49 pages • 1 hour read
Home Is Not a Country
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Book Brief
224
Novel/Book in Verse • Fiction
United States • 1990s
2021
YA
12-18 years
NP
Super Short Summary
In Home Is Not a Country, Nima, a Muslim teenager in America, struggles with her cultural identity, feeling disconnected from her US surroundings and longing for a homeland she has never seen. With her best friend Haitham and inspired by magical realism, she explores her heritage and grapples with racism, ultimately seeking solace and belonging within her diaspora community. This book includes depictions of racism, Islamophobia, and hate crimes.
Melancholic
Nostalgic
Contemplative
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
4,907 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo is praised for its lyrical prose and evocative exploration of identity and belonging, resonating deeply with readers through its poetic style. However, some critique its pacing and abstract narrative structure. Overall, it's a poignant and thought-provoking debut that tackles complex themes with sensitivity.
Who Should Read Home Is Not a Country?
Readers who would enjoy Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo are likely drawn to poignant, lyrical explorations of identity, displacement, and belonging. Similar audiences appreciate books like The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo and Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, which also feature poetic narratives and themes of cultural identity.
4,907 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
224
Novel/Book in Verse • Fiction
United States • 1990s
2021
YA
12-18 years
NP
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