Unsettled

Nurah and her family move from Karachi, Pakistan to Peachtree City, Georgia, leaving beloved grandparents behind. Does a beautiful job capturing how hard that transition is, and how much friendships and strong interests can smooth the way -- both Nurah and her brother are ardent swimmers. Deals with some violence against Muslims, a little bit with domestic abuse, and miscarriage, in addition to fear/hate/bullying and standing up as a bystander. Strong messages, great characters. Based off many of the author's experiences when she made a similar move.

Nurah's baba gets a job in America, and their family moves from Pakistan to Peachtree City, Georgia. Settling in is difficult; Nurah misses her grandparents and her best friend from home, as well as the feeling of fitting in at school and elsewhere. But she makes one friend at school, Stahr, and they both join the swim team at the community pool, along with Nurah's older brother Owais, who is always the best swimmer. Nurah navigates her new life, making missteps, learning, and growing. Stahr reveals that her father is violent, and Nurah's mother helps Stahr's mother leave him; Nurah's mother has a miscarriage, and Stahr's mother empathizes (she had four herself). When Nurah's jealousy of Owais' swimming prowess causes her to be silent show more when she should have spoken up, she takes it as a lesson to speak up when she knows she should - including to a classmate of hers who makes fun of her grandmother when Dadi, who has Alzheimer's, tries to pay with rupees.

This beautiful novel in verse is an immigration story and a coming of age tale that celebrates family, friendship, swimming, and art. See also: Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga, Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Quotes

When I have a brush
in my hand,
or a pencil,
my insides breathe. (25)

I am tired of being told
I talk too much
or I talk too little. (129)

Why can't I just
blend,
like everyone else? (130)

In water
I want to stand out.
But on land
I want to blend in. (131)

Because isn't it easier
to be angry
than sad? (142)

At times, I don't
understand the moods
of my heart. (143)

In math there's only one correct answer
which I like
but in art there is no wrong answer
which I love. (219)

Maybe I need to get rid
of all my old
and bad choices
to make space
for new ones? (262)

...but now
I care
what I think. (275) show less

APakistani girl’s life is uprooted when her family immigrates to the United States, where she struggles to fit in and remain true to herself.

Nurah is a 13-year-old girl living happily in Pakistan: She loves hanging out with her family and her best friend, but her favorite thing to do is swim. Everything changes when Nurah learns her father has accepted a job in America. While missing Karachi, they try to adjust to their new surroundings in Georgia, but learning to speak, dress, and act differently takes its toll on the family. Nurah and her older brother, Owais, find some happiness at the community pool. Although Nurah makes a friend in fellow swimmer Stahr, she becomes jealous of Owais, who has been more easily able to fit in and win show more swim meets. When a tragic incident befalls him—in part due to her jealousy—Nurah learns it’s better to stand up and stand out as who you are than try to conform. Faruqi’s use of free verse will captivate readers with its metaphors that emphasize feelings and details of daily life. Middle schoolers who struggle with fitting in will resonate with the story while also receiving a glimpse into the lives of a Pakistani immigrant family. Qureshi’s floral and paisley spot art and illustrations of hands with henna designs add delicate beauty.

Lyrical. Hopeful. Poignant. (family tree, author’s note, glossary, recipe) (Verse novel. 10-13)

-Kirkus Review show less

"A coming of age story exploring family, immigration, and most of all learning to belong. This empowering story will resonate with people who have struggled to both fit in and stay true to themselves".
Nurah's father gets a job in America, and the family moves there from Pakistan to Peachtree, Georgia for job security and better schools. Nurah misses her grandparents back home. She feels "lost". She eats lunch alone in the school stairwell. The recreation center swimming pool is her only comfort. She thinks of it as her "blue cocoon" where she practices for the swim team. But she also meets Stahr, a new friend.

Things are not a lot better for the family as a whole. The family has to deal with a miscarriage, a visit from the FBI after a show more terrorist attack, the beating of Owais, her older brother. In an accessible voice, Nurah relates this story of difference, loneliness, and ultimately hope and resilience.

Overall, the story relates some strong messages, some great characters. I thought it was interesting that the author based this story on the many of her own experiences when she had to make a similar move. show less

"A Pakistani girl’s life is uprooted when her family immigrates to the United States, where she struggles to fit in and remain true to herself.

Nurah is a 13-year-old girl living happily in Pakistan: She loves hanging out with her family and her best friend, but her favorite thing to do is swim. Everything changes when Nurah learns her father has accepted a job in America. While missing Karachi, they try to adjust to their new surroundings in Georgia, but learning to speak, dress, and act differently takes its toll on the family. Nurah and her older brother, Owais, find some happiness at the community pool. Although Nurah makes a friend in fellow swimmer Stahr, she becomes jealous of Owais, who has been more easily able to fit in and show more win swim meets. When a tragic incident befalls him—in part due to her jealousy—Nurah learns it’s better to stand up and stand out as who you are than try to conform. Faruqi’s use of free verse will captivate readers with its metaphors that emphasize feelings and details of daily life. Middle schoolers who struggle with fitting in will resonate with the story while also receiving a glimpse into the lives of a Pakistani immigrant family. Qureshi’s floral and paisley spot art and illustrations of hands with henna designs add delicate beauty.

Lyrical. Hopeful. Poignant. (family tree, author’s note, glossary, recipe) (Verse novel. 10-13)" www.kirkusreviews.com, A Kirkus Starred Review show less

Lovely and lyrical, I listened to this title about 13 year old Nurah and her family.
It is her immigration story, from Pakistan to Georgia, told in verse and was a quick middle grade listen.

It is full of emotions -- loss of the people and family left behind, sadness of a grandmother experiencing memory loss, isolation at a new school, newness of US school and burgeoning friendships, motivations to excel in sports, expressing oneself through art, fitting in and standing tall.

Nurah's father gets a job in America and the family moves there from Pakistan for the job security and better schools. Nurah misses her grandparents back home and eats alone in the school stairwell at lunchtime. The recreation center swimming pool is her comfort, her blue cocoon where she practices for the swim team. She also meets Stahr, a new friend. Other events roil the family: a miscarriage, a visit from the FBI after a terrorist attack, the beating of Owais, her older brother. In an accessible voice, Nurah relates a story of difference, loneliness, and ultimately hope and resilience. A good companion to "Other Words for Home" by Jasmine Warga.