Other Words for Home
Recommended Ages: 9-12
“She cannot give what she does not have” – Arabic proverb (129).
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga is a middle school novel told in verse and separated into six parts. The idea for this novel developed from a dinner Warga once attended at a family friend’s home that included extended family members who had come from Syria. Warga’s own father is from Jordan, so the voice of immigrant children is certainly close to her.
In this particular story, Jude, the main character, is twelve years old living in Syria with her mother, father, and older brother, Issa. Her father runs a market ideal for tourists and her older brother is finding his own voice and standing up against the Syrian injustice, much to the fear and trepidation of her parents. Meanwhile, Jude is caught in a world and time in which she doesn’t fully understand. She is between childhood and womanhood. In Syria she spends most of her time with her dear friend Fatima who she has known since she was a baby. Nevertheless, things are happening around her that she doesn’t fully understand. The animosity between her father and brother gets to be so much that Issa moves out and shortly after has his home raided at one point while Jude is visiting. This event strikes fear into Jude’s mother and ultimately prompts the leaving of Jude and her mother to America to stay with her maternal uncle and his family. Jude is excited for the move to America as she has enjoyed what she has known of American movie and music culture up until this point; however, there is also fear of the unknown and what will happen to those she is leaving behind. Additionally, Jude’s mother is pregnant, so that adds another element and dynamic to the story.
Once arriving in America to Cincinnati, Jude and her mother meet her Uncle, her aunt Michelle, and her cousin Sarah. Jude’s expectations vary greatly from her reality and there is much to take in – fancy clothing, big cars, perfect English, a large home and much more. The remainder of the story is Jude adjusting to life in America as she takes ESL classes, makes friends, tries to befriend her cousin, participate in the school play (despite encouragement against it), and much more, all while missing her father, fearing for her brother, and worrying about her coming sister. Overall, I think this novel presents a perspective that one does not often find in middle school literature. It allows readers a window into the struggles of immigrant children and allows for compassion and perspective in that regard.
Nevertheless, below is a collection of various scenes or incidents that some parents may wish to know about in order to be prepared to discuss with their reader if need be.
Not long into the book, Jude laments that she is still waiting to bleed between her legs (an obvious reference to beginning menstruation) as the women in her culture begin to cover their heads as a rite of passage. Later in the novel, Jude does begin in her period and begins to cover her head. Unfortunately, she is met with dirty looks and a woman who shouts at her that she doesn’t need to wear it. While to some in America, it is seen as a sign of oppression, it is clear that what is perceived and what is reality is different. For Jude, there is excitement and joy in covering her head – a sign she is becoming a woman. Sadly, in America that is a loss of respect for and understanding of the importance of rites of passage. Warga did a nice job presenting the cultural perspective in this regard (8, 187, 225, 227, 235).
There are a lot of mentions in the early pages of Fatima, Jude, and Issa watching American movies – particularly those with Julia Roberts, Sanda Bullock, and Reese Witherspoon (Pretty Woman, Miss Congeniality, and Legally Blonde). The children would reenact scenes as well as sing hits from Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey. There are mentions of Issa singing the songs as well at the top of his lungs (15).
On page 22, there is the mention of two movies Issa and Jude are not to watch: Practical Magic and Pretty Woman because of the witches and prostitutes.
There is an awkward mention given the characteristics presented of Issa up until this point that states “Issa says he wants to live in a country where/ anyone can be/ anyone/ they want to be./ I don’t understand what my brother means/ when he says this./ I wish I understood exactly what my brother/ wants to be” (26). The book never goes on to explain what he wants to be. It seems very awkward and out of place, unless Warga is using this language in order to hint at something else.
There is a funny mention when Jude doesn’t understand why her aunt in bragging about her house being old. In Jude’s mind, you would want something new. Her mother responds, “Americans don’t have much history/ so they like things they think are old” (74).
There is a mention of TV shows watched with her cousin. One in particular about teenagers who are trying to figure out who murdered one of their classmates (77). There is also a mention of all the kissing that is on this show and Jude begins to wonder if you cousin has been kissed (78).
When Jude and her mother find out that her mother is having a girl, there is a sweet description of how the sound of the heartbeat is a miracle (182). This novel definitely holds a value for life from the youngest unborn life to that of Issa who is fighting for a better Syria.
There is a mention about the difficulty of finding a monologue where actresses are not being constantly interrupted by men (211). This was certainly an interesting observation, if true, that I’ve never noticed. This could be an interesting point of conversation with your reader.
As the main characters are Arabic, they do hold to the Muslim religion, mom attends a local mosque and eventually gets her brother to begin attending again. There are also mentions like “Allah would want us to have faith” (218). For readers of different faith backgrounds, this could be a good opportunity for discussion.
The school play is Beauty and the Beast. There is a moment where Jude’s cousin criticizes her role in the play and says “Plumette is supposed to be sexy./ I don’t think they will let you wear that/ during the musical” (242 -243). This comment bothered me as a reader – I don’t like the idea of young girls and young readers having the idea that something they do or the way they behave to be sexy. That is certainly not something they should be exposed to or encouraged in. On page 284 Jude mentions about her character “I am not flirty and confident in the way she is,/ but I try to pretend to be.”
On page 258 there is a mention of being open to the universe.
Mentionable quotes:
“Mama hugs me/ and I hold her back./ Sometimes all you can do is/ hold on.” (164).
In thinking about Issa, Jude says “I am imagining him,/ imagining and wishing/ and hoping/ that he is safe./ Hoping,/ I’m starting to think,/ might be the bravest thing a person can do.” (173).
Layla, Jude’s friend, is trying to discourage Jude from trying out for the play – trying to help her be “realistic.” Jude responds about how there is much she is dealing with – leaving home, her brother currently missing in a war zone, etc – but that she is choosing not be afraid. She says “I’m choosing not to be afraid” (205). This is a good role model/ example for students to face their fears and realize that is a choice to let it control you. This would likewise be a good moment to discuss with your children. Was Layla being a good friend in this instance?
When faced with the nervousness of auditions, Jude says “But then I think about all the other people,/ all the other people who are in this room right now/ for the exact same reason,/ and realize my want,/ my dream,/ is as big and real/ and valid as theirs” (222).
“It takes me a while to process this,/ that what Layla is saying is that Americans/ think it’s normal/ for there to be violence/ in places where/ people like me are from,/ where people like me/ and people who look like me/ live” (271).
Overall, I think this book lends an important voice to immigrant children. There is one thing I did not like in the author’s note and would caution about or at least strongly encourage a conversation with your reader about is the generalized statement Warga makes at the end. In thinking about Syria in 2016, she had lots of questions and she says that “[t]hese questions scared [her].” She goes on to write “They made me confront things that I had long ago buried within me—knowledge of prejudice against Arabs and Arab Americans, Islamophobia, and America’s often cool indifference to the suffering of brown people” (335). If you are anything like me, this comment seems to align with a critical mood that seeks to generalize people and seems a rather unfair characterization.
