Title: All My Rage
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Publisher: Penguin
Publication date: March 1, 2022
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Summary
Salahudin and Noor have been friends for a long time. Both outcases in their small California town, they’re naturally drawn together. More like family than friends. But a fight has caused them to drift apart, just when they might need each other the most.
As Sal’s mom’s health fails, he takes desperate measures in order to save the motel that was her life’s dream. But with his father back to drinking and Noor not talking to him, things start to spiral out of Sal’s control. And Noor might just get caught in the crossfire. Which could ruin her dreams of getting into college. If her uncle doesn’t ruin those dreams first. Sal and Noor will need to learn how to trust each other again in order to move forward.
Review: All My Rage
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an advanced copy of this to review! One of my most anticipated releases of the year, I’m so happy this lived up to my expectations. It’s not always an easy book to read, but it definitely is a necessary one. And one that fills a bit of a hole in young adult literature.
I believe this is loosely based on Tahir’s own life, and you can feel it in the emotions that fill the pages. Something we knew from An Ember in the Ashes, Tahir is an expert at writing emotion, and at writing characters you care about. That’s something that shines through this book. Sal and Noor have great chemistry, even when they’re not talking. Giving us snippers of Sal’s mom’s story also adds to the history and the context of their story.
This book also deals with a lot of tough issues, racism, immigration, sexual assault, drug dealing. However, it doesn’t feel like there’s too much going on in one book, which can sometimes happen. All of these issues in this story are interelated, and through her characters, Tahir shows how that’s true. It’s a story that feels realistic and shows things that many teens deal with on a daily basis.
Even though this is different from Tahir’s fantasy series, you find a lot of the same elements of hope, family, and love. It’s a strongly crafted book, all emotions and all.
5/5 stars