Welcome to another installment of Ariel’s Arcs, today’s post is going to be about Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo. This is a story that follows Nima, a Muslim Sudanese-American who is trying to find belonging in a country that dehumanizes her, her community, and her religion. There’s several themes of generational pain, trauma, and the existential fight to belong that is perfect even for readers who don’t normally gravitate to the Young Adult genre. This book feels like a quiet walk through an art museum; while much of the wall may be blank, the art itself grips the viewer and invites meditation and thought on each work. In this way, each page, though not filled with words, uses each word with care and with meaning.
The Prose
I’ve seen this book compared to Elizabeth Acevedo’s work, and I would consider this an apt comparison. The way the words are framed on each page is intentional, and the words flow with their own embodied emotions and impact. Books like this create a sense of a quick read, but the content and the images invoked provide a meaningful reading experience that will stick with the reader for hours after finishing the book.
The Surrealism
Another really cool element is the surrealism that shows up partially through the book. Through the use of metaphor, family history, and the connections the characters make throughout their life journeys, Nima’s narrative has layers upon layers of thought, hope, reflection, and ultimately; the meaning of home.
Some content notes to be aware of: Grief, racism, islamomisia, hate crime, police violence, drowning.
Final Rating:
** Be sure to check out Home is not a country. It is out March 2, 2021! **
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me a complimentary copy of the book with a request for an honest review.
Cover Photo by bady abbas on Unsplash
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