, but for very different reasons.
But in the water Nurah doesn’t want to blend in: She wants to stand out. She wants to win medals like her star athlete brother, Owais—who is going through struggles of his own in America—yet when sibling rivalry gets in the way, she makes a split-second decision of betrayal that changes their fates.
As Nurah slowly begins to sprout wings in the form of strong swimming arms, she gradually gains the courage to stand up to bullies, fight for what she believes in, and find her place.
From Pakistan to Peachtree City—Nurah’s stirring story of finding your place.
When Nurah’s family moves from Karachi, Pakistan, to Peachtree City, Georgia, all she really wants is to blend in, but she stands out for all the wrong reasons. Nurah’s accent, floral-print kurtas, and tea-colored skin make her feel excluded, and she’s left to eat lunch alone under the stairwell, until she meets Stahr at swimming tryouts. Stahr covers her body when in the water, just like Nurah, but for very different reasons.
But in the water Nurah doesn’t want to blend in: She wants to stand out. She wants to win medals like her star athlete brother, Owais—who is going through struggles of his own in America—yet when sibling rivalry gets in the way, she makes a split-second decision of betrayal that changes their fates.
As Nurah slowly begins to sprout wings in the form of strong swimming arms, she gradually gains the courage to stand up to bullies, fight for what she believes in, and find her place.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2021
80 people are currently reading
8718 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
December 17, 2022
"...but they forget that
we can hear
much more
than they think."
A book about an immigrant family from Pakistan to the US,
A book in verse which is told from the perspective of Nurah, a thirteen year old girl, who's trying to find a way to fit in and spread her wings in a totally new place.
A story which deals with the struggles including bullying, the pain of being separated away from home and the people we have been with all our lives, culture shock, identity, culture and gender discrimination, domestic violence.
Hoping to read more from the author.
we can hear
much more
than they think."
A book about an immigrant family from Pakistan to the US,
A book in verse which is told from the perspective of Nurah, a thirteen year old girl, who's trying to find a way to fit in and spread her wings in a totally new place.
A story which deals with the struggles including bullying, the pain of being separated away from home and the people we have been with all our lives, culture shock, identity, culture and gender discrimination, domestic violence.
Hoping to read more from the author.
Want to read
October 25, 2020October 24, 2020: I am a little sad to be hearing about this book right now because IT SOUNDS SO CUTE and I should've already been hyping it up!!!
January 25, 2021
Thank you Edelweiss+ and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
5 stars!!! What an absolutely beautiful story. This novel in verse comes out in May 2021, and is perfect for fans of stories like Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga.
Nurah and her family live in Pakistan, but her father finds work in the States and decides to move the family for job security and better schooling. Nurah doesn't want to leave her grandparents, friends, or the life as she knows it. Although she already speak English, she feels like she stands out because of the way she dresses and the color of her skin. She joins the swim team at school, where she desperately wants to prove herself, but is always in the shadow of her athletic brother, Owais. Adjusting to life in the US is challenging for each member of her family in different ways, but like the stages of plant life referenced in the headings of the parts of the book, Nurah eventually finds a way to bloom in new soil.
This is one of the most poetic and beautifully written novels in verse I've read. I wrote down so many quotes that jumped out at me with vivid language. I loved not only the nature imagery, but also the way she describes skin colors. I'm amazed at how much the author was able to communicate with such few words, and the story moves very quickly because of the format. It's inspired by many of the author's real life experiences immigrating to the US, and the feelings ring true and honest. I loved watching Nurah grow, enduring challenges and disappointments, but continuing to develop into her own unique person.
Although I read the book in eARC form, the illustrations inside the book are absolutely beautiful. Soumbal Qureshi did the cover design, and I believe she was responsible for the artwork throughout the novel, which truly makes this book a work of art.
I highly recommend this story, and think it would be a wonderful read aloud for middle grade classrooms.
5 stars!!! What an absolutely beautiful story. This novel in verse comes out in May 2021, and is perfect for fans of stories like Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga.
Nurah and her family live in Pakistan, but her father finds work in the States and decides to move the family for job security and better schooling. Nurah doesn't want to leave her grandparents, friends, or the life as she knows it. Although she already speak English, she feels like she stands out because of the way she dresses and the color of her skin. She joins the swim team at school, where she desperately wants to prove herself, but is always in the shadow of her athletic brother, Owais. Adjusting to life in the US is challenging for each member of her family in different ways, but like the stages of plant life referenced in the headings of the parts of the book, Nurah eventually finds a way to bloom in new soil.
This is one of the most poetic and beautifully written novels in verse I've read. I wrote down so many quotes that jumped out at me with vivid language. I loved not only the nature imagery, but also the way she describes skin colors. I'm amazed at how much the author was able to communicate with such few words, and the story moves very quickly because of the format. It's inspired by many of the author's real life experiences immigrating to the US, and the feelings ring true and honest. I loved watching Nurah grow, enduring challenges and disappointments, but continuing to develop into her own unique person.
Although I read the book in eARC form, the illustrations inside the book are absolutely beautiful. Soumbal Qureshi did the cover design, and I believe she was responsible for the artwork throughout the novel, which truly makes this book a work of art.
I highly recommend this story, and think it would be a wonderful read aloud for middle grade classrooms.
January 6, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! This story is presented in such a beautiful way. Short poetic glimpses, each telling us about Nurah. Incredibly gorgeous writing leads us through the feelings and experiences of a young girl immigrating from Pakistan to the United States. Just a beyond lovely reading experience. This is one I will preorder for myself. Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 28, 2022
There’s just something about a Middle Grade novel in verse. This is an absolutely beautiful story about a young girl and her family moving from Pakistan to the United States. It’s about making friends, standing up to bullies, the ways her family changes, her culture, growing up, and so much more. I definitely recommend checking this book out even if you don’t typically read books in verse or Middle Grade books.
June 4, 2021
I loved it !
Very wholesome, and the muslim representation was perfect
"Quick
wipe the counters,
Quick
wash the dishes,
Quick
vacuum the crumbs.
But why?
We wonder.
Because we don’t want the plumber
to think Muslims are dirty!
Ammi’s hands pause from washing
and find their way
to her hips.
The air puffs my hair,
floats it,
as I sigh.
The plumber comes
and goes
and he does not take
off his shoes,
leaving red footprints
of Georgia clay
on the white carpet.
And we are the ones
worried
about
dirt?"
If you liked it you should definitely read Other Words for Home
Very wholesome, and the muslim representation was perfect
"Quick
wipe the counters,
Quick
wash the dishes,
Quick
vacuum the crumbs.
But why?
We wonder.
Because we don’t want the plumber
to think Muslims are dirty!
Ammi’s hands pause from washing
and find their way
to her hips.
The air puffs my hair,
floats it,
as I sigh.
The plumber comes
and goes
and he does not take
off his shoes,
leaving red footprints
of Georgia clay
on the white carpet.
And we are the ones
worried
about
dirt?"
If you liked it you should definitely read Other Words for Home
June 23, 2021
Absolutely loved this novel-in-verse. Faruqi's prose is lyrical and beautiful. In the cadence and choice of words in each verse, she evokes feelings of belonging, separation, and identity. It was such a wonderful and heartwarming read, I cannot recommend this book enough! I finished it in a day!
April 26, 2021
Richie’s Picks: UNSETTLED by Reem Faruqi, HarperCollins, May 2021, 352p., ISBN: 978-0-06-304470-8
“When President Joe Biden rescinded former President Donald Trump’s ban on immigrant visas from many Muslim-majority countries on his very first day in office, those eagerly awaiting the change were elated...But Biden’s reversal of one of Trump’s signature actions hasn’t resulted in a flood of airport reunions or any quick changes...as...more than 40,000 application...denied due to the bans...are included in what’s become a tremendous immigrant visa backlog.”
-- MSNBC, 3/20/21
“Oh, imagine yourself in a building
Up in flames, being told to stand still
The window’s wide open, this leap is on faith
You don’t know who will catch you, but maybe somebody will.”
-- Sara Bareilles, “A Safe Place to Land” (2019)
“Which Land Is Mine?
In Peachtree City, Georgia,
the trees touch the sky
and the air smells different.
The water tastes different too.
The wind is pure
and free
from exhaust.
Yet the sidewalks are empty.
The roads have only cars.
In Karachi, Pakistan,
the trees are shorter
like me.
The air has whiffs of exhaust
and mango juice is plentiful.
Rickshaws sputter on the roads.
A donkey here or there.
Scooters everywhere.
Sellers of every kind
selling
coconuts
birds in cages
balloons
towels.
They all
gather on the road.
Different melodies
all at once.
Even though their lives
are hard,
they seem free.
Yet America with
its pure air
and people stuck inside
all day
is known as
the land of the free.
Pakistan with
its free people everywhere
and dirty air
is known as
the land of the pure.”
Thirteen-year-old Nurah Haqq is a swimmer, an artist, a math aficionado, and a little sister. When Nurah’s father receives a job offer, their family of four says goodbye to the grandparents in Pakistan, and relocates to Peachtree, Georgia. In this story-in-verse of uprooting and finding one’s place in America, the author employs a gardening metaphor to organize the tale into nine parts: Uprooting, Replanting, Water, Planting Seeds, Sprouting, Rot, Budding, Wilting, and Flowering.
Nurah’s observations and reactions to her early experiences in America include her making friends with the cleaning women at the hotel in which her family initially stay; bullying and worse by her peers; making friends at school; her mother’s suffering a miscarriage; revelations regarding a friend’s abusive father; the supportiveness of a nurturing art teacher; and Nurah’s struggle to excell on a swim team
.
Author Reem Faruqi has drawn upon her own childhood experiences and struggles as a Muslim immigrant to tell Nurah’s story. UNSETTLED, Nurah’s reaction to life in America, has a nice balance: The issues Nurah encounters are well-probed and thought-provoking,, yet the story will be readily accessible to third- and fourth-grade readers.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
“When President Joe Biden rescinded former President Donald Trump’s ban on immigrant visas from many Muslim-majority countries on his very first day in office, those eagerly awaiting the change were elated...But Biden’s reversal of one of Trump’s signature actions hasn’t resulted in a flood of airport reunions or any quick changes...as...more than 40,000 application...denied due to the bans...are included in what’s become a tremendous immigrant visa backlog.”
-- MSNBC, 3/20/21
“Oh, imagine yourself in a building
Up in flames, being told to stand still
The window’s wide open, this leap is on faith
You don’t know who will catch you, but maybe somebody will.”
-- Sara Bareilles, “A Safe Place to Land” (2019)
“Which Land Is Mine?
In Peachtree City, Georgia,
the trees touch the sky
and the air smells different.
The water tastes different too.
The wind is pure
and free
from exhaust.
Yet the sidewalks are empty.
The roads have only cars.
In Karachi, Pakistan,
the trees are shorter
like me.
The air has whiffs of exhaust
and mango juice is plentiful.
Rickshaws sputter on the roads.
A donkey here or there.
Scooters everywhere.
Sellers of every kind
selling
coconuts
birds in cages
balloons
towels.
They all
gather on the road.
Different melodies
all at once.
Even though their lives
are hard,
they seem free.
Yet America with
its pure air
and people stuck inside
all day
is known as
the land of the free.
Pakistan with
its free people everywhere
and dirty air
is known as
the land of the pure.”
Thirteen-year-old Nurah Haqq is a swimmer, an artist, a math aficionado, and a little sister. When Nurah’s father receives a job offer, their family of four says goodbye to the grandparents in Pakistan, and relocates to Peachtree, Georgia. In this story-in-verse of uprooting and finding one’s place in America, the author employs a gardening metaphor to organize the tale into nine parts: Uprooting, Replanting, Water, Planting Seeds, Sprouting, Rot, Budding, Wilting, and Flowering.
Nurah’s observations and reactions to her early experiences in America include her making friends with the cleaning women at the hotel in which her family initially stay; bullying and worse by her peers; making friends at school; her mother’s suffering a miscarriage; revelations regarding a friend’s abusive father; the supportiveness of a nurturing art teacher; and Nurah’s struggle to excell on a swim team
.
Author Reem Faruqi has drawn upon her own childhood experiences and struggles as a Muslim immigrant to tell Nurah’s story. UNSETTLED, Nurah’s reaction to life in America, has a nice balance: The issues Nurah encounters are well-probed and thought-provoking,, yet the story will be readily accessible to third- and fourth-grade readers.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
December 30, 2020
This is one of those stories that sits with you long after you finish reading.
Readers will be captivated by Faruqi's poetic verse and find themselves immersed in Nurah Haqq's life as she navigates life in Peachtree City Georgia. A place that is so different from Karachi, Pakistan. This story offers an authentic and real look at the challenges immigrants face, the hardships, disappointments, and joys. The verse makes this story accessible to a larger audience. Grades 4-7
This beautiful, lyrical story about ones identify and belonging is perfect for fans of A Thousand Questions and Other Words For Home. Five stars for me and must have for school libraries.
Readers will be captivated by Faruqi's poetic verse and find themselves immersed in Nurah Haqq's life as she navigates life in Peachtree City Georgia. A place that is so different from Karachi, Pakistan. This story offers an authentic and real look at the challenges immigrants face, the hardships, disappointments, and joys. The verse makes this story accessible to a larger audience. Grades 4-7
This beautiful, lyrical story about ones identify and belonging is perfect for fans of A Thousand Questions and Other Words For Home. Five stars for me and must have for school libraries.
July 17, 2022
tw / bullying, islamophobia, racism (micro aggressions included)
rep - muslim pakistani immigrants to the usa
reem's authors notes at the beginning and at the end are great additions and make you understand the book if you are not familiar to these experiences and lifestyle.
we follow nurah a young muslim pakistani girl who has no other choice but to leave her country after her father's working in the usa. she finds herself in another environment with people very much different from her where she is the muslim brown foreigner. she goes through a lot, as many immigrants (and second generation) have.
set in the usa we explore the racism and islamophobia that are very much settled there, especially after 9/11.
i will make sure to read reem's other books !
another book i recommend :
other words for home by jasmine warga.
listened to unsettled on scribd.
rep - muslim pakistani immigrants to the usa
reem's authors notes at the beginning and at the end are great additions and make you understand the book if you are not familiar to these experiences and lifestyle.
we follow nurah a young muslim pakistani girl who has no other choice but to leave her country after her father's working in the usa. she finds herself in another environment with people very much different from her where she is the muslim brown foreigner. she goes through a lot, as many immigrants (and second generation) have.
set in the usa we explore the racism and islamophobia that are very much settled there, especially after 9/11.
i will make sure to read reem's other books !
another book i recommend :
other words for home by jasmine warga.
listened to unsettled on scribd.
September 7, 2021
Nurah Haqq is a young Muslim girl who has left Karachi, Pakistan to start a new life in Peachtree City, GA. As she tries to come to terms with her new surroundings she finds that her older brother (Owais) is much more popular than she is because of his good looks, charisma and the medals and trophies he wins as the best swimmer on the swim team. Issues of gender, identity, betrayal, bullying, anger, fear, religion, friendship and sadness are examined in flowing free verse that is both beautiful and tinged with sadness.
December 14, 2020
Disclaimer: I got this ARC on @NetGalley.
This is a book I wish I had when I was younger and I think it's perfect for fans of Once Upon an Eid! It touches on what it's like to be the new kid and to be a Muslim kid which isn't something I've seen a lot of so I absolutely love that about Unsettled. If you've got a kid in MS or you enjoy reading Middle-Grade books then I highly recommend adding this one to your shelves!
This is a book I wish I had when I was younger and I think it's perfect for fans of Once Upon an Eid! It touches on what it's like to be the new kid and to be a Muslim kid which isn't something I've seen a lot of so I absolutely love that about Unsettled. If you've got a kid in MS or you enjoy reading Middle-Grade books then I highly recommend adding this one to your shelves!
May 13, 2021
Nurah and her family lives in Pakistan while her father works in the US, but that changes when he decides it's time to relocate the family in favor of more opportunities. Nurah doesn’t want to leave the life she knows in Pakistan.
Even though Nurah speaks English, she still stands out because of her accent, her skin color, and her floral-print kurtas. Nurah joins the swim team to prove herself, but she always finds herself in the shadow of her athletic brother, Owais. As Nurah settles into swimming, she begins to embrace her differences and life inside and outside of the pool.
Told in verse, this is an incredible coming of age story that sheds light on the struggles of being an immigrant in a new land and the push-pull between cultures. Faruqi does not shy away from the racism and Islamophobia that so many Muslims face.
Nurah is such a fantastic character, and I loved her friendship with Stahr. I think one of the lessons that stuck with me is the importance of inviting someone to have lunch with you because that small gesture can help end loneliness and isolation for so many.
Thank you to HarperKids for my review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Even though Nurah speaks English, she still stands out because of her accent, her skin color, and her floral-print kurtas. Nurah joins the swim team to prove herself, but she always finds herself in the shadow of her athletic brother, Owais. As Nurah settles into swimming, she begins to embrace her differences and life inside and outside of the pool.
Told in verse, this is an incredible coming of age story that sheds light on the struggles of being an immigrant in a new land and the push-pull between cultures. Faruqi does not shy away from the racism and Islamophobia that so many Muslims face.
Nurah is such a fantastic character, and I loved her friendship with Stahr. I think one of the lessons that stuck with me is the importance of inviting someone to have lunch with you because that small gesture can help end loneliness and isolation for so many.
Thank you to HarperKids for my review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
June 2, 2021
Absolutely stunning middle grade novel in verse!
With the hope of new opportunity, Nurah’s father makes the decision to move her family from Karachi, Pakistan to Peachtree City, Georgia. Nurah is torn between wanting to blend in with her new surroundings at school and in her community and wanting to stand out as a member of the swim team and stand up to those who bully.
The story is told in nine sections with themes tied to gardening (Uprooting, Replanting, Water, Planting Seeds, Sprouting, Rot, Budding, Wilting, Flowering). Nurah voice is one of passion and strength, and readers will love watching Nurah gain courage, fight for what she believes in, and ultimately find her place.
Although the novel is fictional, the author drew on her own life experiences in writing Nurah’s story. Don’t miss the author’s note, glossary, and recipe at the end.
Out now - highly recommend!
With the hope of new opportunity, Nurah’s father makes the decision to move her family from Karachi, Pakistan to Peachtree City, Georgia. Nurah is torn between wanting to blend in with her new surroundings at school and in her community and wanting to stand out as a member of the swim team and stand up to those who bully.
The story is told in nine sections with themes tied to gardening (Uprooting, Replanting, Water, Planting Seeds, Sprouting, Rot, Budding, Wilting, Flowering). Nurah voice is one of passion and strength, and readers will love watching Nurah gain courage, fight for what she believes in, and ultimately find her place.
Although the novel is fictional, the author drew on her own life experiences in writing Nurah’s story. Don’t miss the author’s note, glossary, and recipe at the end.
Out now - highly recommend!
December 31, 2021
This book was just incredible. Reem Faruqi draws on her own experiences to create the story of Nurah, the brave and courageous 13 year old girl who moves from Pakistan to Georgia for her father’s new job. This story is riddled with beautiful and poetic illustrations of the pain, beauty, heartache, and hope of transition and change. Of learning to stand up and stand out and find your voice. Of loving who you are and who you are becoming. It is written in free verse and I think that makes it all the more moving—crafting so much depth in so few words.
In the beginning, Reem leaves a note to the reader that says: “in one chapter, Nurah’s teacher tells her ‘Welcome to my memory.’ Reader, I can’t wait for you to welcome Nurah to yours.”
Reem and Nurah, welcome to my memory. Thank you for sharing your story.
In the beginning, Reem leaves a note to the reader that says: “in one chapter, Nurah’s teacher tells her ‘Welcome to my memory.’ Reader, I can’t wait for you to welcome Nurah to yours.”
Reem and Nurah, welcome to my memory. Thank you for sharing your story.
August 18, 2021
Many times when I read books in verse, I find myself speeding through, the power that verse has to convey so much love, pain, and passion is incredible. This story of a girl that moves with her family from Pakistan to a town in Georgia literally took my breath away several times. I would be reading along, feeling the pace of life and thought and then BAM, such heaviness, I would have to stop and process. Process the pain that sometimes just existing in our own bodies can be. Nurah's voice is at once relatable and provides insight to world I know little about. A wonderful middle grade read about change and choice and what a difference all of us can make in the lives of others, both good and bad.
February 27, 2022
4.5 / 5 stars
Unsettled is a middle grade book told in verse.
The book is divided into 9 parts.
The narrator is 13 year old Nurah. Her family moves from Pakistan to the US. And it shows us what she had to go through arriving in a new country and being Muslim.
The book is a very quick read and is easy to follow. And it tells a meaningful story.
I loved Nurah. I liked how she liked math. I liked how art was used in the book. And I really liked how much swimming was featured.
This was such an original way to tell a story. I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it.
Thanks to edelweiss and HarperCollins for allowing me to read this book.
Unsettled is a middle grade book told in verse.
The book is divided into 9 parts.
The narrator is 13 year old Nurah. Her family moves from Pakistan to the US. And it shows us what she had to go through arriving in a new country and being Muslim.
The book is a very quick read and is easy to follow. And it tells a meaningful story.
I loved Nurah. I liked how she liked math. I liked how art was used in the book. And I really liked how much swimming was featured.
This was such an original way to tell a story. I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it.
Thanks to edelweiss and HarperCollins for allowing me to read this book.
December 28, 2020
This book is a great OWN voice, middle grade coming of age book that rings with truth and hope in its poetic lines that sweep you up and keep you cheering. Over 352 pages the author's semi-autobiographic story of coming to Peachtree City, Georgia from Karachi, Pakistan beautifully unfolds. I absolutely loved this book and the way it is told, in verse. The details, often small, ring with such sincerity that even those that have never moved to a new country, or been to a new school will feel for young Nurah Haqq and be inspired by her success, touched by her hardships, and disappointed in her mistakes.
SYNOPSIS:
Nurah's best day is spent on the beach with her best friend Asna, playing in the warm waves and riding camels. However it ends up also being her worst day, when she returns home to her father's news that they are moving to America. Strong, confident Nurah who spends time with her grandparents, swimming with her older brother Owais, and excelling at math in school is reluctantly leaving it all behind to start anew.
When they arrive in Georgia the family of four settles in a hotel until they find a house. Everything is different and new, and the transition with no friends and family difficult for the entire family. The way words are pronounced, the way the air feels and the birds chirp all make Nurah long for home. When they find a swimming pool at the rec center, things start to slowly change. Owais was a medal winner in Karachi, and will be one here too, people start admiring him, and Nurah tries to bask in his light.
School starts and math is a relief, but people are white, so white, and a boy reaches out to shake her hand. She feels betrayed that she has been told the schools in America are better, and lunchtime, with no one to sit by is a huge stress. She questions her clothing, her appearance, and the weather.
Her and Owais try out for the swim team and make it, and Nurah makes her first friend, Stahr. Stahr lives a few houses down from their new house and when Nurah's mom has a miscarriage, it is Stahr's mom who comes to show support and give comfort. The support is reciprocated when Stahr and her mom need help escaping from her abusive father.
As Nurah works to win swimming races and be more like her brother, she works to find her voice and use it to defend others and herself. A terrorist attack committed by someone claiming to be Muslim sets the family up to be targets. In a moment of jealousy, Nurah doesn't intervene to help her brother and the consequences are huge.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I love the details and how they are articulated. I related to so much of Nurah's feeling and impressions, that I reached out to the author and found her to be just as endearing as her character. The feeling of being different when swimming because of your decision to be modest, the role of food to comfort you and make you feel at home, the older brother that you so desperately want to resemble and be like: All of it hit close to home for me. I love how religion and culture are so much a part of the story and about the character's identity, not to be made preachy, just to understand her and her experiences. She goes to the masjid, she prays, she starts to wear hijab. I love how she finds her voice and defends those that can't, but that her path is not easy. She makes mistakes and she has to challenge herself to do what is right. The backdrop is always trying to "settle" in a new place, but the story has it's own plot points that are interesting and simply made more impactful by Nurah's unique perspective.
There are lots of little climaxes and victories for Nurah that show her to be well-rounded and relatable. You cheer for her early on and enjoy the journey. The only slight hiccup I felt was the name confusion of her Nana and Nani (Nana), it is explained, but it was a little rocky for me, it might be based on a real thing in her family, but once that is resolved, the book flows beautifully and smoothly.
FLAGS:
Nothing a 3rd/4th grader would find alarming, but none-the-less:
Crushes: Nurah has a crush on a boy at school when he shakes her hand and picks her for a lab partner, but she moves on from him while still maintaining a crush on her brother's friend Junaid. Nothing happens, she just thinks they are cute.
Miscarriage: Her mother has a miscarriage and it details a blighted ovum and the mental strain on the mom and family in the aftermath.
Abuse: Stahr's father is abusive
Hate: There are bullies, discrimination, physical violence.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
The book is a little below level for my middle school book club, but I think it it was on a bookshelf and a middle schooler picked it up, they wouldn't set it down until they were done reading it.
SYNOPSIS:
Nurah's best day is spent on the beach with her best friend Asna, playing in the warm waves and riding camels. However it ends up also being her worst day, when she returns home to her father's news that they are moving to America. Strong, confident Nurah who spends time with her grandparents, swimming with her older brother Owais, and excelling at math in school is reluctantly leaving it all behind to start anew.
When they arrive in Georgia the family of four settles in a hotel until they find a house. Everything is different and new, and the transition with no friends and family difficult for the entire family. The way words are pronounced, the way the air feels and the birds chirp all make Nurah long for home. When they find a swimming pool at the rec center, things start to slowly change. Owais was a medal winner in Karachi, and will be one here too, people start admiring him, and Nurah tries to bask in his light.
School starts and math is a relief, but people are white, so white, and a boy reaches out to shake her hand. She feels betrayed that she has been told the schools in America are better, and lunchtime, with no one to sit by is a huge stress. She questions her clothing, her appearance, and the weather.
Her and Owais try out for the swim team and make it, and Nurah makes her first friend, Stahr. Stahr lives a few houses down from their new house and when Nurah's mom has a miscarriage, it is Stahr's mom who comes to show support and give comfort. The support is reciprocated when Stahr and her mom need help escaping from her abusive father.
As Nurah works to win swimming races and be more like her brother, she works to find her voice and use it to defend others and herself. A terrorist attack committed by someone claiming to be Muslim sets the family up to be targets. In a moment of jealousy, Nurah doesn't intervene to help her brother and the consequences are huge.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I love the details and how they are articulated. I related to so much of Nurah's feeling and impressions, that I reached out to the author and found her to be just as endearing as her character. The feeling of being different when swimming because of your decision to be modest, the role of food to comfort you and make you feel at home, the older brother that you so desperately want to resemble and be like: All of it hit close to home for me. I love how religion and culture are so much a part of the story and about the character's identity, not to be made preachy, just to understand her and her experiences. She goes to the masjid, she prays, she starts to wear hijab. I love how she finds her voice and defends those that can't, but that her path is not easy. She makes mistakes and she has to challenge herself to do what is right. The backdrop is always trying to "settle" in a new place, but the story has it's own plot points that are interesting and simply made more impactful by Nurah's unique perspective.
There are lots of little climaxes and victories for Nurah that show her to be well-rounded and relatable. You cheer for her early on and enjoy the journey. The only slight hiccup I felt was the name confusion of her Nana and Nani (Nana), it is explained, but it was a little rocky for me, it might be based on a real thing in her family, but once that is resolved, the book flows beautifully and smoothly.
FLAGS:
Nothing a 3rd/4th grader would find alarming, but none-the-less:
Crushes: Nurah has a crush on a boy at school when he shakes her hand and picks her for a lab partner, but she moves on from him while still maintaining a crush on her brother's friend Junaid. Nothing happens, she just thinks they are cute.
Miscarriage: Her mother has a miscarriage and it details a blighted ovum and the mental strain on the mom and family in the aftermath.
Abuse: Stahr's father is abusive
Hate: There are bullies, discrimination, physical violence.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
The book is a little below level for my middle school book club, but I think it it was on a bookshelf and a middle schooler picked it up, they wouldn't set it down until they were done reading it.
June 14, 2021
I feel like I should give this book three stars for its coverage of important issues, but I want to rate this the same way that I would rate any other poorly constructed free verse novel, without giving it extra credit just because it is based on the author's experience as a Muslim immigrant. I respect her desire to share parts of her story with the world, but I am rating this book as a literary experience and a middle grade read, not based on my appreciation for the topic.
I found this book frustrating as a literary experience because even though the minimalism of free verse sometimes suited a challenging topic within the text, the writing often lacked rhythm and just seemed like simple sentences broken up with lots of white space. I typically don't care for free verse, but done well, like in Full Cicada Moon or Red, White, and Whole, it can be part of the story and an integral aspect of the whole experience. Here, the style choices rarely seemed artful, and typically just read as choppy, broken-up text. It was a fast read, but I would much rather have invested more time in something that felt more complete and better written.
Secondly, I have reservations about this book as a middle grade novel. The author attempts to address a dizzying array of different issues, such immigration, anti-Muslim prejudice, a grandmother with Alzheimer's, casual racism, school friendships and early interest in boys, family dynamics and sibling rivalry, a violent assault, miscarriage and subsequent pregnancy, and off-page domestic violence in a friend's home. These are all important issues, but a single book can't adequately address all of them, especially when it's in a free verse format. This made the coverage seem very shallow, and I think this could be overwhelming for a sensitive reader.
When I was in the target audience, I had a hard time with books that threw a lot of different tragic or traumatic things at the reader all at once, without taking the time to fully explore them or give the reader a chance to process them before something else happens. For me as an adult, this book just seemed shallow, surface-level, and like a juggler tossing way too many spinning plates into the air, but it could be emotionally overwhelming for a sensitive kid who isn't very aware of these issues and is struggling to deal with the concepts, or who would find them personally triggering.
The biggest offender here is the violent assault. It happens to the girl's brother abruptly and under strange circumstances, and it's never fully explained to the reader exactly what happened. I believe this is because the girl's family tried to shelter her from the specific details, but the reader has no chance for processing or catharsis, because it's pretty much swept under the rug, and all of the attempts to show the brother's silence around the house or trauma experiences don't really work, because you don't know exactly what happened, what took place in the aftermath, or what he is thinking and feeling. It's one of way too many subplots that the author has spinning, and often gets pushed aside for more chipper, choppy free verse about school.
Since this incredibly serious, traumatic incident doesn't get the attention it is due, I think the author should have left it out of the novel entirely. Overall, I found this book frustrating and disappointing, and even though other people have enjoyed it and will enjoy it, it is not something that I will personally recommend or promote, and I especially would not recommend it to a highly sensitive or younger elementary reader who would not be prepared to process the inadequately addressed traumatic events that take place in this story.
I found this book frustrating as a literary experience because even though the minimalism of free verse sometimes suited a challenging topic within the text, the writing often lacked rhythm and just seemed like simple sentences broken up with lots of white space. I typically don't care for free verse, but done well, like in Full Cicada Moon or Red, White, and Whole, it can be part of the story and an integral aspect of the whole experience. Here, the style choices rarely seemed artful, and typically just read as choppy, broken-up text. It was a fast read, but I would much rather have invested more time in something that felt more complete and better written.
Secondly, I have reservations about this book as a middle grade novel. The author attempts to address a dizzying array of different issues, such immigration, anti-Muslim prejudice, a grandmother with Alzheimer's, casual racism, school friendships and early interest in boys, family dynamics and sibling rivalry, a violent assault, miscarriage and subsequent pregnancy, and off-page domestic violence in a friend's home. These are all important issues, but a single book can't adequately address all of them, especially when it's in a free verse format. This made the coverage seem very shallow, and I think this could be overwhelming for a sensitive reader.
When I was in the target audience, I had a hard time with books that threw a lot of different tragic or traumatic things at the reader all at once, without taking the time to fully explore them or give the reader a chance to process them before something else happens. For me as an adult, this book just seemed shallow, surface-level, and like a juggler tossing way too many spinning plates into the air, but it could be emotionally overwhelming for a sensitive kid who isn't very aware of these issues and is struggling to deal with the concepts, or who would find them personally triggering.
The biggest offender here is the violent assault. It happens to the girl's brother abruptly and under strange circumstances, and it's never fully explained to the reader exactly what happened. I believe this is because the girl's family tried to shelter her from the specific details, but the reader has no chance for processing or catharsis, because it's pretty much swept under the rug, and all of the attempts to show the brother's silence around the house or trauma experiences don't really work, because you don't know exactly what happened, what took place in the aftermath, or what he is thinking and feeling. It's one of way too many subplots that the author has spinning, and often gets pushed aside for more chipper, choppy free verse about school.
Since this incredibly serious, traumatic incident doesn't get the attention it is due, I think the author should have left it out of the novel entirely. Overall, I found this book frustrating and disappointing, and even though other people have enjoyed it and will enjoy it, it is not something that I will personally recommend or promote, and I especially would not recommend it to a highly sensitive or younger elementary reader who would not be prepared to process the inadequately addressed traumatic events that take place in this story.
December 21, 2020
I’ll be honest, when I first downloaded this eARC to review I was suprised to see how poetic it was. I mean I know it was poetic but for some reason I wasn’t expecting this style. Although it threw me a little at the beginning, it took no time at all to get lost in this book and the way the words flow, a river of words dancing over the pages. Gah it’s beautiful. Such a wonderful book you’ve created here Reem!
I think the choice in style is really clever, i think it pulls you in, in a way that a regular fiction couldnt. We don’t have any books in our bookshelf or kindles written in this way so it was a very pleasant change!
The story follows a young girls move, with her family, from Pakistan to America.
From learning about the move, to discovering herself in a new place, settling in, making new friends and relationships around her.
It also touches on Nurrah’s challenges with racism and islamophobia.
I think the choice in style is really clever, i think it pulls you in, in a way that a regular fiction couldnt. We don’t have any books in our bookshelf or kindles written in this way so it was a very pleasant change!
The story follows a young girls move, with her family, from Pakistan to America.
From learning about the move, to discovering herself in a new place, settling in, making new friends and relationships around her.
It also touches on Nurrah’s challenges with racism and islamophobia.
March 20, 2022
4.75 ✨
Moving, beautiful, simplistic
For Nurah, leaving her home and moving to the US means rec center pools, lab partners, and Skype with Nana and Nana Abu. But most of all it means new experiences; good, like swimming with Owais, and bad, like who to sit with at lunch…
I love Faruqi’s poetic writing style and the simple but deep metaphors. Also, Nurah is a great character who is just so real! I enjoyed the pace and messages woven in. 🧡
Moving, beautiful, simplistic
For Nurah, leaving her home and moving to the US means rec center pools, lab partners, and Skype with Nana and Nana Abu. But most of all it means new experiences; good, like swimming with Owais, and bad, like who to sit with at lunch…
I love Faruqi’s poetic writing style and the simple but deep metaphors. Also, Nurah is a great character who is just so real! I enjoyed the pace and messages woven in. 🧡
May 9, 2021
Unsettled blew me away! I LOVED the lyrical novel in verse. Nurah tells all the pieces of the story with such vivid authenticity. Comes together to paint a vibrant scene of a new immigrant’s struggles and triumphs, and finding her voice.
August 22, 2021
My 11-year old granddaughter and my daughter both loved this book and shared it with me. I loved it too. It touched my heart. It was beautifully written in verse form - a quick read but full of feeling. Nurah and her family leave everything they know to move from Pakistan to America. New country, new customs, new foods, new smells, new school, . . . I am amazed by how many different topics were raised that could be discussed in a family or in a classroom or between friends. I hope my granddaughter will be one, like Nurah, to discover who she is. I hope she and I will both be ones who look to see who is marginalized and say those 8 life-changing words: "Do you want to eat lunch with me?"
May 11, 2021
Moving to a new neighborhood is hard, but moving halfway around the world can be overwhelming. At first, everything in Georgia seems different. Nurah is different. The one place where Nurah and Owais feel comfortable is the pool. Dipping into the blue, they can almost feel at peace.
Written in verse, Unsettled is a fast moving, compelling read. Some chapters are a few pages, others a few sentences. Author Reem Faruqi takes advantage of the sparse language, allowing the spaces and silences to say as much as the words. The simplicity is eloquent and moving.
Nurah is a lovely character. Throughout the book, she learns her own heart, her own hopes, her own talents. Nurah finds her voice, and begins to discover who she wants to become.
Unsettled is a warm read that offers themes of empowerment, belonging and self-discovery.
Written in verse, Unsettled is a fast moving, compelling read. Some chapters are a few pages, others a few sentences. Author Reem Faruqi takes advantage of the sparse language, allowing the spaces and silences to say as much as the words. The simplicity is eloquent and moving.
Nurah is a lovely character. Throughout the book, she learns her own heart, her own hopes, her own talents. Nurah finds her voice, and begins to discover who she wants to become.
Unsettled is a warm read that offers themes of empowerment, belonging and self-discovery.
April 12, 2021
I read Reem Faruqi's UNSETTLED in a single sitting, unwilling to take myself out of this gorgeous story and its stunning poetry. Nurah's story manages to be both heartbreaking and inspiring. Young readers will absolutely love her. They will hurt for her as she navigates a new and sometimes painful world with grace, bravery, and wisdom. I wish I could quote from an ARC, because there are so many beautiful passages just waiting to be dog-eared. Highly recommend. Many thanks to the author and Harper Collins Children's for the advanced copy.
June 4, 2021
People certainly do contain multitudes, and Nurah experiences and faces a multitude of emotions and experiences in this book. This book in verse portrays these emotions succinctly yet deeply and delicately portrays immigration, Alzheimer’s, sibling jealousy, violence, miscarriage, and racism while following Nurah’s journey. Such a powerful read.
May 21, 2021
It is a wholesome and heartwarming tale of Nurah whose family immigrated to the USA from Pakistan. I loved the way author covered her whole story and change in life in form of poetry. I totally loved the book and the way every emotion was caught is just AWESOME.
May 25, 2021
The hype is real!
The writing , the story , and the characters. All 5 stars !
The writing , the story , and the characters. All 5 stars !
August 12, 2021
If you know me, you know I have a soft spot for books written in verse. They're soft, they're poetic, and they can hit right in the feels.
Unsettled by Reem Faruqi was such a delight to read because it deals with a theme close to home to me and so many Muslims/Middle Easterners. At heart, it's the story of a young girl navigating between her home before immigration and her home after she goes to America.
Even though this book is targeted towards younger readers, it was an absolute delight to read. I could very much sympathize with Nurah in various instances.
Without giving anything away, Nurah's story is shaped with her swimming fascination, and with the element of water. I absolutely loved the nods to nature, water, flowers, and more. Even though Nurah is the protagonist here, this is very much the story of her brother's and parents' too.
Honestly, kudos to the author for such a great Muslim representation. I appreciate this book wholeheartedly and want more people to read it.
4.5/5
Unsettled by Reem Faruqi was such a delight to read because it deals with a theme close to home to me and so many Muslims/Middle Easterners. At heart, it's the story of a young girl navigating between her home before immigration and her home after she goes to America.
Even though this book is targeted towards younger readers, it was an absolute delight to read. I could very much sympathize with Nurah in various instances.
Without giving anything away, Nurah's story is shaped with her swimming fascination, and with the element of water. I absolutely loved the nods to nature, water, flowers, and more. Even though Nurah is the protagonist here, this is very much the story of her brother's and parents' too.
Honestly, kudos to the author for such a great Muslim representation. I appreciate this book wholeheartedly and want more people to read it.
4.5/5
May 14, 2021
2.5 ⭐
This was one of those cases that it's not as if the story, characters and message that it's trying to portrait is badly developed or something like that. This is one of those cases that I couldn't get used to the writing style and the way that the author projected her verses to structure her poems.
Overall, it was an enjoyable and fast read.
This was one of those cases that it's not as if the story, characters and message that it's trying to portrait is badly developed or something like that. This is one of those cases that I couldn't get used to the writing style and the way that the author projected her verses to structure her poems.
Overall, it was an enjoyable and fast read.
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