I once was lucky enough to spend a lot of time travelling before kids and a mortgage. On one of my trips I travelled to a place called Varanasi in India. Deaths and marriages hold much significance for that holy city with outdoor funeral pyres burning constantly and mass weddings by The Ganges. I remember seeing a group of young girls in traditional red wedding dresses with stunning jewellery on arms, nose and ears.  These girls were beautiful ... but young, too young , 11-12 years old surely, small children. Their eyes were what shocked me they looked so incredibly sad, this wasnt a day of joy for them, but a life sentence to I imagined an old man that they had only just met. Being a westerner I do not understand arranged marriages. I know that these marriages can result in love eventually but the fact that the choice is taken away from woman doesnt sit well with me. 

This book is set in Pakistan but it brought back memories of what I saw in India. An easy fast read that I didnt think was particularly well written but the story is one that I imagine is happening all over the world. 

Audience: Middle Grade

Format: Audiobook

Library Copy

I watched from the window as the boys tumbled out of the brick schoolhouse across the field from us.

-first sentence

Amal loves school and her dream is to one day go to college and become a teacher. But one day, a chance encounter disrupts her life. She becomes an indentured servant to the family of her village’s corrupt landlord. Amal plans to work until she pays off her family’s debt, but when she finds out the truth, what will she do?

This story takes place in Pakistan and is meant for a middle-grade audience. Amal is a fantastic strong female character; she knows what she wants, she knows what is right, and she isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in.

I listened to the audio and the narrator, Priya Ayyar did a wonderful job. I’m counting this for “A” for the HA a-z challenge on Goodreads.

Recommended to grades 4-6.

Booktube-A-thon was great! I did not participate in a lot of sprints and I did none of the Instagram challenges this year (Pokemon Go was definitely in the way, I spent most of my time trying to catch Articuno), but I still managed to read more than I usually did, and that was my goal so I'm pleased with myself. 

I managed to finish two entire books and I am a bit less than halfway though the third one. I read a total of 815 pages, which is not that good but not too bad either. For the challenges, I managed to complete quite a lot of them, with only twoo books!

#1 – Read a book with a person on the cover: The Wrath and the Dawn (430p)  Written in the Stars V

#2 – Read a hyped book: Anna and The French Kiss V

#3 – Finish a book in one day: Saga vol 6 (152p)  Written in the Stars V

#4 – Read about a character that is different from you: Written in the stars/ Les âmes grises (280p) 

#5 – Finish a book completely outdoors: Saga vol 6 (152p)/ Three Dark Crowns 

#6 – Read a book you bought because of the cover: Written in the stars V

#7 – Finish 7 books: Journal d'hirondelle

Written in the Stars fitted many challenges so, that's great. I will definitely finish The Wrath and The Dawn, because it is realyl great so far, and then I will go on with my two currently reading books, which are The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Heir of Fire.

Thanks for reading,

Line.

I saw this book in the new release section on a website one day and decided to give it a try, honestly, just because the cover was pretty. I was not so sure what it was about, but it seemed great so I put it on my Amazon wish list, then I got it for my birthday. I read this for Booktube-A-Thon because it fitted different challenges. I read it in one day, it was so great and so captivating I could not put it down.

It was not at all what I expected. It was way better. If you are searching for a nice and beautiful book, do not read it. It is a really dark book but such an important one. I definitely recommend this.

This book is about Naila, a girl from Pakistan who lives in the US with her family. Her parents let her choose many things, but they won’t let her choose who she dates (= her husband). Naila is in love with Saif, who is also from Pakistan but there is a scandal surrounding his family and Naila’s parents do not agree with their daughter dating him (or dating anyone in that matter). They then decide to fly to Pakistan to visit their family because they think Naila lost herself. Naila enjoys Pakistan, she finds it great to learn a new way of life, to meet her family and she is having a great time. But she wants to go back home because she misses Saif and her friends.

Things will not go as plan during these holidays in Pakistan and Naila is trapped, scared and she cannot believe what her parents did to her, even if they keep on saying it is for her own good.

Naila’s story is not unusual, and I loved every page of it. The beginning of the book is so light, I was expecting a book with some teenage drama, but it was not the case at all. It was so dark and so hard to read. I was feeling more and more anxious, and trapped just like Naila. It was scary and made me open me eyes about this reality I’m not familiar with.

There was also the question of the parents, are they so bad? Is it a “cultural thing’? Could forced marriage be justified by a culture? Really, I’m not so sure about it. In my opinion, nothing can justify what they did and what is still done every day in some regions of the world. But who are we to judge and to make decisions for other people? It is actually what they do, making decision for other, because they think it is best. Aren’t we doing the same thing? It is a bit confusing and a really hard and complex question. Naila’s relationship with her parents was contentious because of this and you can’t just not hate them for what they did. However, they think they are doing what’s best for their daughter…

I definitely recommend reading this book, it will raise many questions in your hear, I’m sure of it.