Love Letters to Poetry | Reflection on OTHER WORDS FOR HOME

National Poetry Month
Written By Reem Faruqi

I love this novel in verse Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga.

I was halfway writing Unsettled and gave up 1,000,000 tries and this book gave me the final boost I needed to complete my manuscript. It was so heartwarming to see a character wear hijab here and describe it so beautifully.

In this verse, the main character Jude has just worn her hijab to school and her teacher Mrs. Ravenswood is one of the only Americans who doesn’t act suspicious of her headscarf. Instead, she compliments her.

Her compliment reminds Jude of the Arabic proverb about feeling like a loaf of freshly baked bread. These words evoke lightness and deliciousness.

This verse also encourages me to reflect on who helps you rise? Who are your nicest, kindest people? I love that Jude talks about her teacher here!

Reem Faruqi

Reem Faruqi is the award-winning children’s book author of Lailah’s Lunchbox, a book based on her own experiences as a young Muslim girl immigrating to the United States. She’s also the author of Amira’s Picture Day, I Can Help, Milloo’s Mind, Anisa’s International Day, and three middle grade novels in verse, Unsettled, Golden Girl, and Call Me Adnan, many of which received starred reviews. After surviving Atlanta traffic and the school drop off, Reem spends her days trying to write, but instead gets distracted easily by her camera and buttery sunlight. Reem Faruqi lives in Atlanta with her husband and three daughters. You can find her at www.ReemFaruqi.com or on Instagram or Twitter.

https://reemfaruqi.com/
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