CW: Domestic abuse, alcoholism, mention of honour killings, anxiety, bullying, mental health issues

“One day I will change the world. Not only for my younger sister and my daughter, but for all women. I will lay the foundations and change the world.”

Well that was a painful and emotional but ultimately empowering verse novel.

I think the author did a remarkable job of drawing Readers into the story. When the main characters hurt so did I, when they were made to feel small I cried, and when they raged I was right there with them raising my fist. I think having multiple women narrate the story was amazing because we saw the generational differences in the ways the women thought and felt about their place within their community, and their expectations for the future. It also looks at the cultural clashes that can occur when first generation children grow up in society vastly different from that of their parents. I liked the dichotomy between the ‘father’ and the ‘respected community leader’. Through this the author really shone a light on how certain unacceptable behaviours can be hidden from public view. From my understanding this is an own voice story so I again feel privileged to have had a glimpse into a culture different to my own. An emotional story about abused women who rise and rebel.

Note: I think this needs to be read as opposed to listened to as I suspect there are some visual text elements that are part of the storytelling as is often the case in free verse novels.

4.5 Stars ( )