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The Stories Grandma Forgot
'One of those books that truly makes the world a better place.' Sophie Anderson, author of the House with Chicken Legs
From acclaimed poet Nadine Aisha Jassat comes a gripping mystery... "Grandma Farida is losing her memory - but I'm going to help her remember a huge secret."
Twelve-year-old Nyla's dad died when she was four, or that's what she's been told. So when Grandma Farida insists she saw him in the supermarket, Nyla wonders if she is 'time-travelling' again - the phrase she uses when Grandma forgets.
But when Grandma asks Nyla to find her dad and bring him home, Nyla promises that she will.
As Nyla sets out on her journey, she hopes that uncovering the past will help her to understand the mystery at the heart of her family ... and to work out who she is.
A page-turning verse novel about memory and identity, and a bond that soars above all else.
'A beautiful read about love, family, identity and worth.' Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
'A tender story about the meaning of life and love and loss.' Katya Balen, author of October, October
From acclaimed poet Nadine Aisha Jassat comes a gripping mystery... "Grandma Farida is losing her memory - but I'm going to help her remember a huge secret."
Twelve-year-old Nyla's dad died when she was four, or that's what she's been told. So when Grandma Farida insists she saw him in the supermarket, Nyla wonders if she is 'time-travelling' again - the phrase she uses when Grandma forgets.
But when Grandma asks Nyla to find her dad and bring him home, Nyla promises that she will.
As Nyla sets out on her journey, she hopes that uncovering the past will help her to understand the mystery at the heart of her family ... and to work out who she is.
A page-turning verse novel about memory and identity, and a bond that soars above all else.
'A beautiful read about love, family, identity and worth.' Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
'A tender story about the meaning of life and love and loss.' Katya Balen, author of October, October
Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2023
8 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Nadine Aisha Jassat
13 books28 followersNadine Aisha Jassat is the author of poetry collection Let Me Tell You This, described by Nikita Gill (The Girl and The Goddess) as 'beautifully written, immense and full of passion'. She is the author of two middle-grade mystery novels in verse: The Stories Grandma Forgot (And How I Found Them) described by Sophie Anderson (The House With Chicken Legs) as ‘one of those books that truly makes the world a better place,' and The Hidden Story of Estie Noor, described by Maisie Chan (Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths) as a ‘warm hug of a book', where 'finding the power of telling your own story is central to this joyful tale of kindness and community.’
Nadine has taught and performed internationally and across media, including BBC Scotland’s The Big Scottish Book Club and Author’s Live. She has been published widely, and features in popular anthologies such as Picador’s It’s Not About the Burqa (Shortlisted for Foyles Non-Fiction Book of the Year), Polygon’s The People’s City, and Bloodaxe's Staying Human. Her work has drawn significant acclaim, with her writing for adults shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award, a Herald Scottish Culture Award for Outstanding Literature, and winning a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award; and her writing for children longlisted for a UKLA Book Award, shortlisted for an Alexandra Palace Book Award, and more.
Nadine lives in Scotland, and grew up in the North of England with a Yorkshire mum and Zimbabwean Dad. She is of mixed heritage; a heritage which can only be told in stories.
Nadine has taught and performed internationally and across media, including BBC Scotland’s The Big Scottish Book Club and Author’s Live. She has been published widely, and features in popular anthologies such as Picador’s It’s Not About the Burqa (Shortlisted for Foyles Non-Fiction Book of the Year), Polygon’s The People’s City, and Bloodaxe's Staying Human. Her work has drawn significant acclaim, with her writing for adults shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award, a Herald Scottish Culture Award for Outstanding Literature, and winning a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award; and her writing for children longlisted for a UKLA Book Award, shortlisted for an Alexandra Palace Book Award, and more.
Nadine lives in Scotland, and grew up in the North of England with a Yorkshire mum and Zimbabwean Dad. She is of mixed heritage; a heritage which can only be told in stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
May 25, 2023
In a Nutshell: A novel-in-verse. More of a mystery than what I had expected from the title. Nevertheless, a solid read for middle graders, with a strong theme of self-identity, racism, bullying, friendship and family.
Story Synopsis:
First things first. I am not a poetry person, and thus, I read this novel-in-verse as if it were prose than poetry. I am sure poetry lovers will enjoy the rhythmic approach more, but for those who are like me, reading the book as simple prose doesn’t affect the understanding or enjoyment in any way.
Bookish Yays:
✔ A fast-paced plot, courtesy the story that comes only through free verse. (At least, I think it is free verse. I am not a reliable judge of contemporary poetry patterns.) The poetic elements will work well even if children read the book as a regular story. The vocabulary level is also perfect for middle graders.
✔ A courageous lead character in Nyla, who takes time to come into her own, but does so with aplomb.
✔ Many wonderful secondary characters, especially Jess who is a one-of-a-kind girl with her ambitions and her loyalty, and Ms. Haldi the librarian who is exactly as librarians ought to be.
✔ The love between Nyla and her grandmother. It pained me to see a little girl as her ailing grandmother’s caretaker but the whole depiction was so realistic that they both won me over.
✔ The bittersweet depiction of Alzheimer’s without going over the top. I loved the equivalence of Alzheimer’s with time travel. It’s a great way of making kids understand the disease without feeling overwhelmed.
✔ Racism and how it affects children, especially those from mixed races who are neither here nor there.
✔ Many pages use special formatting effects on some part of the verses, thereby enhancing their impact. (This of course is best experienced in the physical copy.)
Bookish Nays:
⚠ The title made me assume that the focus would be more on storytelling interactions between the grandmother and her granddaughter. But the focus of the plot was more on the mystery of whether and whom Grandma saw in the supermarket, and on Nyla’s attempts to figure out a secret from her past. The role of storytelling isn’t the highlight, unlike what was promised.
⚠ In the course of her quest, Nyla takes some questionable decisions. I am not too fond of middle-grade books that encourage reckless behaviour without any reprimand or guilt forthcoming in later chapters.
⚠ The reason why so many adults kept so many secrets from Nyla wasn’t convincing to me. The mysterious parts appear forced because of this odd tendency of not revealing even relatively minor facts. The revelations hence didn’t appeal much to me.
All in all, I expected a more nostalgic kind of a plot with storytelling strengthening the bond between an ailing grandmother and her grandchild. But the book ended up more like a mystery-adventure. That said, the book also serves partially as a coming-of-age work, with Nyla learning how to stand up for herself in the face of bullying and racism.
Recommended to middle-grade readers, though the content will also work for older readers because of the themes. At the same time, the story covers some tough topics such as parental death, racist behaviour, bullying, and Alzheimer’s; do keep these in mind if picking it up for a sensitive child.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Hachette Children's Group and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them)”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Nyla, a mixed race child, lives a life focussed on those around her. Her loving but busy single mom—who works double shifts to support their family, her beloved grandmother—who has Alzheimer’s, and her best friend Jess—who has acting ambitions, are the key people in her life.
Nyla has always been told that her father passed away when she was four. But when her grandma insists that she saw him in the local supermarket, Nyla wonders if Grandma was right or was it her disease creating trouble again.
As Nyla decides to investigate her grandma’s claim, she also hopes to discover more about her mixed identity and where she fits in this world with its preset notions about race.
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Nyla.
First things first. I am not a poetry person, and thus, I read this novel-in-verse as if it were prose than poetry. I am sure poetry lovers will enjoy the rhythmic approach more, but for those who are like me, reading the book as simple prose doesn’t affect the understanding or enjoyment in any way.
Bookish Yays:
✔ A fast-paced plot, courtesy the story that comes only through free verse. (At least, I think it is free verse. I am not a reliable judge of contemporary poetry patterns.) The poetic elements will work well even if children read the book as a regular story. The vocabulary level is also perfect for middle graders.
✔ A courageous lead character in Nyla, who takes time to come into her own, but does so with aplomb.
✔ Many wonderful secondary characters, especially Jess who is a one-of-a-kind girl with her ambitions and her loyalty, and Ms. Haldi the librarian who is exactly as librarians ought to be.
✔ The love between Nyla and her grandmother. It pained me to see a little girl as her ailing grandmother’s caretaker but the whole depiction was so realistic that they both won me over.
✔ The bittersweet depiction of Alzheimer’s without going over the top. I loved the equivalence of Alzheimer’s with time travel. It’s a great way of making kids understand the disease without feeling overwhelmed.
✔ Racism and how it affects children, especially those from mixed races who are neither here nor there.
✔ Many pages use special formatting effects on some part of the verses, thereby enhancing their impact. (This of course is best experienced in the physical copy.)
Bookish Nays:
⚠ The title made me assume that the focus would be more on storytelling interactions between the grandmother and her granddaughter. But the focus of the plot was more on the mystery of whether and whom Grandma saw in the supermarket, and on Nyla’s attempts to figure out a secret from her past. The role of storytelling isn’t the highlight, unlike what was promised.
⚠ In the course of her quest, Nyla takes some questionable decisions. I am not too fond of middle-grade books that encourage reckless behaviour without any reprimand or guilt forthcoming in later chapters.
⚠ The reason why so many adults kept so many secrets from Nyla wasn’t convincing to me. The mysterious parts appear forced because of this odd tendency of not revealing even relatively minor facts. The revelations hence didn’t appeal much to me.
All in all, I expected a more nostalgic kind of a plot with storytelling strengthening the bond between an ailing grandmother and her grandchild. But the book ended up more like a mystery-adventure. That said, the book also serves partially as a coming-of-age work, with Nyla learning how to stand up for herself in the face of bullying and racism.
Recommended to middle-grade readers, though the content will also work for older readers because of the themes. At the same time, the story covers some tough topics such as parental death, racist behaviour, bullying, and Alzheimer’s; do keep these in mind if picking it up for a sensitive child.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Hachette Children's Group and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them)”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
March 5, 2023
THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
I was expecting it to be typical rhymes but it turned out to be a solid and emotional story that touches so many sensitive topics. Really liked the entire idea.
I was expecting it to be typical rhymes but it turned out to be a solid and emotional story that touches so many sensitive topics. Really liked the entire idea.
May 10, 2023
A perfect verse novel with beautifully realised characters who are multidimensional and brave and true. I loved reading this one and will be recommending it for a long time to come!
February 27, 2024
Loved this verse novel about a girl searching for the truth about what happened to her father and helping her grandma remember the life that she had forgotten. I found myself caught up in the mystery of Nyla’s dad and really felt the depths of her emotions throughout her journey to find the truth. I especially liked the comparison of her grandma’s dementia being like her time-travelling.
April 30, 2023
A stunning, unique middle grade read - IN VERSE! For a lady who doesn’t like poetry, I sure do love a novel in verse.
Nyla is a young carer assisting her grandmother with Alzheimer’s. When a history project about your favourite family member arises, Nyla questions who she is and all about her family, missing her deceased father even more.
Deals with racist bullying, family loss, strong friendships, trustworthy adult figures, and discovering family truth.
A really beautiful story full of heart!
Nyla is a young carer assisting her grandmother with Alzheimer’s. When a history project about your favourite family member arises, Nyla questions who she is and all about her family, missing her deceased father even more.
Deals with racist bullying, family loss, strong friendships, trustworthy adult figures, and discovering family truth.
A really beautiful story full of heart!
June 18, 2023
Written in blank verse, this story is all about family, finding your own space in this world and friendship. Nyla is mixed race, and is being bullied for appearing to be ‘different’. She lives with her mum and grandma, who is suffering from dementia. A school project leads Nyla to believe that her late father is still alive and she embarks on an investigation to find out the truth of her family history. Touching, thoughtful and a great empathy read.
April 11, 2023
A moving verse novel for 11+, with a bright main character very mature for her age.
Nyla has to deal with the death of her father and her grandmother fading away, while being bullied at school - and her mum working double shifts to make ends meet. Despite this, she's a sensible happy kid who still believes in friendship and schoolwork.
Follow her on a trip down memory lane to better understand her family, her background and eventually herself.
Nyla has to deal with the death of her father and her grandmother fading away, while being bullied at school - and her mum working double shifts to make ends meet. Despite this, she's a sensible happy kid who still believes in friendship and schoolwork.
Follow her on a trip down memory lane to better understand her family, her background and eventually herself.
September 10, 2023
I was quite disappointed because I thought (based on the title, blurb and cover) that this book would resolve around the Grandmother's Alzheimers, but it doesn't. It's a mystely about what happened to Nyla's dad. The writing is pretty, the story cute, but the title very misleading.
February 6, 2024
Loved this gem of a book. More thoughts to come.
October 16, 2025
Eu gostei mas à uma parte em que a história fica secante.
♥️📕
♥️📕
May 24, 2023
This book for children has been beautifully written in verse and was a joy to read.
For my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
For my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
November 4, 2023
A true representation of childlike hybridity. A book that can be read to adults by children at bedtime.
Nadine Aisha Jassat’s debut novel, The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them), seems like an easy read. The short verses and childlike diction help the readers finish it in one or two sittings. Yet, it is a book that needs more than one or two sittings as the deceptively simple style has a range of overwhelming ideas of contemporary seated deep in its book bind.
The twelve-year-old character of the novel, Nyla, leads a life of responsibility as she must take care of her ‘time-traveling’ grandma who, in other words, suffers from pangs of Alzheimer’s. Her mother is working two shifts after Nyla lost her father to provide for the family and pay for Grandma’s support and care. There is nothing much to question until Nyla’s history teacher asks his students to do an assignment on a member of their families, and with recourse to that, to complete an unfinished sentence: ‘I am …’
Nyla, who has already shown signs of a dip in her studies, promises her mother to do better at school and the history assignment seems to be the stepping stones towards such fulfilment. On the one hand, a classmate called Harry bullies her by making fun of her name and makes her ashamed of her identity. On the other, her closest friend, Jess, encourages her to embark on a journey of her past and self-discovery. However, the real impetus comes around as Grandma Farida tells Nyla that she has seen her father, Basim, in the supermarket and he is not dead. As a result, Nyla takes an achronological path to her past to enlighten her present and future.
The Stories Grandma Forgot is written in verse and aimed at readers of 9 to 11 years of age. The target group makes the use of poetry justified since reading longer lines on pages might appear beyond their toleration. However, it should not be forgotten that writing this story in verse can make it etched deeper in the minds of the readers, whether they be young adults or adults. Short-lined verses accompanied by illustrations have turned Jassat’s novel catchier and more appealing and this is the very purpose of the story itself: to be engrossed by the story of one’s past. In her attempt to delve into his father’s existence, Nyla does not want to put her past behind her. On the other hand, she does not desire to be gripped by it and reside in it, like Grandma Fardia. She aims for recognition and a subsequent change. She does not want to bear the brunt of racism which was imposed on Grandma by her family and ruined her matrimony. If she does, she ends up no better than Harry, who is of a younger generation but belongs to an older attitude.
Nevertheless, it is not doing justice to the book if we label it just as a ‘verse novel.’ While reading the book, one encounters pages taken from Nyla’s diary, letters, sticky notes and a significant number of illustrations. Therefore, considering this novel as a verse one is a reductionist view which neglects other approaches and tropes at the service of the themes of the book. Instead of sticking to a single genre, Jassat has applied a hybrid of some to mirror Nyla’s effort to peruse the past and build a new future and her mixed background (being born of an English mother and a Zimbabwean father). Nonetheless, it is not only the main character that does so. Jess knows that the role of Hamlet has traditionally been given to male actors. She consciously aims for a change and auditions for the role and succeeds. With her new compound, Jassat, though believing personal history is the bearer of identity, imparts that being anchored in the past yields no better characters than Harry and fluidity of identity is what we all are made up of.
Another discernible point of Jassat’s novel is her portrayal of children. These characters are not conventionally drawn as either playful or grimly wiser than their ages. Both Nyla and Jess have their childhood with them: they break their promises and enjoy fooling around a bit here and there. However, they are not purely childish. As the nature of our era demands, they have their own sophisticated ways with them as well. Nyla is on a self-recognition quest; Jess seeks role reversal in the realm of theatre and Ray is nothing short of a torch bearer who appears in Nyla’s story. In the same manner, adults show traces of childlike naivete: Grandma Farida’s behaviour resembles that of a child in most cases. In line with the style of the book, characterization enjoys the mark of hybridity that defies the age-old single-sided determinism.
Overall, Nadine Aisha Jassat’s debut novel, The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them) begins with ‘I am’ and ends with a much more edited version of ‘I am’ after a careful investigation of ‘I was.’ To me, it is a book that can be read to adults by children at bedtime.
Nadine Aisha Jassat’s debut novel, The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them), seems like an easy read. The short verses and childlike diction help the readers finish it in one or two sittings. Yet, it is a book that needs more than one or two sittings as the deceptively simple style has a range of overwhelming ideas of contemporary seated deep in its book bind.
The twelve-year-old character of the novel, Nyla, leads a life of responsibility as she must take care of her ‘time-traveling’ grandma who, in other words, suffers from pangs of Alzheimer’s. Her mother is working two shifts after Nyla lost her father to provide for the family and pay for Grandma’s support and care. There is nothing much to question until Nyla’s history teacher asks his students to do an assignment on a member of their families, and with recourse to that, to complete an unfinished sentence: ‘I am …’
Nyla, who has already shown signs of a dip in her studies, promises her mother to do better at school and the history assignment seems to be the stepping stones towards such fulfilment. On the one hand, a classmate called Harry bullies her by making fun of her name and makes her ashamed of her identity. On the other, her closest friend, Jess, encourages her to embark on a journey of her past and self-discovery. However, the real impetus comes around as Grandma Farida tells Nyla that she has seen her father, Basim, in the supermarket and he is not dead. As a result, Nyla takes an achronological path to her past to enlighten her present and future.
The Stories Grandma Forgot is written in verse and aimed at readers of 9 to 11 years of age. The target group makes the use of poetry justified since reading longer lines on pages might appear beyond their toleration. However, it should not be forgotten that writing this story in verse can make it etched deeper in the minds of the readers, whether they be young adults or adults. Short-lined verses accompanied by illustrations have turned Jassat’s novel catchier and more appealing and this is the very purpose of the story itself: to be engrossed by the story of one’s past. In her attempt to delve into his father’s existence, Nyla does not want to put her past behind her. On the other hand, she does not desire to be gripped by it and reside in it, like Grandma Fardia. She aims for recognition and a subsequent change. She does not want to bear the brunt of racism which was imposed on Grandma by her family and ruined her matrimony. If she does, she ends up no better than Harry, who is of a younger generation but belongs to an older attitude.
Nevertheless, it is not doing justice to the book if we label it just as a ‘verse novel.’ While reading the book, one encounters pages taken from Nyla’s diary, letters, sticky notes and a significant number of illustrations. Therefore, considering this novel as a verse one is a reductionist view which neglects other approaches and tropes at the service of the themes of the book. Instead of sticking to a single genre, Jassat has applied a hybrid of some to mirror Nyla’s effort to peruse the past and build a new future and her mixed background (being born of an English mother and a Zimbabwean father). Nonetheless, it is not only the main character that does so. Jess knows that the role of Hamlet has traditionally been given to male actors. She consciously aims for a change and auditions for the role and succeeds. With her new compound, Jassat, though believing personal history is the bearer of identity, imparts that being anchored in the past yields no better characters than Harry and fluidity of identity is what we all are made up of.
Another discernible point of Jassat’s novel is her portrayal of children. These characters are not conventionally drawn as either playful or grimly wiser than their ages. Both Nyla and Jess have their childhood with them: they break their promises and enjoy fooling around a bit here and there. However, they are not purely childish. As the nature of our era demands, they have their own sophisticated ways with them as well. Nyla is on a self-recognition quest; Jess seeks role reversal in the realm of theatre and Ray is nothing short of a torch bearer who appears in Nyla’s story. In the same manner, adults show traces of childlike naivete: Grandma Farida’s behaviour resembles that of a child in most cases. In line with the style of the book, characterization enjoys the mark of hybridity that defies the age-old single-sided determinism.
Overall, Nadine Aisha Jassat’s debut novel, The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them) begins with ‘I am’ and ends with a much more edited version of ‘I am’ after a careful investigation of ‘I was.’ To me, it is a book that can be read to adults by children at bedtime.
May 28, 2023
4.5 Stars
One liner: Heartwarming!
Nyla Elachi, a twelve-year-old girl, loves her Grandma Farida the most. Her father passed away when she was four, or so she’s been told. Grandma Farida has Alzheimer’s, and Nyla takes care of her during the evenings while her mom works back-to-back shifts to keep the family going.
One day, Grandma Farida tells Nyla that she saw her son in the supermarket. Nyla is not sure, but she loves her grandma the most. When the lady asks Nyla to bring her son home, Nyle decides it’s time to turn a detective and trace her history.
Can the grandmother and granddaughter find what they are looking for?
The story comes in poetic verse from Nyla’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This is a beautiful and heartwarming book! I love the characterization, be it Grandma Farida, Nyla, Ruth (Nyla’s mom), Jess, or Ray.
The book is written in poetic verse, which was a little hard to read until I remembered my friend’s advice (Rosh, thank you) to read such books the same way I’d read prose. So I stopped bothering about the rhythm and paid more attention to the plot. It really helped.
The story deals with different issues like racism, bullying, parental loss, family and relationships, friendships, Alzheimer’s, etc. None of it goes overboard or preachy (kids might feel a little overwhelmed when Nyla is bullied). This isn’t a book about stories but about people.
The plot is well done (though it needs suspended belief in some places). I guessed half of it right and was surprised by the rest. A majority of it is realistic enough, though as MG fiction, the book does simplify a few issues towards the end.
Nyla does take a few risks but doesn’t come across as reckless. In fact, her vulnerability is highlighted, showing that what she did wasn’t exactly a smart thing. However, kids should realize that such acts of bravery are risky and can lead to scary situations.
The presentation is quite intriguing. I like the use of concrete poetic styles to emphasize emotions. However, I’m not sure how it’ll work on Kindle or smartphone. I found it easier to read the book on my desktop.
There are no illustrations in the ARC. I expected at least a couple of them, so that’s one major disappointment. With a cover like that, I hope the final copy has a few illustrations to enhance the story.
The book has happy and sad moments. Jess is a delightful character, and her dialogues are too good. She’s far from perfect, which makes her even more endearing.
I love the use of Elachi (cardamom) and Haldi (turmeric) as last names. Such a wonderful idea!
The aspects of being a mixed-race child, the sense of uncertainty stemming from the lack of belongingness, etc., are effectively portrayed.
To summarize, The Stories Grandma Forgot is a heartwarming book for kiddos and adults. It’s not without a few flaws but will leave you with a sense of satisfaction and peace.
Thank you, NetGalley, Hachette Children's Group, and Orion Children's Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheStoriesGrandmaForgot
One liner: Heartwarming!
Nyla Elachi, a twelve-year-old girl, loves her Grandma Farida the most. Her father passed away when she was four, or so she’s been told. Grandma Farida has Alzheimer’s, and Nyla takes care of her during the evenings while her mom works back-to-back shifts to keep the family going.
One day, Grandma Farida tells Nyla that she saw her son in the supermarket. Nyla is not sure, but she loves her grandma the most. When the lady asks Nyla to bring her son home, Nyle decides it’s time to turn a detective and trace her history.
Can the grandmother and granddaughter find what they are looking for?
The story comes in poetic verse from Nyla’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This is a beautiful and heartwarming book! I love the characterization, be it Grandma Farida, Nyla, Ruth (Nyla’s mom), Jess, or Ray.
The book is written in poetic verse, which was a little hard to read until I remembered my friend’s advice (Rosh, thank you) to read such books the same way I’d read prose. So I stopped bothering about the rhythm and paid more attention to the plot. It really helped.
The story deals with different issues like racism, bullying, parental loss, family and relationships, friendships, Alzheimer’s, etc. None of it goes overboard or preachy (kids might feel a little overwhelmed when Nyla is bullied). This isn’t a book about stories but about people.
The plot is well done (though it needs suspended belief in some places). I guessed half of it right and was surprised by the rest. A majority of it is realistic enough, though as MG fiction, the book does simplify a few issues towards the end.
Nyla does take a few risks but doesn’t come across as reckless. In fact, her vulnerability is highlighted, showing that what she did wasn’t exactly a smart thing. However, kids should realize that such acts of bravery are risky and can lead to scary situations.
The presentation is quite intriguing. I like the use of concrete poetic styles to emphasize emotions. However, I’m not sure how it’ll work on Kindle or smartphone. I found it easier to read the book on my desktop.
There are no illustrations in the ARC. I expected at least a couple of them, so that’s one major disappointment. With a cover like that, I hope the final copy has a few illustrations to enhance the story.
The book has happy and sad moments. Jess is a delightful character, and her dialogues are too good. She’s far from perfect, which makes her even more endearing.
I love the use of Elachi (cardamom) and Haldi (turmeric) as last names. Such a wonderful idea!
The aspects of being a mixed-race child, the sense of uncertainty stemming from the lack of belongingness, etc., are effectively portrayed.
To summarize, The Stories Grandma Forgot is a heartwarming book for kiddos and adults. It’s not without a few flaws but will leave you with a sense of satisfaction and peace.
Thank you, NetGalley, Hachette Children's Group, and Orion Children's Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheStoriesGrandmaForgot
April 22, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Children for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Amazon tells me that the target audience for this book is 9-11, and yet it was perfectly lovely for someone 3x that age. The serious topics give it an edge for adults to ponder, but there's also an element of magic about it that's so often missing from adult books, and it was lovely to reclaim that feeling, if only for an hour or two.
My nan died from dementia in 2016, and watching her fade away in the preceding weeks and months was horrible, but in my opinion, it's not something that should be hidden from children. You don't want to scare them, so by all means only pick 'better' days. But I think it's important that young children are aware of it and how it can affect families (especially with how common it's becoming), and this book is a step in the right direction.
I loved how Nadine wrote about Alzheimer's being like time travel: someone's mind is journeying to another time or place. That is a beautiful way of seeing it, and it definitely felt as if she had some first-hand experience.
Whilst it is prose and not a poem, there is definitely a poetic feel to the way she has formed the sentences. When you're reading them, it feels like a little song in your head. Which I suppose shows her talent as a poet.
Having an early digital copy meant that the formatting was slightly off as any illustrations were missing. Generally it didn't affect the reading of it, and I could fill in the blanks. However, there were some instances that things were so badly formatted that I couldn't understand any of the words at all. The main bit was, there was a letter in a cream envelope - the contents of which I will not spoil - but in my digital copy something had gone wrong and it was like I was reading hieroglyphics, I couldn't make out any of it. Luckily, the contents of said letter are mentioned in passing later on in the book and so I didn't feel like I missed out, but I just wanted to point that out as I cannot obviously comment on whether the images had a positive effect on the story as a whole. I am looking forward to seeing the finished physical product.
It is a very sweet book. Yes it's sad and thrilling and adventurous, but overall it's terribly sweet and cosy and caring and loving, nostalgic, sympathetic, honest and beautiful, heartfelt, heart-warming and heart-breaking. I admit it made me cry. Out of happiness and sadness, out of missing my grandparents, out of everything going through this. It was just so very good.
It really touches on some quite serious issues. Not only the Alzheimer's and memory loss, but racism, the idea of belonging or not belonging, keeping secrets, friendship, loneliness etc. But it is wrapped up in this loving, caring family that makes it feel like a great big warm hug.
Amazon tells me that the target audience for this book is 9-11, and yet it was perfectly lovely for someone 3x that age. The serious topics give it an edge for adults to ponder, but there's also an element of magic about it that's so often missing from adult books, and it was lovely to reclaim that feeling, if only for an hour or two.
My nan died from dementia in 2016, and watching her fade away in the preceding weeks and months was horrible, but in my opinion, it's not something that should be hidden from children. You don't want to scare them, so by all means only pick 'better' days. But I think it's important that young children are aware of it and how it can affect families (especially with how common it's becoming), and this book is a step in the right direction.
I loved how Nadine wrote about Alzheimer's being like time travel: someone's mind is journeying to another time or place. That is a beautiful way of seeing it, and it definitely felt as if she had some first-hand experience.
Whilst it is prose and not a poem, there is definitely a poetic feel to the way she has formed the sentences. When you're reading them, it feels like a little song in your head. Which I suppose shows her talent as a poet.
Having an early digital copy meant that the formatting was slightly off as any illustrations were missing. Generally it didn't affect the reading of it, and I could fill in the blanks. However, there were some instances that things were so badly formatted that I couldn't understand any of the words at all. The main bit was, there was a letter in a cream envelope - the contents of which I will not spoil - but in my digital copy something had gone wrong and it was like I was reading hieroglyphics, I couldn't make out any of it. Luckily, the contents of said letter are mentioned in passing later on in the book and so I didn't feel like I missed out, but I just wanted to point that out as I cannot obviously comment on whether the images had a positive effect on the story as a whole. I am looking forward to seeing the finished physical product.
It is a very sweet book. Yes it's sad and thrilling and adventurous, but overall it's terribly sweet and cosy and caring and loving, nostalgic, sympathetic, honest and beautiful, heartfelt, heart-warming and heart-breaking. I admit it made me cry. Out of happiness and sadness, out of missing my grandparents, out of everything going through this. It was just so very good.
It really touches on some quite serious issues. Not only the Alzheimer's and memory loss, but racism, the idea of belonging or not belonging, keeping secrets, friendship, loneliness etc. But it is wrapped up in this loving, caring family that makes it feel like a great big warm hug.
May 6, 2023
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review
This review probably won’t be coherent, I am an emotional mess right now. This book has all the feels and with tears streaming down my face I can say this book is beautiful.
This book is about Nyla, whose dad died when she was 4, but when her grandma who has Alzheimer’s says she sees him at a supermarket…. Nyla starts to wonder if he really died and what happened to him. She goes on an adventure to find out!
I have simplified the plot a bit but didn’t want to spoil anything. This book is written in verse, can we just have a cheer for every single book that makes it into my hands that is written in verse? I adore these style of books, they are great for emotional stories and add such a great way to play with language and ideas. The stories characters are so lovable and you really become invested in the characters and their journeys. I loved the role of the librarian, because we all know librarians and English teachers are the angels of this earth. I loved the building of new friendships too.
But I also loved how the book dealt with the topics. The discussion about who we are and what it means to be mixed, was such an important part of the story and I really liked how the author talked about the focus of giving space for voices but understanding that people aren’t there to be your guide or information to a different life. (I hope that makes sense). In Addition, the book looks at memory loss and Alzheimer’s. I loved how this was talked about and how the term time-travelling was used to describe it. As someone with personal experience of this, it was lovely to see the main character and supporting characters supporting grandma and showing her understanding and care.
This book is a great look at memory loss, friendship, trust, identity, love and family. A tender emotional tale that tugs on your little human heart!
This review probably won’t be coherent, I am an emotional mess right now. This book has all the feels and with tears streaming down my face I can say this book is beautiful.
This book is about Nyla, whose dad died when she was 4, but when her grandma who has Alzheimer’s says she sees him at a supermarket…. Nyla starts to wonder if he really died and what happened to him. She goes on an adventure to find out!
I have simplified the plot a bit but didn’t want to spoil anything. This book is written in verse, can we just have a cheer for every single book that makes it into my hands that is written in verse? I adore these style of books, they are great for emotional stories and add such a great way to play with language and ideas. The stories characters are so lovable and you really become invested in the characters and their journeys. I loved the role of the librarian, because we all know librarians and English teachers are the angels of this earth. I loved the building of new friendships too.
But I also loved how the book dealt with the topics. The discussion about who we are and what it means to be mixed, was such an important part of the story and I really liked how the author talked about the focus of giving space for voices but understanding that people aren’t there to be your guide or information to a different life. (I hope that makes sense). In Addition, the book looks at memory loss and Alzheimer’s. I loved how this was talked about and how the term time-travelling was used to describe it. As someone with personal experience of this, it was lovely to see the main character and supporting characters supporting grandma and showing her understanding and care.
This book is a great look at memory loss, friendship, trust, identity, love and family. A tender emotional tale that tugs on your little human heart!
April 26, 2023
When Mr Harkin asks each of his class to prepare a talk on a VIP in their family he little knows the chain of events he sets off in the life of Nyla, the young narrator of this lovely book.
As Nyla follows a trail to find out about the father, Basim, whom she lost as a small child, we see her caring for, and loving, her Grandma, sadly slipping into dementia, but still able to recognise her "Sweetie" as she calls Nyla. This is such a touching relationship ,beautifully drawn in poetic word pictures by the author.
Nyla's friend, Jess is an exhilarating character who cuts across too much sentiment with her wonderful diva like ways...one chapter in the books is headed "No filter, or things Jess has said to mum that she shouldn't" Nyla tells us these things with such affection for her friend that we realise Jess is very special to Nyla's whole family.
Miss Haldi, the librarian who helps Nyla, I am delighted, as a fellow librarian,to say is a warm and wise character with a great deal of gumption! A welcome change from the usual stereotype.
This is a story of friendship, kindness, finding oneself and also, in some cases, loss, Ultimately and most importantly, it is about love, and love outlasts everything, even failing memories.
Nadine Jassat is a poet as well as an author and her book is written in blank verse style, with many quirks along the way and this gives the story a unique quality which is fresh and appealing.
The story, the characters, and indeed the book's style stayed with me long after I had finished the last page. Written for young teens, there is enough depth in this story for many adults to enjoy, and to learn from.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Group for an e arc of this title
June 10, 2023
I chose to listen to the audiobook version of The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them) as it is narrated by the author herself and there is something extra special when verse is read in the poet’s own voice. It brings more meaning and understanding of the words to the listener.
I felt the fear Nyla felt at a bully’s actions and was so proud of her bravery in standing up to him. I felt the same anger at the thought of being lied to and having secrets kept from me. I felt Nyla’s guilt of not being a good friend, the trepidation that there might be trouble for looking after her grandmother by herself while her mother is at work, and the determination and excitement at playing detective in looking to discover the truth about her father.
No spoilers - at one point I was heartbroken and in tears. At other times I was laughing and smiling ‘I had to practice my lines with the dog … Sorry I say, imagining Jess’ dog with a white ruff around his neck like the picture of Shakespeare from Jess’ play’
Racism, bullying, others’ expectations of Nyla’s mixed identity, loss of a parent, grief, and Alzheimer’s are explored realistically but sensitively. The library and the librarian Miss Haldi play a big part in this story, and it reminded me of how the library was also a safe haven for me as a child and the happy times spent there. Although this verse novel is aimed at ages 8–12 I think it works for readers of all ages. I wanted to see the mystery solved and loved this emotional story of a young girl trying to find out who she is, the friendships, care, and familial love.
I felt the fear Nyla felt at a bully’s actions and was so proud of her bravery in standing up to him. I felt the same anger at the thought of being lied to and having secrets kept from me. I felt Nyla’s guilt of not being a good friend, the trepidation that there might be trouble for looking after her grandmother by herself while her mother is at work, and the determination and excitement at playing detective in looking to discover the truth about her father.
No spoilers - at one point I was heartbroken and in tears. At other times I was laughing and smiling ‘I had to practice my lines with the dog … Sorry I say, imagining Jess’ dog with a white ruff around his neck like the picture of Shakespeare from Jess’ play’
Racism, bullying, others’ expectations of Nyla’s mixed identity, loss of a parent, grief, and Alzheimer’s are explored realistically but sensitively. The library and the librarian Miss Haldi play a big part in this story, and it reminded me of how the library was also a safe haven for me as a child and the happy times spent there. Although this verse novel is aimed at ages 8–12 I think it works for readers of all ages. I wanted to see the mystery solved and loved this emotional story of a young girl trying to find out who she is, the friendships, care, and familial love.
April 14, 2023
This is such a beautiful story. Twelve year old Nyla lives with her English Mum, and her paternal grandmother, Grandma Farida, who is from Zimbabwe. She adores her grandmother, who has Alzheimer's, and is slipping - increasingly frequently - into what Nyla refers to as "time travelling".
Her father died when she was 4 years old, or so Nyla thought until recently. Now she doesn't know what to think! Because Grandma insists that she spotted Nyla's father Basim at the supermarket the other day...
Is this just part of her grandmother's illness, or is there more to her father's death than Nyla has been told? She begins to find it increasingly suspicious that her mother has always refused to talk about the details of her father's death.
Nyla's friend Jess is supportive and helps her to investigate the mystery. But Nyla also receives help from an unexpected source, a boy that she meets at the library. Yet even that friendship turns out to be more complicated then she expected!
What Nyla discovers in the course of her investigation is more than she bargained for, but real life is complex at times. The book explores sensitive themes like racism, identity, friendship, love, duty and found family with a deft touch.
There were times when the story was unbelievably poignant, and it is difficult for the reader to remember that Nyla, Jess, Grandma Farida and the other characters in this story aren't real people. I cannot recommend this lyrical story enough. Please read it!
Her father died when she was 4 years old, or so Nyla thought until recently. Now she doesn't know what to think! Because Grandma insists that she spotted Nyla's father Basim at the supermarket the other day...
Is this just part of her grandmother's illness, or is there more to her father's death than Nyla has been told? She begins to find it increasingly suspicious that her mother has always refused to talk about the details of her father's death.
Nyla's friend Jess is supportive and helps her to investigate the mystery. But Nyla also receives help from an unexpected source, a boy that she meets at the library. Yet even that friendship turns out to be more complicated then she expected!
What Nyla discovers in the course of her investigation is more than she bargained for, but real life is complex at times. The book explores sensitive themes like racism, identity, friendship, love, duty and found family with a deft touch.
There were times when the story was unbelievably poignant, and it is difficult for the reader to remember that Nyla, Jess, Grandma Farida and the other characters in this story aren't real people. I cannot recommend this lyrical story enough. Please read it!
April 18, 2023
The Stories Grandma Forgot (And How I Found Them) follows 12-year-old Nyla who lives in a multi-generational family and is best friends with her paternal grandmother, Farida. Nyla cares for her as she “time travels”, a term given for her Alzheimer’s. During a trip to the local supermarket, Farida is convinced she has seen her son and Nyla’s dad who passed away when Nyla was 4 years old. Honouring the promise made to Farida to find him, Nyla pieces together the clues with the help from her best friend, Jess, to find her dad.
Nadine Aisha Jassat’s debut verse novel is a sublime and studious examination of identity through the intersection of storytelling, memory and language. This a necessary story that the world needs more than ever, if only for its infectious empathy and understanding which seeps through each and every page. This helped the characters feel fully realised with a level of heartfelt sincerity that enabled them to jump straight off of the page into my heart. This will be an especially poignant read for those who have or had a close relationship with their grandparents who inspired them in ways that might continue to feel difficult to articulate. In Nyla searching for her place in the world, she finds her family bound by love in its most honest and tender form.
The Stories Grandma Forgot (And How I Found Them) is out May 25th by Hachette’s Children’s Group. Thank you for giving me an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
Nadine Aisha Jassat’s debut verse novel is a sublime and studious examination of identity through the intersection of storytelling, memory and language. This a necessary story that the world needs more than ever, if only for its infectious empathy and understanding which seeps through each and every page. This helped the characters feel fully realised with a level of heartfelt sincerity that enabled them to jump straight off of the page into my heart. This will be an especially poignant read for those who have or had a close relationship with their grandparents who inspired them in ways that might continue to feel difficult to articulate. In Nyla searching for her place in the world, she finds her family bound by love in its most honest and tender form.
The Stories Grandma Forgot (And How I Found Them) is out May 25th by Hachette’s Children’s Group. Thank you for giving me an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2023
The Stories Grandma Forgot And How I Found Them by Nadine Aisha Jassat is a charming contemporary novel that is perfect for ages ten years and over. I am considerably older than the target market but I loved it.
The novel is about family, roots, love and grief. A twelve year old searches for her father whom she was told had died, but she is not convinced. With a new found friendship, she pieces together the clues of his life.
Children can be cruel. We witness the antics of Harry who bullies the lead character. She shows a maturity beyond her years in her approach to him.
Grief can last a lifetime. We witness a mother who is carrying on life for the sake of her daughter, after her husband died. The family unit is still made up of three members as they now look after the grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. “Alzheimer’s … it feels like… the person is slowly walking away.” The twelve year old has the ability to care for her grandmother and draw her out of herself as we glimpse who she once was. “It’s like having her fully back. Like she’s left Alzheimer’s in another time.” Grandmother and granddaughter are united by a secret.
All the characters were wonderfully drawn, likable and realistic. Nadine Aisha Jassat has constructed a beautiful novel that spoke to my heart. I hope to read much more by her.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The novel is about family, roots, love and grief. A twelve year old searches for her father whom she was told had died, but she is not convinced. With a new found friendship, she pieces together the clues of his life.
Children can be cruel. We witness the antics of Harry who bullies the lead character. She shows a maturity beyond her years in her approach to him.
Grief can last a lifetime. We witness a mother who is carrying on life for the sake of her daughter, after her husband died. The family unit is still made up of three members as they now look after the grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. “Alzheimer’s … it feels like… the person is slowly walking away.” The twelve year old has the ability to care for her grandmother and draw her out of herself as we glimpse who she once was. “It’s like having her fully back. Like she’s left Alzheimer’s in another time.” Grandmother and granddaughter are united by a secret.
All the characters were wonderfully drawn, likable and realistic. Nadine Aisha Jassat has constructed a beautiful novel that spoke to my heart. I hope to read much more by her.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
December 13, 2024
How are such few people reading verse novels? They’re so lovely, so full of emotion and magic!
My latest read was The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them), a beautiful middle-grade book about love, stories, and friendship.
Nyla Elachi is of mixed heritage, and she’s bullied for it. But in some ways, that’s the least of her problems. Her beloved grandmother has Alzheimer’s. Her mother is overworked. And her father is dead … or so she thinks.
When her grandmother says she saw Basim, her father, Nyla begins to ask questions. And as she follows one clue after another, hope, fear and anticipation alternate. She doesn’t even know if she’s ready to find out everything that is in store for her, but she hears snippets of whispered conversations that make her more curious than ever. With her grandmother’s “time-travelling”, as Nyla calls the tendency to mix up timelines, the secrets seem murkier than ever. She must find out about her family and her past.
The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them) is a book that is full of secrets. Often, verse novels tend to focus on character rather than plot, but here, every plot detail is important. As the story proceeds, I found myself reading faster and faster, and the verse form is ideal for this sort of pacy reading. Brief lines and sparse text make the book a quick, fulfilling read. It is a beautifully crafted story, with secrets unravelling in the best of ways.
My latest read was The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them), a beautiful middle-grade book about love, stories, and friendship.
Nyla Elachi is of mixed heritage, and she’s bullied for it. But in some ways, that’s the least of her problems. Her beloved grandmother has Alzheimer’s. Her mother is overworked. And her father is dead … or so she thinks.
When her grandmother says she saw Basim, her father, Nyla begins to ask questions. And as she follows one clue after another, hope, fear and anticipation alternate. She doesn’t even know if she’s ready to find out everything that is in store for her, but she hears snippets of whispered conversations that make her more curious than ever. With her grandmother’s “time-travelling”, as Nyla calls the tendency to mix up timelines, the secrets seem murkier than ever. She must find out about her family and her past.
The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them) is a book that is full of secrets. Often, verse novels tend to focus on character rather than plot, but here, every plot detail is important. As the story proceeds, I found myself reading faster and faster, and the verse form is ideal for this sort of pacy reading. Brief lines and sparse text make the book a quick, fulfilling read. It is a beautifully crafted story, with secrets unravelling in the best of ways.
June 6, 2024
4.5 stars
Moreover, this book discusses how racism and bullying can affect children, especially those who are biracial and feel they don't fully belong to either side of their culture. I truly appreciated how the author created such courageous characters to address these injustices.
Alzheimer's was another main theme, as Nyla's grandma was diagnosed with it. However, I initially thought the story would revolve more around the grandma's plotline since the title suggests otherwise. Instead, the focus is more on Nyla's quest to learn about her late father, her background and herself.
Overall, this still a heartwarming story, and I absolutely love the cover!
A feeling like this is more powerful than memory. It stays with you forever. Grandma leans forward and taps over my heart slowly, each word matching a beat: "Right here."This is a truly beautiful and sweet book, and the illustrations are simply delightful. I really enjoyed Nyla's adventure in learning more about her late-father, who sadly passed away in a car accident when she was just 4 years old. Her interactions with her grandma, friends and even her local librarian were truly adorable.
Moreover, this book discusses how racism and bullying can affect children, especially those who are biracial and feel they don't fully belong to either side of their culture. I truly appreciated how the author created such courageous characters to address these injustices.
Alzheimer's was another main theme, as Nyla's grandma was diagnosed with it. However, I initially thought the story would revolve more around the grandma's plotline since the title suggests otherwise. Instead, the focus is more on Nyla's quest to learn about her late father, her background and herself.
Overall, this still a heartwarming story, and I absolutely love the cover!
July 2, 2023
That's ok, Nadine, I didn't need my heart today, which is lucky as you've broken it. (I mean, you put it back together, but still.)
This is a beautiful book, focusing on a sadly too-common theme - caring for a family member in the early stages of Alzeimer's. Grandma still has more good days than bad, but they're aware that the balance is slowly tipping, and no one is quite sure how to deal with it. This is an amazing book - I'm relatively new to found poetry and I wasn't sure how well it would lend itself, how deeply we'd be able to get into the ideas here, but actually it's almost deeper than a prose book would be.
I did think it was a bit of a coincidence that all the main players came together the way they did, but that's children's books for you! I loved the family Nyla builds up as the story goes on, too. It's such an amazing trope and I never tire of reading it.
A wonderful story that needs to be on every school bookshelf. Fantastic.
This is a beautiful book, focusing on a sadly too-common theme - caring for a family member in the early stages of Alzeimer's. Grandma still has more good days than bad, but they're aware that the balance is slowly tipping, and no one is quite sure how to deal with it. This is an amazing book - I'm relatively new to found poetry and I wasn't sure how well it would lend itself, how deeply we'd be able to get into the ideas here, but actually it's almost deeper than a prose book would be.
I did think it was a bit of a coincidence that all the main players came together the way they did, but that's children's books for you! I loved the family Nyla builds up as the story goes on, too. It's such an amazing trope and I never tire of reading it.
A wonderful story that needs to be on every school bookshelf. Fantastic.
August 31, 2023
I liked that there was lots of twists in the plot, like you don't know if the Dad is alive or not and I didn't expect what was coming! I disliked that there was a swear word repeated when it wasn't needed. This book is different to other books I have read because it has chapters but it is written as a poem. There are chapters but when it changes to a different topic the author uses sub headings. I like this style as it explains when things are changing so you don't get confused when its a complicated story. The characters were brave in this adventure and mystery story. There are a few illustrations but the background on the pages changes colour which tells you more about the story and is used like pictures.
This book made me think about how upsetting it is when people die. It was quite a sad book with happy bits. The Grandma in the story has dementia and is still kind even though she has a difficult brain. I would recommend this book to strong readers about 8+.
This book made me think about how upsetting it is when people die. It was quite a sad book with happy bits. The Grandma in the story has dementia and is still kind even though she has a difficult brain. I would recommend this book to strong readers about 8+.
May 31, 2023
I throughly enjoyed reading these and found many of the phrases in the poetry (it’s a verse novel) to be poignant and moving. The storytelling was excellent and the characters were well-rounded. I really enjoyed that this was more than a dementia-based novel where the protagonist got to have her own adventure that led her along a path of self-discovery. I did wonder why so many of the adults seemed reluctant to talk about her dad (she’s searching for what happened to him) and it didn’t feel all the plausible that ‘grief’ meant everyone - and I mean everyone - refused to talk to her about him. However, if you make that leap of faith, you’re rewarded with a beautiful story about finding out who you are, about heritage, about memory, a little bit about racism, about family, found-family and friendship.
October 21, 2023
4.25*
A wonderful novel in verse story about Nyla, a young girl whose father died when she was 4, and who lives with her mother and grandmother. She is a young carer for her grandmother (who has Alzheimer’s) and her mother works nearly non-stop in order to keep them afloat. There is also a school bully who seems to be targeting her for being biracial/mixed race. All of this sounds quite depressing, yet it is touched on in a way that introduces life experiences and issues in a fairly light way, and has a stronger focus on the importance and joy of friendships, family, and the stories we tell. A great way to open up discussions and work on increasing empathy. There were some lovely illustrations, and the occasional playing with form in the poems that added to the book nicely
A wonderful novel in verse story about Nyla, a young girl whose father died when she was 4, and who lives with her mother and grandmother. She is a young carer for her grandmother (who has Alzheimer’s) and her mother works nearly non-stop in order to keep them afloat. There is also a school bully who seems to be targeting her for being biracial/mixed race. All of this sounds quite depressing, yet it is touched on in a way that introduces life experiences and issues in a fairly light way, and has a stronger focus on the importance and joy of friendships, family, and the stories we tell. A great way to open up discussions and work on increasing empathy. There were some lovely illustrations, and the occasional playing with form in the poems that added to the book nicely
February 25, 2025
A lovely middle grade books told in verse about finding who you are when you are losing someone close.
Nyla has to do a school project about a special person and chooses to do her dad, who died when she was 4. She doesn't know much about him, just knows that she gets her Zimbabwean heritage from him.
She doesn't understand her history to know her place and so the project sets her on a quest to find more, she cannot learn from her nan as she is struggling with the early stages of dementia.
There are a lot of strand within this book, it makes it hard to review them all, but it cover each so well thought the poetry on the pages.
Nyla is a brave little girl who basically goes off on an adventure and makes friends along the way.
Nyla has to do a school project about a special person and chooses to do her dad, who died when she was 4. She doesn't know much about him, just knows that she gets her Zimbabwean heritage from him.
She doesn't understand her history to know her place and so the project sets her on a quest to find more, she cannot learn from her nan as she is struggling with the early stages of dementia.
There are a lot of strand within this book, it makes it hard to review them all, but it cover each so well thought the poetry on the pages.
Nyla is a brave little girl who basically goes off on an adventure and makes friends along the way.
April 20, 2023
Written in a poetic style, this novel by Nadine Aisha Jassat focuses on the love between a Grandma and her Granddaughter and how their love is bigger than all the problems out there. Nyla’s best friend is Grandma, but she is also Grandma’s cater, because Grandma has Alzheimer’s. Nyla’s Dad had died when she was little, and in a quest to know more about him and to answer a question in a school project, she searches for more information about her Dad and to uncover all the stories that Grandma forgot. This is a heart wrenching tale at times and unravels how feeble the human mind is, but how wonderful the bond is between friends and family. Definitely a wonderful read with a poignant message.
April 20, 2023
Written in a poetic style, this novel by Nadine Aisha Jassat focuses on the love between a Grandma and her Granddaughter and how their love is bigger than all the problems out there. Nyla’s best friend is Grandma, but she is also Grandma’s cater, because Grandma has Alzheimer’s. Nyla’s Dad had died when she was little, and in a quest to know more about him and to answer a question in a school project, she searches for more information about her Dad and to uncover all the stories that Grandma forgot. This is a heart wrenching tale at times and unravels how feeble the human mind is, but how wonderful the bond is between friends and family. Definitely a wonderful read with a poignant message.
May 17, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book made me feel all of the emotions and I absolutely loved it. This is a beautiful story of family, friendship and finding yourself which is told in verse. The mystery element felt almost like a treasure hunt and had me completely enthralled. I was rooting for Nyla from the beginning and absolutely loved the discussions of friendship and bullying as well as the beautiful representation of dementia. By the end I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh but it felt like being enveloped in a huge hug! The family in this story are wonderful and I know I will remember this for a long time!
AD/PR GIFTED
This book made me feel all of the emotions and I absolutely loved it. This is a beautiful story of family, friendship and finding yourself which is told in verse. The mystery element felt almost like a treasure hunt and had me completely enthralled. I was rooting for Nyla from the beginning and absolutely loved the discussions of friendship and bullying as well as the beautiful representation of dementia. By the end I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh but it felt like being enveloped in a huge hug! The family in this story are wonderful and I know I will remember this for a long time!
AD/PR GIFTED
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