Unsettled by Reem Faruqi
Published by HarperCollins on May 11, 2021
ISBN: 0063044706
Pages: 352
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Nurah, a Pakistani girl has it all. Family and friends  who love her. When her father accepts a job offer in  America, Nurah must leave all she knows. This is her story. A story of learning to settle into a new country, neighborhood, school and culture. She misses her best friend, grandparents  and struggles to fit in yet keep her identity and honor her culture.

This story is told in verse, with short chapters and divided into 9 sections that not only explore Nurah’s struggles but cover topics of domestic abuse, bullying, assimilation, racial profiling.

Author Farqui  introduces the readers to Islamic concepts and uses both  Arabic and Urdu words throughout the story which adds depth to the story. It is an authentic look at what it means to leave one life and begin a new one. It is also the story of what it means to be  Pakistani and Muslim in America.

Ms. Farqui has added back matter – glossary of Arabic and Urdu terms, an author’s note, even a recipe for kababs.

This is a fives star story ! It is  a thought provoking coming of age story that is not to be missed.

Add this to : Other Words for Home-Jasmine Warga, Kelly Yang’s Front Desk, and Hena Khan’s Amina’s Voice.

Reviewed by Kathy George

Gray Public Library, Gray, Maine