What do you think?
Rate this book
What Makes Us
A viral video reveals a teen’s dark family history, leaving him to reckon with his heritage, legacy, and identity in this fiery, conversation-starting novel.
Eran Sharon knows nothing of his father except that he left when Eran was a baby. Now a senior in high school and living with his protective but tight-lipped mother, Eran is a passionate young man deeply interested in social justice and equality. When he learns that the Houston police have launched a program to increase traffic stops, Eran organizes a peaceful protest.
But a heated moment at the protest goes viral, and a reporter connects the Sharon family to a tragedy fifteen years earlier — and asks if Eran is anything like his father, a supposed terrorist. Soon enough, Eran is wondering the same thing, especially when the people he’s gone to school and temple with for years start to look at him differently.
Timely, powerful, and full of nuance, Rafi Mittlefehldt’s sophomore novel confronts the prejudices, fears, and strengths of family and community, striking right to the heart of what makes us who we are.
Eran Sharon knows nothing of his father except that he left when Eran was a baby. Now a senior in high school and living with his protective but tight-lipped mother, Eran is a passionate young man deeply interested in social justice and equality. When he learns that the Houston police have launched a program to increase traffic stops, Eran organizes a peaceful protest.
But a heated moment at the protest goes viral, and a reporter connects the Sharon family to a tragedy fifteen years earlier — and asks if Eran is anything like his father, a supposed terrorist. Soon enough, Eran is wondering the same thing, especially when the people he’s gone to school and temple with for years start to look at him differently.
Timely, powerful, and full of nuance, Rafi Mittlefehldt’s sophomore novel confronts the prejudices, fears, and strengths of family and community, striking right to the heart of what makes us who we are.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2019
9 people are currently reading
2241 people want to read
About the author
Rafi Mittlefehldt
3 books104 followersRafi Mittlefehldt is the author of two young adult novels, What Makes Us, releasing Oct. 15, 2019, and It Looks Like This, published in 2016.
When he's not writing, Rafi works in instructional design and volunteers for I'm From Driftwood, a non-profit that collects and posts LGBTQ stories from around the world. Raised in Houston, he worked briefly as a reporter for a small-town newspaper in Central Texas before settling in New York. He now lives in Philadelphia with his husband Damien and dog Betty.
Follow him on Instagram and Twitter (@rafimitt for both), and visit his website at rafimitt.com.
When he's not writing, Rafi works in instructional design and volunteers for I'm From Driftwood, a non-profit that collects and posts LGBTQ stories from around the world. Raised in Houston, he worked briefly as a reporter for a small-town newspaper in Central Texas before settling in New York. He now lives in Philadelphia with his husband Damien and dog Betty.
Follow him on Instagram and Twitter (@rafimitt for both), and visit his website at rafimitt.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
June 14, 2021
What Makes Us by Rafi Mittlefehldt is a story about love, hate, and what it means to hold back and let go. The way the protagonist is split identifying his true identity and recognizing the source of the traits of his personality is depicted in a very thoughtful manner.
The book tries to touch the topic of social justice and patriotism. At one point, it appears as if the author will go more in that direction, but the plot soon gets side-tracked, leaving those topics hanging like an icicle, with no meaningful conclusion.
The characters are vividly written, but I can't say the same about the storyline, which seems to have been rushed at few instances. It also doesn't do justice to the unique blurb, and turns out to be quite a standard prose.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: One time read.
The book tries to touch the topic of social justice and patriotism. At one point, it appears as if the author will go more in that direction, but the plot soon gets side-tracked, leaving those topics hanging like an icicle, with no meaningful conclusion.
The characters are vividly written, but I can't say the same about the storyline, which seems to have been rushed at few instances. It also doesn't do justice to the unique blurb, and turns out to be quite a standard prose.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: One time read.
October 2, 2019
This was a fairly quick read for me. 3 ⭐️ - and that’s more for the delivery of the story than the content.
Interesting reading from a male perspective when YA seems to be mostly female. It was a bit hard for me to relate to the rage the MC felt the majority of the book. I had trouble following as the story jumps to the past and then to different characters altogether.
This is a timely story as it also struggles with the teens identities: how are they connected to their past, and how can you move past the blinding rage to basically live your life after tragedies occur.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Interesting reading from a male perspective when YA seems to be mostly female. It was a bit hard for me to relate to the rage the MC felt the majority of the book. I had trouble following as the story jumps to the past and then to different characters altogether.
This is a timely story as it also struggles with the teens identities: how are they connected to their past, and how can you move past the blinding rage to basically live your life after tragedies occur.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 1, 2019
“Anger can be a virtue, but only if you can control it,” she says. “Isn’t that what makes us, anyway? What we decide, rather than what we’re born into?”
📖 Buy This Book 📖
📚 Series: No.
📚 Genre: YA Realistic Fiction.
📚 POV: Multiple.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Content Warnings: Terrorism. Violence. Racism. Prejudice. Abuse of Power by the Police.
⚠ Read if: you are looking for a diverse/realistic/political read.
What Makes Us is a coming-of-age story that talks about finding one's self, understanding your identity, learning to love, learning about injustice, learning to hold on, and learning how to let go.
It revolves around Eran, trying to understand why he feels that he has so much passion inside him, his relationship with his Eema, and his longing for the care of his father.
Eventually, a viral video leads him to the revelation that his father was a terrorist, and leads him to question everything that he thought he knew about himself.
I loved that this story showed the perspective of Eran's mom and how she made her decisions. But, the third persepective, which focuses on Jade, Eran's friend, feels a little disconnected to the essence and message of the story.
If there is one thing I could commend, it's an interesting male POV that is very much inclined with all his emotions. Though I can't say that I can relate to the character, the author did an amazing job on this matter and his writing can bring forth many important conversations on the social justice issues this book has touched.
All in all, a promising read.
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Plot Development : ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.7/5 ☁
Much thanks to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
📚 Blog ♡ Bookstagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Twitter 📚
October 20, 2020
This was a quick and easy read for me to get through and i have read Rafi's previous book also so it was good to dive into another book of his.
I always like to reading male character POV's because i usually read more books with female POV's so i don't get to relate to many of the characters i read in books. This story also has a jewish character which was good to learn more about people of jewish background and i love reading own voices stories it's always interesting to learn about people's different backgrounds that are different to my own.
All the 3 different POV's in the story were all done really well and each character was relatable for the most part and i could relate in some parts and others i could not.
I didn't really love this story hence why my rating is so low however i did learn a lot about different topics in this book was i really enjoyed reading a book and learning things in the process those are the best books.
I always like to reading male character POV's because i usually read more books with female POV's so i don't get to relate to many of the characters i read in books. This story also has a jewish character which was good to learn more about people of jewish background and i love reading own voices stories it's always interesting to learn about people's different backgrounds that are different to my own.
All the 3 different POV's in the story were all done really well and each character was relatable for the most part and i could relate in some parts and others i could not.
I didn't really love this story hence why my rating is so low however i did learn a lot about different topics in this book was i really enjoyed reading a book and learning things in the process those are the best books.
July 30, 2019
The Hate U Give X The Exact Opposite of Okay
Atleast, that's what this book tried to be. It wasn't as good as THUG (which wasn't really good for me either) and not as bad as the latter.
Eran and his mom find themselves the center of media attention after a protest led by Eran turns awry. They are both Israeli-Americans living in Texas. He finds out about his dad from the media and internet, while all these years his mother had refused to tell him anything about his ancestry. His friends' support are a relief, and so is going to the synagogue with his mom, even though both of them are not believers. This is the story of him trying to make place for himself among people who insists it is not. The book also focuses on Eran's anger management issues and how he learns to deal with them.
Despite such promising themes being tackled in a very upfront way, the book never roused me emotionally. More than half of the book was boring - the writing is unnecessarily dragged, there is too much descriptions, and the sudden switching of character povs made it difficult to follow. I couldn't empathize with any of the characters and I spent more than half the book hating Eran. I might have skimmed some paragraphs because IT. WAS. BORING.
The ending was really good, even though nothing of real significance happened. The story lacks a definite direction, but the character growth is obvious. I also liked how the anger-management issue was resolved in the end. I thought the Jewish-Israeli representation would be good, but unfortunately, I'm no more knowledgeable on Jews now compared to me before reading this book.
2.5/5 stars
Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an arc in exchange of my honest opinions
Atleast, that's what this book tried to be. It wasn't as good as THUG (which wasn't really good for me either) and not as bad as the latter.
Eran and his mom find themselves the center of media attention after a protest led by Eran turns awry. They are both Israeli-Americans living in Texas. He finds out about his dad from the media and internet, while all these years his mother had refused to tell him anything about his ancestry. His friends' support are a relief, and so is going to the synagogue with his mom, even though both of them are not believers. This is the story of him trying to make place for himself among people who insists it is not. The book also focuses on Eran's anger management issues and how he learns to deal with them.
Despite such promising themes being tackled in a very upfront way, the book never roused me emotionally. More than half of the book was boring - the writing is unnecessarily dragged, there is too much descriptions, and the sudden switching of character povs made it difficult to follow. I couldn't empathize with any of the characters and I spent more than half the book hating Eran. I might have skimmed some paragraphs because IT. WAS. BORING.
The ending was really good, even though nothing of real significance happened. The story lacks a definite direction, but the character growth is obvious. I also liked how the anger-management issue was resolved in the end. I thought the Jewish-Israeli representation would be good, but unfortunately, I'm no more knowledgeable on Jews now compared to me before reading this book.
2.5/5 stars
Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an arc in exchange of my honest opinions
June 9, 2019
Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing me a free copy of this book at BEA 2019 and thank you to Rafi Mittlefehldt for signing my copy!
This book tells the story about a high-schooler, Eran Sharon, who discovers a hidden secret about his family after an incident at a protest. To prevent spoiling any part of the book, that's about all I will say about the actual plot.
I think Rafi did a fantastic job weaving a tale about identity, patriotism, and social justice. The characters of Eran and Eema was well-written and interesting. I do think this book could have been improved with more of a focus on issues of terrorism and identity. We see a lot of really impactful dialogues between Eran and his social justice teacher, but in the middle the book gets side-tracked with perspectives from some of the minor characters.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it.
This book tells the story about a high-schooler, Eran Sharon, who discovers a hidden secret about his family after an incident at a protest. To prevent spoiling any part of the book, that's about all I will say about the actual plot.
I think Rafi did a fantastic job weaving a tale about identity, patriotism, and social justice. The characters of Eran and Eema was well-written and interesting. I do think this book could have been improved with more of a focus on issues of terrorism and identity. We see a lot of really impactful dialogues between Eran and his social justice teacher, but in the middle the book gets side-tracked with perspectives from some of the minor characters.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it.
October 14, 2019
Ebook provided by NetGally and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
You do not have a father, Eema told me. You have the memory of a man, a shadow that follows us both.
When fifteen-year-old Eran learns that he is the son of a notorious terrorist, he learns it together with the rest of the world. Consequently, he is not only confronted with his own confusing feelings, but at the same time with the outspoken opinions of both people close to him and people who do not know him at all.
What Makes Us is written from three perspectives: Eran himself, his mother and one of Eran's friends, Jade. Eran's chapters tell about his actions and feelings in the moment; his mother's (Eema's) chapters tell about the past, about how she dealed with her emotions, and with the media after the terrible act of her husband; and we look trough Jade's eyes when she tries to be there for Eran, while trying to find out what secret her parents are keeping from her.
Even though I did not dislike reading this story in mulitple perspectives, the balance between these perspectives was not right in my opinion. Eran is clearly the main character, but Jade seems to have too much story time to be a side character, but also too less to be a protagonist. I wish her role was more clear and because I really liked her character, I would have preferred that she filled more pages.
Rafi Mittlefehldt did a great job describing the characters' emotions. I wish I felt them more too. The reason I did not always feel emotionally involved, might be that it is hard to imagine what I would feel if I would find out my unknown dad was a terrorist. It is not a widely known situation. And Eran felt a lot of anger, a feeling I rarely feel that strong.
So Rafi Mittlefehldt took a risk telling a story like What Makes Us with such a strong topic and I have a lot of respect for him that he dared to. Unfortunately, this strong story was not always accompanied by an equally strong writing style, which explains the average (but not a bad) rating.
Coming out the 15th of October!
You do not have a father, Eema told me. You have the memory of a man, a shadow that follows us both.
When fifteen-year-old Eran learns that he is the son of a notorious terrorist, he learns it together with the rest of the world. Consequently, he is not only confronted with his own confusing feelings, but at the same time with the outspoken opinions of both people close to him and people who do not know him at all.
What Makes Us is written from three perspectives: Eran himself, his mother and one of Eran's friends, Jade. Eran's chapters tell about his actions and feelings in the moment; his mother's (Eema's) chapters tell about the past, about how she dealed with her emotions, and with the media after the terrible act of her husband; and we look trough Jade's eyes when she tries to be there for Eran, while trying to find out what secret her parents are keeping from her.
Even though I did not dislike reading this story in mulitple perspectives, the balance between these perspectives was not right in my opinion. Eran is clearly the main character, but Jade seems to have too much story time to be a side character, but also too less to be a protagonist. I wish her role was more clear and because I really liked her character, I would have preferred that she filled more pages.
Rafi Mittlefehldt did a great job describing the characters' emotions. I wish I felt them more too. The reason I did not always feel emotionally involved, might be that it is hard to imagine what I would feel if I would find out my unknown dad was a terrorist. It is not a widely known situation. And Eran felt a lot of anger, a feeling I rarely feel that strong.
So Rafi Mittlefehldt took a risk telling a story like What Makes Us with such a strong topic and I have a lot of respect for him that he dared to. Unfortunately, this strong story was not always accompanied by an equally strong writing style, which explains the average (but not a bad) rating.
Coming out the 15th of October!
October 18, 2019
Structurally and in tone there is a very important part of What Makes Us that Mittlefehldt must be commended on. I have mentioned, a few times, my issue with dialogue in contemporary young adult books. It isn’t all of them and I don’t even know that it is the majority. However, when teenagers in contemporary books, aimed at teenagers, stop sounding like teenagers? You aren’t going to get buy-in from your core audience.
Full Review on www.novellives.com
Full Review on www.novellives.com
October 23, 2019
It's Wednesday!!
It's Wednesday, I am back on track with my reading and blogging goals and life is going okay. I hit a snag the other night when I had some immense pain but I am slowly recovering and during that recovery time I am reading of course (in between naps, watching booktube and Netflix). I got some super pretty book mail yesterday that I plan to haul today on Twitter and Instagram so look out for that but I also got the first Harry Potter book as an illustrated edition finally today too! I have been wanting to get these illustrated editions forever and I just have not (most recently for space reasons but since the move this summer I have space for them) and I could not be more excited. I intend to purchase the others very soon. In the meantime I finished reading What Makes Us, a book I have been super excited for and was kindly sent an ARC copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Eran does not know anything about his dad. He has no idea what his name is, who he is, where he is, what he might be doing if he has another family or anything. The only thing he knows for sure about his dad is that when Eran was a baby he left. Fast forward to the present where Eran is a senior in high school, he is interested in social justice, lives with his mom, and is ready for life to begin! However, Eran's life is soon going to drastically change forever. Eran learns about some new rules and laws changing in Houston and he decides to set up a peaceful protest. But things get a little heated at the protest and someone takes a video. That video goes viral and from there, people start to recognize Eran and his family. There was a tragedy fifteen years ago and Eran's father was involved. Now people start to think that he is like his father; a supposed terrorist. Now people are starting to see him differently, even the people he has known his whole life.
I definitely enjoyed this story, I got really connected to Eran and his story and struggles. I felt like he was going through so much at times and I wished I could reach through the pages and help him out. He was being seen as his dad and I get how that can affect someone. It was also interesting seeing how Eran handled the situation and seeing if he would go looking for his father after the video or what his next move would be. I was honestly super interested in that storyline and seeing what his moves would be after the video. (I am not going to tell you what he did but I highly recommend reading to find out). Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this read and I am going to give it four stars on Goodreads. This book is out now, so go check it out!!
**Given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It's Wednesday, I am back on track with my reading and blogging goals and life is going okay. I hit a snag the other night when I had some immense pain but I am slowly recovering and during that recovery time I am reading of course (in between naps, watching booktube and Netflix). I got some super pretty book mail yesterday that I plan to haul today on Twitter and Instagram so look out for that but I also got the first Harry Potter book as an illustrated edition finally today too! I have been wanting to get these illustrated editions forever and I just have not (most recently for space reasons but since the move this summer I have space for them) and I could not be more excited. I intend to purchase the others very soon. In the meantime I finished reading What Makes Us, a book I have been super excited for and was kindly sent an ARC copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Eran does not know anything about his dad. He has no idea what his name is, who he is, where he is, what he might be doing if he has another family or anything. The only thing he knows for sure about his dad is that when Eran was a baby he left. Fast forward to the present where Eran is a senior in high school, he is interested in social justice, lives with his mom, and is ready for life to begin! However, Eran's life is soon going to drastically change forever. Eran learns about some new rules and laws changing in Houston and he decides to set up a peaceful protest. But things get a little heated at the protest and someone takes a video. That video goes viral and from there, people start to recognize Eran and his family. There was a tragedy fifteen years ago and Eran's father was involved. Now people start to think that he is like his father; a supposed terrorist. Now people are starting to see him differently, even the people he has known his whole life.
I definitely enjoyed this story, I got really connected to Eran and his story and struggles. I felt like he was going through so much at times and I wished I could reach through the pages and help him out. He was being seen as his dad and I get how that can affect someone. It was also interesting seeing how Eran handled the situation and seeing if he would go looking for his father after the video or what his next move would be. I was honestly super interested in that storyline and seeing what his moves would be after the video. (I am not going to tell you what he did but I highly recommend reading to find out). Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this read and I am going to give it four stars on Goodreads. This book is out now, so go check it out!!
**Given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2020
DNF at 48%
Too high expetations for this one, i had thought it would give me the feel like THUG (The hate u give), and i really liked that one. This one didn't.. I had a hard time following the MC in the story, he had so much rage it affected the whole story and it was a bit tiredsome.. I see how it sort of resembles THUG, but i just could'nt like the main character, and espesially then it flops for me and he was here and there and the character didn't grow on me.
Too high expetations for this one, i had thought it would give me the feel like THUG (The hate u give), and i really liked that one. This one didn't.. I had a hard time following the MC in the story, he had so much rage it affected the whole story and it was a bit tiredsome.. I see how it sort of resembles THUG, but i just could'nt like the main character, and espesially then it flops for me and he was here and there and the character didn't grow on me.
September 28, 2019
I liked the characters, I thought they were brilliantly written, but the execution was a little lacking. The synopsis was fascinating, but the writing felt rushed, and a bit unexplored in sections I wanted more of.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2019
Thanks to Shenwei on Twitter for my ARC of this book which I received for an own voices review (I'm Jewish).
To be honest, I don't think me being Jewish had any real bearing on my opinion of this book. I was familiar with the rituals and ceremonies in the synagogue and the notion of Jewish loyalty to Israel but that's pretty much where my Jewy relatable ness ended.
This book tells the story of Eran, a young man, only child to a single mother who fancies himself a social justice warrior. You know when you're young and you have all the passion and the energy to stand up for people's right's and demand justice. It kind of reminded me of myself when I was that age, kind of made me question what happened. Eran organises a protest against a new police measure in his hometown and unfortunately clashes with a counter protestor. His mother turns up to take him home and says the words, "This is not our fight", a phrase she'll regret using at that moment because it is those exact words that reveal a major secret she's been hiding from everyone, including Eran all his life. Who Eran's father was and the terrible thing he did that led her to change their names and move across the country to start over.
Eran, learning the news about his father finds himself really coming to terms with who he is. He wonders if his passion and his anger means that he is just like his father. He doubts his mother and is angry at her for lying to him all his life and their relationship has never been great to begin with. The news of who his father was also leads to the outside world coming after him, he is suspended, her mother loses her job, he has reporters camping out outside his house, his friends parents don't want them around him and he is literally attacked by people calling him a terrorist and telling him to go back to where he came from. It's a lot.
What I liked - The writing, I have to commend the author. I was absorbed in the way this book was written. I think it was a good choice to have the story told from both Eran and his mother's side, dual perspective.
The story felt real and relevant. It's one thing to hear about these incidents on the news, the chants of, "send them back" and I felt the author did a good job putting us in the victim's headspace, making us feel all those emotions.
What I didn't like - I don't really understand Jade's purpose, her story in the book while somewhat intriguing didn't really feel relevant. I don't think I needed her backstory to show how she related to what Eran was going through. I just didn't get it.
It also felt at times like the story was lagging, like some parts seemed to go on longer than they needed to, it felt dragged out.
Other than that, I think this is a solid story, definitely a conversation starter. I'm interested to see what the response is going to be like.
To be honest, I don't think me being Jewish had any real bearing on my opinion of this book. I was familiar with the rituals and ceremonies in the synagogue and the notion of Jewish loyalty to Israel but that's pretty much where my Jewy relatable ness ended.
This book tells the story of Eran, a young man, only child to a single mother who fancies himself a social justice warrior. You know when you're young and you have all the passion and the energy to stand up for people's right's and demand justice. It kind of reminded me of myself when I was that age, kind of made me question what happened. Eran organises a protest against a new police measure in his hometown and unfortunately clashes with a counter protestor. His mother turns up to take him home and says the words, "This is not our fight", a phrase she'll regret using at that moment because it is those exact words that reveal a major secret she's been hiding from everyone, including Eran all his life. Who Eran's father was and the terrible thing he did that led her to change their names and move across the country to start over.
Eran, learning the news about his father finds himself really coming to terms with who he is. He wonders if his passion and his anger means that he is just like his father. He doubts his mother and is angry at her for lying to him all his life and their relationship has never been great to begin with. The news of who his father was also leads to the outside world coming after him, he is suspended, her mother loses her job, he has reporters camping out outside his house, his friends parents don't want them around him and he is literally attacked by people calling him a terrorist and telling him to go back to where he came from. It's a lot.
What I liked - The writing, I have to commend the author. I was absorbed in the way this book was written. I think it was a good choice to have the story told from both Eran and his mother's side, dual perspective.
The story felt real and relevant. It's one thing to hear about these incidents on the news, the chants of, "send them back" and I felt the author did a good job putting us in the victim's headspace, making us feel all those emotions.
What I didn't like - I don't really understand Jade's purpose, her story in the book while somewhat intriguing didn't really feel relevant. I don't think I needed her backstory to show how she related to what Eran was going through. I just didn't get it.
It also felt at times like the story was lagging, like some parts seemed to go on longer than they needed to, it felt dragged out.
Other than that, I think this is a solid story, definitely a conversation starter. I'm interested to see what the response is going to be like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2019
**I received an e-copy of this via NetGalley from the publishers in exchange for an honest review**
Eran Sharon is an Israeli-American teenage boy in search of manhood, who his father is, finding his voice and standing up for social justice and patriotism. He finds himself at the center of media attention after a protest he led takes an unexpected turn.
Although, this teenage boy is radical, and has a strong compassion to tackle issues like homophobia, transphobia, racism, misogyny, reproductive rights, global warming, police brutality, the death penalty, gun control, immigrant rights, and islamophobia. What Makes Us, mainly seems like a call to action story, provoking all who read not to just sit around idle waiting to make a change in the world. But, to take action in all forms including protesting.
However, the eARC itself had no chapters or breaks so it made the story drag on and on. Additionally, parts of the story were overly descriptive and could have been condensed. Also, I will say the plot felt a bit rushed at points but other than that it was an ok read.
Eran Sharon is an Israeli-American teenage boy in search of manhood, who his father is, finding his voice and standing up for social justice and patriotism. He finds himself at the center of media attention after a protest he led takes an unexpected turn.
Although, this teenage boy is radical, and has a strong compassion to tackle issues like homophobia, transphobia, racism, misogyny, reproductive rights, global warming, police brutality, the death penalty, gun control, immigrant rights, and islamophobia. What Makes Us, mainly seems like a call to action story, provoking all who read not to just sit around idle waiting to make a change in the world. But, to take action in all forms including protesting.
However, the eARC itself had no chapters or breaks so it made the story drag on and on. Additionally, parts of the story were overly descriptive and could have been condensed. Also, I will say the plot felt a bit rushed at points but other than that it was an ok read.
November 21, 2021
This book was a soap opera. One crazy family story may have worked, but two was straight up cheesy. I also saw the “twist” about Jade’s family on like page 50. I totally would have bailed if by the time I realized it sucked I wasn’t over halfway through. I feel like that if the way had focused more on Eran’s personality rather than his inner conflicts I would have liked the book better.
May 15, 2019
What Makes Us by Rafi Mittlefehldt
publication date: 15 Oct 2019
First i'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for sending me through this eARC of what makes us by Rafi Mittlefehldt.
What Makes Us is about Eran Sharon, a boy who at the start of the book is fronting a protest about the cost of fines and essentially the power being given to police. Eran never knew his father, knows nothing about his father, but after a video goes viral of his protest it’s discovered that his father was a supposed terrorist, and things kick off from there. (This isn’t a spoiler, it’s in the synopsis of the book)
I don’t quite know where my feelings land for this one. I didn’t hate it by any means, but I also didn’t love it. The thing is, I don’t know if that comes down to the book itself, or me. For some reason I just couldn’t quite connect with it and I have a couple of hypotheses of why this was the case. It could have been the formatting: sometimes I have a harder time connecting with ebooks than physical copies, and this proof copy was also lacking some general white space between sections that also may have thrown me off. Or another reason could have been my general mood, stopping me from fully connecting with the book. I am a hardcore mood reader, but at the same time I know the purpose of handing out ARCs is to get early feedback and hype. So I think that if I get the opportunity to read something before it’s released, I should actually read it before its release so I can post my subjective thoughts on said book.
Again, I’d like to reiterate that this isn’t a bad book, in fact I think subjectively it’s a good book, I just had trouble finding that connection with a book that takes the reading experience to the next level.
I can say that the central plot and themes are really poignant and, in my opinion, an interesting and important perspective that I think a lot of people will appreciate and gain insight from. The writing of the book itself was really well done and I have no complaints there. Our MC Eran is a hard-core social justice warrior and I loved him for it. He would go off on these passionate soliloquies and you could really feel Eran feeding off his own energy and just ramping himself up as he went and personally, I could really relate to this.
Overall I would recommend this one to people who are looking for more diverse books with important and occasionally controversial topics.
3.5/5 stars
publication date: 15 Oct 2019
First i'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for sending me through this eARC of what makes us by Rafi Mittlefehldt.
What Makes Us is about Eran Sharon, a boy who at the start of the book is fronting a protest about the cost of fines and essentially the power being given to police. Eran never knew his father, knows nothing about his father, but after a video goes viral of his protest it’s discovered that his father was a supposed terrorist, and things kick off from there. (This isn’t a spoiler, it’s in the synopsis of the book)
I don’t quite know where my feelings land for this one. I didn’t hate it by any means, but I also didn’t love it. The thing is, I don’t know if that comes down to the book itself, or me. For some reason I just couldn’t quite connect with it and I have a couple of hypotheses of why this was the case. It could have been the formatting: sometimes I have a harder time connecting with ebooks than physical copies, and this proof copy was also lacking some general white space between sections that also may have thrown me off. Or another reason could have been my general mood, stopping me from fully connecting with the book. I am a hardcore mood reader, but at the same time I know the purpose of handing out ARCs is to get early feedback and hype. So I think that if I get the opportunity to read something before it’s released, I should actually read it before its release so I can post my subjective thoughts on said book.
Again, I’d like to reiterate that this isn’t a bad book, in fact I think subjectively it’s a good book, I just had trouble finding that connection with a book that takes the reading experience to the next level.
I can say that the central plot and themes are really poignant and, in my opinion, an interesting and important perspective that I think a lot of people will appreciate and gain insight from. The writing of the book itself was really well done and I have no complaints there. Our MC Eran is a hard-core social justice warrior and I loved him for it. He would go off on these passionate soliloquies and you could really feel Eran feeding off his own energy and just ramping himself up as he went and personally, I could really relate to this.
Overall I would recommend this one to people who are looking for more diverse books with important and occasionally controversial topics.
3.5/5 stars
September 6, 2019
What Makes Us
by Rafi Mittlefehldt
due 10-2019
Candlewick
4.0 / 5.0
Amazing story of social justice and teen angst. Looking for the best in people, realizing for many of us, there is or will be, a time we act at our worse.
Eran Sharon is just that guy. Growing up not knowing who his father was and his mother determined he not find out. Eran was active in his High School Social Justice class, organizing a protest for police reform. He wanted police to stop pulling over people for no apparent reason. They found one after you were pulled over.
At the protest he gets into an argument with one of the protesters of the march, calling them Anti Police. As the argument escalates Eran pushes another man, knocking him over. Many began seeing Eran differently.
Eran finds out the truth about his father's absence, and it is hard for him to accept. The truth about who his father is and his actions at the protest change his life.
Thanks to Goodreads for sending this ARC for review!
by Rafi Mittlefehldt
due 10-2019
Candlewick
4.0 / 5.0
Amazing story of social justice and teen angst. Looking for the best in people, realizing for many of us, there is or will be, a time we act at our worse.
Eran Sharon is just that guy. Growing up not knowing who his father was and his mother determined he not find out. Eran was active in his High School Social Justice class, organizing a protest for police reform. He wanted police to stop pulling over people for no apparent reason. They found one after you were pulled over.
At the protest he gets into an argument with one of the protesters of the march, calling them Anti Police. As the argument escalates Eran pushes another man, knocking him over. Many began seeing Eran differently.
Eran finds out the truth about his father's absence, and it is hard for him to accept. The truth about who his father is and his actions at the protest change his life.
Thanks to Goodreads for sending this ARC for review!
June 14, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for this eArc.
I really wanted to like this book, but sadly it felt too draggy to me. Even though it was a quick read, there were parts that could have been easily explained in less pages. Overall, a disappointing read to me.
I really wanted to like this book, but sadly it felt too draggy to me. Even though it was a quick read, there were parts that could have been easily explained in less pages. Overall, a disappointing read to me.
September 30, 2019
I received an ARC of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. It was a great read and I think it will be a fantastic book to discuss with my classes. We want to do what it right but how do we know what is right? What would you do to protect those you love? What happens when good intentions go bad?
August 22, 2021
Who are when the stories you've been told by your parents in an effort to protect you from unpleasantness turn out to be false? Two teenagers get to find out.
May 30, 2022
Abandoning it halfway through.
I think the concept is interesting (son discovers his dad was a terrorist) but there's too much "am I this way because of him?" kind of back and forth. The aftermath of Eran's protest and assault are interesting and very appropriate for this day and age but not enough to keep me engaged. "I have many books to read and miles to go before I read them" so I'm doing that.
I think the concept is interesting (son discovers his dad was a terrorist) but there's too much "am I this way because of him?" kind of back and forth. The aftermath of Eran's protest and assault are interesting and very appropriate for this day and age but not enough to keep me engaged. "I have many books to read and miles to go before I read them" so I'm doing that.
August 20, 2022
It was amazing and beautifully written!!! I loved how it told three stories from three POVs, each with differing importance( ?? ) most of the story was Eran’s POV, but we also saw bit from Jade and Devorah!! Amazing book. Totally recommend!!
November 2, 2019
I received a copy of WHAT MAKES US by Rafi Mittlefehldt by the publisher for an honest review. What follows is my opinion and mine alone. There was no compensation for this review.
What can I say about this book? This is one of those reads that I was pulled in and devoured. I was enthralled with the story. I was angry with the story. I loved the story. So many emotions and just not enough words to properly place my review.
Eran is a teenager with teenager emotions (extreme. Go ahead and fight me on this one, but come on, teens are a bit extreme). He is passionate and wants to do what is best for the world and in doing it, he jumps at the chance to speak every chance he gets. Okay... let me just backtrack on this.
To properly grasp this book, you need to look at society as a whole. What are we? What, as the title states, makes us? We are opinionated. We are passionate. We want change. But, do we pause and think before we act?
This book is about a teenager who learns something about himself because he acted without thinking first. It is about a woman who was forced to speak and take on the actions of a man she loved because no one bothered to think before acting on their pain. It is about a young girl who has always thought before acting and is pushed to act once she is pressured by outside forces and her internal ones.
We all act without thinking. And this book, as much as it is a story about a young boy learning about himself, is about how we all need to start thinking. We don't need to stop acting, but we should still think and care. Our actions may not hurt us, but it could hurt others.
And this may seem philosophical and not to the point of the story, but as I'm sitting here and really think about what I've read (a beautiful book, mind you), I'm forced to make a literary comment on it. I've read other reviews talk about the individuals, but not the actual emotional impact they have felt upon reading the book. And this, this is my emotional take.
Mittlefehldt is a great writer. He is a great storyteller. I was talking to my best friend last night about how I was pulled away from the story not because the writing didn't flow, but because they matched so well that I felt I was with the characters. I was angry with them. I wanted to be there, to hold them, to yell for them. I wanted to act. And even at the start of this review (which I am leaving unchanged because I feel it shows exactly what the book was intended for), I was acting before actively thinking about what I wanted to say.
And now that I am thinking, I'm seeing more than just the story given. I'm seeing me. I'm seeing you. I'm seeing Rafi Mittlefehldt. I'm seeing how there are always going to be differing opinions, but not enough quiet to actively just discuss.
Okay, in terms of story, you can guess that this book truly hit me. I wasn't sure at first because I was worried this was a more politically leaning book. It isn't and I'm glad about that because I honestly don't want to ever air out my own personal politics online. But, once I really got into the book (which did not take long, probably around the five percent mark), I was in. I would read passages out loud. I would fan over the way Eran's mom lived her life (seriously, this woman is goals. I need to be more like her).
The writing is . . . I don't want to say normal . . . it's how you would think life would have been written. Like, would you want your life described in flowy language or would you like the truth right there in your face? I personally like the truth. And though the story is told in a first person point of view (for Eran), I didn't completely feel it was unreliable. I felt that for him, this was his truth, just as for the other points of view was theirs.
Honestly, I feel everyone should read this book. And, Mr. Mittlefehldt, thank you for writing it.
As I said before, this book isn't just about a teen going through a discovery that nearly destroys his world. This book is about how we should all learn to pause, breathe, ride out the currents, or even just think before we act.
Final Rating: 5/5 (seriously, everyone needs to read this).
P.S. Mr. Mittlefehldt, you have a new fan. Hi, I'm that new fan.
What can I say about this book? This is one of those reads that I was pulled in and devoured. I was enthralled with the story. I was angry with the story. I loved the story. So many emotions and just not enough words to properly place my review.
Eran is a teenager with teenager emotions (extreme. Go ahead and fight me on this one, but come on, teens are a bit extreme). He is passionate and wants to do what is best for the world and in doing it, he jumps at the chance to speak every chance he gets. Okay... let me just backtrack on this.
To properly grasp this book, you need to look at society as a whole. What are we? What, as the title states, makes us? We are opinionated. We are passionate. We want change. But, do we pause and think before we act?
This book is about a teenager who learns something about himself because he acted without thinking first. It is about a woman who was forced to speak and take on the actions of a man she loved because no one bothered to think before acting on their pain. It is about a young girl who has always thought before acting and is pushed to act once she is pressured by outside forces and her internal ones.
We all act without thinking. And this book, as much as it is a story about a young boy learning about himself, is about how we all need to start thinking. We don't need to stop acting, but we should still think and care. Our actions may not hurt us, but it could hurt others.
And this may seem philosophical and not to the point of the story, but as I'm sitting here and really think about what I've read (a beautiful book, mind you), I'm forced to make a literary comment on it. I've read other reviews talk about the individuals, but not the actual emotional impact they have felt upon reading the book. And this, this is my emotional take.
Mittlefehldt is a great writer. He is a great storyteller. I was talking to my best friend last night about how I was pulled away from the story not because the writing didn't flow, but because they matched so well that I felt I was with the characters. I was angry with them. I wanted to be there, to hold them, to yell for them. I wanted to act. And even at the start of this review (which I am leaving unchanged because I feel it shows exactly what the book was intended for), I was acting before actively thinking about what I wanted to say.
And now that I am thinking, I'm seeing more than just the story given. I'm seeing me. I'm seeing you. I'm seeing Rafi Mittlefehldt. I'm seeing how there are always going to be differing opinions, but not enough quiet to actively just discuss.
Okay, in terms of story, you can guess that this book truly hit me. I wasn't sure at first because I was worried this was a more politically leaning book. It isn't and I'm glad about that because I honestly don't want to ever air out my own personal politics online. But, once I really got into the book (which did not take long, probably around the five percent mark), I was in. I would read passages out loud. I would fan over the way Eran's mom lived her life (seriously, this woman is goals. I need to be more like her).
The writing is . . . I don't want to say normal . . . it's how you would think life would have been written. Like, would you want your life described in flowy language or would you like the truth right there in your face? I personally like the truth. And though the story is told in a first person point of view (for Eran), I didn't completely feel it was unreliable. I felt that for him, this was his truth, just as for the other points of view was theirs.
Honestly, I feel everyone should read this book. And, Mr. Mittlefehldt, thank you for writing it.
As I said before, this book isn't just about a teen going through a discovery that nearly destroys his world. This book is about how we should all learn to pause, breathe, ride out the currents, or even just think before we act.
Final Rating: 5/5 (seriously, everyone needs to read this).
P.S. Mr. Mittlefehldt, you have a new fan. Hi, I'm that new fan.
Read
May 19, 2019Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC copy of this book. I really enjoyed the storyline in this book, but struggled to jump deeply into the characters and story. There were parts that made me uncomfortable, intrigued and in suspense. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a solid read. The plot felt rushed at points but the writing was so good! 3.5/5 stars.
September 17, 2019
Find my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yafict...
WHAT MAKES US is an intriguing story that follows a teenaged boy, his mother (in the past), and his friend in alternating sections. The book largely deals in trust/secrets within family, the way that your relatives can shape you (nature vs. nurture), as well as the brutality of people and news and coping with the unexpected.
Eran lives with his mother and has never known his father. His mother is very tight-lipped about him, but Eran has always wondered. However, he never expected to receive these truths after he is part of/leading a protest march against a new police policy that allows them to pull anyone over with or without documented cause (along the lines of stop and frisk). When counter-protesters get in their face and rile him up, he shoves one of them. The video is all over the news and internet, and someone recognizes his mother, who escorted him away from the event.
Eran then learns that his father was a terrorist who bombed a celebration when he was 2. His mother had never expected it and did the best she could by taking him far away, changing their names, and not talking about him. Now, Eran is left wondering how much of his father he is like and dealing with public shaming and shunning (for something that he had nothing to do with).
A smaller, secondary plot involves Eran's friend, Jade, who found a picture that does not make sense with what she knows about herself, leading her to question her parents and the lies that they may have told her. This story does not interfere with the main story but adds a small amount to it by allowing readers to see an ally (she stands up for Eran) as well as the way that parents may have good intentions even with not great outcomes.
What I loved: The best part of the book is how well it shows public-shaming, racism, and the consequences of media followed by public opinion. Eran is a very easily sympathized character, and his story unfolds beautifully. This was somehow a gripping story as we follow him in the aftermath of these earth-shattering revelations (which are complicated by being in the public eye). I also really liked that we see some things from the mother's perspective also, and their relationship- while it does have some bumps- ultimately comes together better due to the hardship and new understandings.
Final verdict: Engrossing and thought-provoking, this novel is a great read that deserves a read and maybe even a reread. With some deep and important themes, this book will leave the reader thinking about it after the last page is read. Recommend for YA readers of any age who are looking for an insightful and engaging read.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
WHAT MAKES US is an intriguing story that follows a teenaged boy, his mother (in the past), and his friend in alternating sections. The book largely deals in trust/secrets within family, the way that your relatives can shape you (nature vs. nurture), as well as the brutality of people and news and coping with the unexpected.
Eran lives with his mother and has never known his father. His mother is very tight-lipped about him, but Eran has always wondered. However, he never expected to receive these truths after he is part of/leading a protest march against a new police policy that allows them to pull anyone over with or without documented cause (along the lines of stop and frisk). When counter-protesters get in their face and rile him up, he shoves one of them. The video is all over the news and internet, and someone recognizes his mother, who escorted him away from the event.
Eran then learns that his father was a terrorist who bombed a celebration when he was 2. His mother had never expected it and did the best she could by taking him far away, changing their names, and not talking about him. Now, Eran is left wondering how much of his father he is like and dealing with public shaming and shunning (for something that he had nothing to do with).
A smaller, secondary plot involves Eran's friend, Jade, who found a picture that does not make sense with what she knows about herself, leading her to question her parents and the lies that they may have told her. This story does not interfere with the main story but adds a small amount to it by allowing readers to see an ally (she stands up for Eran) as well as the way that parents may have good intentions even with not great outcomes.
What I loved: The best part of the book is how well it shows public-shaming, racism, and the consequences of media followed by public opinion. Eran is a very easily sympathized character, and his story unfolds beautifully. This was somehow a gripping story as we follow him in the aftermath of these earth-shattering revelations (which are complicated by being in the public eye). I also really liked that we see some things from the mother's perspective also, and their relationship- while it does have some bumps- ultimately comes together better due to the hardship and new understandings.
Final verdict: Engrossing and thought-provoking, this novel is a great read that deserves a read and maybe even a reread. With some deep and important themes, this book will leave the reader thinking about it after the last page is read. Recommend for YA readers of any age who are looking for an insightful and engaging read.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 20, 2019
How about this book cover though? With its bright ombré colors and outlines of people holding protest signs. It is eye-catching and powerful. How can you not pick this up off a bookshelf or click a link for more information? Well I am glad I took the bait!
Constant Vigilance is a new program that allows police to pull people over for barely anything. It is not fair. It is not right. So Eran Sharon (pronounced Shah-Rohn) organizes a peaceful protest in his community. It is going well until a small counter-protest group approaches with signs that say "Blue Lives Matter" and "Don't like us? Don't call us." Conflict arises around news cameras and a crowd of witnesses. So what happens? Of course, a viral video captures a heated moment.
Eran knows little about his father. He's tall. He was from Israel then moved to New York. He left when Eran was just a baby. The flood gate of dark family history bursts open when a reporter connects Eran Sharon with a tragedy that happened fifteen years ago. Eran wonders if he is anything like his supposed terrorist father. What makes us who we are?
The main character was so realistic. He was not a teen that used big words or thought beyond his understanding. I think he was depicted in a realistic manner. Sometimes authors tend to forget the age of characters but not so in this book. Eran was relatable from the first chapter to the last words. Even Eema (pronounced EE-muh; Hebrew for mother) acted how a concerned parent of color would in real life. So the story flowed naturally with no annoyance. In fact, I finished in one lazy day.
Social justice issues are the focus of What Makes Us. Police brutality is such a national issue; a crisis actually. Other issues include homophobia, racism, reproductive rights, global warming, gun control and immigrant rights. Thanks to authors like Rafi Mittlefehldt for addressing it in books meant for young adults. It helps to spread awareness, remind them of how to look and act while in public and most importantly to be heard. Their voice matters!
Start the conversation! I absolutely recommend What Makes Us for young adults that are passionate about justice. Teachers, add this new book to your syllabus. Parents, talk to your children about social issues. Neighbors, look out for each other while protecting the community. News reporters, do not be so quick to spin stories for click bait. Rafi Mittlefehldt's new novel reminds readers: Try to be better.
Happy Early Pub Day, Rafi Mittlefehldt! What Makes Us will be available Tuesday, October 15.
LiteraryMarie
Constant Vigilance is a new program that allows police to pull people over for barely anything. It is not fair. It is not right. So Eran Sharon (pronounced Shah-Rohn) organizes a peaceful protest in his community. It is going well until a small counter-protest group approaches with signs that say "Blue Lives Matter" and "Don't like us? Don't call us." Conflict arises around news cameras and a crowd of witnesses. So what happens? Of course, a viral video captures a heated moment.
Eran knows little about his father. He's tall. He was from Israel then moved to New York. He left when Eran was just a baby. The flood gate of dark family history bursts open when a reporter connects Eran Sharon with a tragedy that happened fifteen years ago. Eran wonders if he is anything like his supposed terrorist father. What makes us who we are?
The main character was so realistic. He was not a teen that used big words or thought beyond his understanding. I think he was depicted in a realistic manner. Sometimes authors tend to forget the age of characters but not so in this book. Eran was relatable from the first chapter to the last words. Even Eema (pronounced EE-muh; Hebrew for mother) acted how a concerned parent of color would in real life. So the story flowed naturally with no annoyance. In fact, I finished in one lazy day.
Social justice issues are the focus of What Makes Us. Police brutality is such a national issue; a crisis actually. Other issues include homophobia, racism, reproductive rights, global warming, gun control and immigrant rights. Thanks to authors like Rafi Mittlefehldt for addressing it in books meant for young adults. It helps to spread awareness, remind them of how to look and act while in public and most importantly to be heard. Their voice matters!
Start the conversation! I absolutely recommend What Makes Us for young adults that are passionate about justice. Teachers, add this new book to your syllabus. Parents, talk to your children about social issues. Neighbors, look out for each other while protecting the community. News reporters, do not be so quick to spin stories for click bait. Rafi Mittlefehldt's new novel reminds readers: Try to be better.
Happy Early Pub Day, Rafi Mittlefehldt! What Makes Us will be available Tuesday, October 15.
LiteraryMarie
October 19, 2021
Oh this one was GOOD! This was another one I scored as a freebie through the SYNC audiobook program. (An article that gives instructions if you or a teen you know want free audiobooks all summer long: https://audiofilemagazine.com/sync/) And this is one I LOVE! I can see myself recommending this left and right. I liked it enough that even though I listened to the audiobook I took the time to look up character name spellings.
Main character is Eran Sharon (pronounced "A-ron Sha-rone"), a male teen of Israeli descent with a single mom. His dad abandoned them years ago, when he was a toddler. Or so he thinks. He's growing up in a very small town in Texas, where not much happens. Or so he thinks. One day, one action, changes his life forever. As he's at a protest that he himself organized (against police violence) he gets into a confrontation with a counter-protester... and his actions snowball into him learning more about what makes him than he ever dared or wanted to know.
As a counterpoint to his story, he becomes good friends with Jade, a girl from school. She also has questions, holes, in her past that she doesn't dare ask about. She has been told a timeline from New Orleans to Texas... but it might not match up with her current age. Why?
The back cover copy of this book has this line: "Timely, powerful, and full of nuance, Rafi Mittlefehldt's sophomore novel confronts the prejudices, fears, and strengths of family and community, striking right to the heart of what makes us what we are." SO. TRUE. This book gracefully touches upon several aspects of today's conversations around race, social justice, and police presence through characters that are well developed, rounded, and real.
As a bonus: the audiobook is really well done! The narration is the type where you forget about the narrator and get lost in the story. I would 100% listen to more books by the same narrator.
Not a spoiler but a "content warning." I don't usually like to do this, but there were just a few paragraphs that got to me, and I wanted to give a heads up in case you are a sensitive soul and want to avoid certain topics in your literature:
Main character is Eran Sharon (pronounced "A-ron Sha-rone"), a male teen of Israeli descent with a single mom. His dad abandoned them years ago, when he was a toddler. Or so he thinks. He's growing up in a very small town in Texas, where not much happens. Or so he thinks. One day, one action, changes his life forever. As he's at a protest that he himself organized (against police violence) he gets into a confrontation with a counter-protester... and his actions snowball into him learning more about what makes him than he ever dared or wanted to know.
As a counterpoint to his story, he becomes good friends with Jade, a girl from school. She also has questions, holes, in her past that she doesn't dare ask about. She has been told a timeline from New Orleans to Texas... but it might not match up with her current age. Why?
The back cover copy of this book has this line: "Timely, powerful, and full of nuance, Rafi Mittlefehldt's sophomore novel confronts the prejudices, fears, and strengths of family and community, striking right to the heart of what makes us what we are." SO. TRUE. This book gracefully touches upon several aspects of today's conversations around race, social justice, and police presence through characters that are well developed, rounded, and real.
As a bonus: the audiobook is really well done! The narration is the type where you forget about the narrator and get lost in the story. I would 100% listen to more books by the same narrator.
Not a spoiler but a "content warning." I don't usually like to do this, but there were just a few paragraphs that got to me, and I wanted to give a heads up in case you are a sensitive soul and want to avoid certain topics in your literature:
February 11, 2020
This is the story of Eran Sharon. He has no clue what his life used to be like back in New York City now living in Texas. His mother has remained secretive of his past life and he is determined to find out. This book is a very quick read. There isn't much to it which disappointed me a bit but it really opened my eyes to the racism and prejudice in our country and maybe in certain parts of our country. I do recommend this book if you are looking for an easier and quicker read.
August 16, 2019
I was interested in Eran's story up until we started to explore his mother's past, at which point it all felt very forced. DNF.
eARC provided by publisher.
eARC provided by publisher.
August 12, 2019
I want to thank Netgalley and Candlewick Press for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for a honest review. It was the cover that made me request the book. It looked powerful, and it makes you want to do something. Scream, do research, even start a revolution. What Makes Us is a heavy but necessary book, and you just can’t put this book down after a reading session without thinking society through.
Eran Sharon doesn’t know a single thing about his father. The memories all seem fake, and his tight-lipped mother won’t tell him anything. Her overprotective nature has created a ruse in their relationship, and his fierce nature doesn’t work well for it either. When the police is preparing to start a Constant Vigilance campaign, Eran doesn’t hesitate to speak up about their dangerous power in a protest. This leads to a violent accident, and he and his mother get recognized by a newsrepother. Together with the whole world, Eran finds out his father was a terrorist. Feeling enstranged from his mother, he now has to decide what this heritage means for him. Can his ferocious anger be justified, and is it worth it losing friends and freedom for?
There were 3 POV’s in this book: Eran, Devorah (whose identity we find out real quickly), and Jade. Eran was a character easy to relate to, and most of all, an admirable one. He stands up for what’s right, and has passionate ideas about society and its beliefs. It were Eran’s ideas that made me wonder about specific parts of history. Jade is a new classmate and friend from Eran, who is struggling with an identity crisis herself. She has found a picture from herself when she still lived in New Orleans, but the date doesn’t add up. It makes her understand Eran better. It was the mystery around her that intrigued me specifically, but I don’t think it added anything to the initial conflict. What it does do, is show us that everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Eran and Jade have more friends, but because of their hardships, their bond will always be tighter. She dared to do things because of him, and she forms the example of what other people should learn from reading this book.
Except for the mystification in character development, there’s no real direction of the plot, and therefore, there’s not a groundbreaking ending. Mittlefehldt only focuses on what his characters are going through. This means a group of tedious themes gets introduced, which might feel to heavy for others. Yes, I think it could have used some more humor, but the great overal lesson for future generations is now not hidden between the lines. What Makes Us deals with ignorance of society, media treatment, violence abuse, migration laws and even hurricane Katrina. It’s about trying to understand who you are and how much of that is decided by heritage. We are mostly made into someone by our parents’s choices, and even the best intentions can harm us. It’s okay to doubt who you are. It is your beliefs and your decisions that make you your own person. You are not your parents. You are not a race, or a faith. While you may understand this about yourself, the most important thing is to understand this about others.
One of my favorite things is that I thought there would be a romantic relationship, but there wasn’t. It was simply a group of friends goung through hardships together, and learning from each other. Growing because of each other. I would have liked to hear more about Declan though. He didn’t seem to enjoy his household anymore, and it looked like his brother was a homophobe. Yet, he was simply used as the best friend for Eran to lean on. It would also have been nice to find out more about Jewish culture, and the act of terrorism. While the whole conflict was about what should be justified, it only focused on Eran’s troubles in the end.
This ended in 3.5 stars for me. The Israeli characters were refreshing, and taught me alot about the aftermath of racism. Mrs Redwood was one of the best characters, and I’m still contemplating Eran’s mother’s speech. With the mere focus on the character-driven plot, the storyline could drag on sometimes. It made many sentences feel repetitive. Yet, everyone should read this book. You will leave it with a clearer mind, and your eyes wide open, ready to see the world. Isn’t that what a thoughtful book is supposed to do?
What Makes Us will be released on the 15th of October.
Eran Sharon doesn’t know a single thing about his father. The memories all seem fake, and his tight-lipped mother won’t tell him anything. Her overprotective nature has created a ruse in their relationship, and his fierce nature doesn’t work well for it either. When the police is preparing to start a Constant Vigilance campaign, Eran doesn’t hesitate to speak up about their dangerous power in a protest. This leads to a violent accident, and he and his mother get recognized by a newsrepother. Together with the whole world, Eran finds out his father was a terrorist. Feeling enstranged from his mother, he now has to decide what this heritage means for him. Can his ferocious anger be justified, and is it worth it losing friends and freedom for?
There were 3 POV’s in this book: Eran, Devorah (whose identity we find out real quickly), and Jade. Eran was a character easy to relate to, and most of all, an admirable one. He stands up for what’s right, and has passionate ideas about society and its beliefs. It were Eran’s ideas that made me wonder about specific parts of history. Jade is a new classmate and friend from Eran, who is struggling with an identity crisis herself. She has found a picture from herself when she still lived in New Orleans, but the date doesn’t add up. It makes her understand Eran better. It was the mystery around her that intrigued me specifically, but I don’t think it added anything to the initial conflict. What it does do, is show us that everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Eran and Jade have more friends, but because of their hardships, their bond will always be tighter. She dared to do things because of him, and she forms the example of what other people should learn from reading this book.
Except for the mystification in character development, there’s no real direction of the plot, and therefore, there’s not a groundbreaking ending. Mittlefehldt only focuses on what his characters are going through. This means a group of tedious themes gets introduced, which might feel to heavy for others. Yes, I think it could have used some more humor, but the great overal lesson for future generations is now not hidden between the lines. What Makes Us deals with ignorance of society, media treatment, violence abuse, migration laws and even hurricane Katrina. It’s about trying to understand who you are and how much of that is decided by heritage. We are mostly made into someone by our parents’s choices, and even the best intentions can harm us. It’s okay to doubt who you are. It is your beliefs and your decisions that make you your own person. You are not your parents. You are not a race, or a faith. While you may understand this about yourself, the most important thing is to understand this about others.
This has happened before, lots of times. Because I’m Israeli. But that doesn’t mean I think it’s cool to murder people who are just trying to survive under a tyrannical, oppressive, imperialist government run by a political party that, by the way, is basically just like the crazies we have here.
One of my favorite things is that I thought there would be a romantic relationship, but there wasn’t. It was simply a group of friends goung through hardships together, and learning from each other. Growing because of each other. I would have liked to hear more about Declan though. He didn’t seem to enjoy his household anymore, and it looked like his brother was a homophobe. Yet, he was simply used as the best friend for Eran to lean on. It would also have been nice to find out more about Jewish culture, and the act of terrorism. While the whole conflict was about what should be justified, it only focused on Eran’s troubles in the end.
This ended in 3.5 stars for me. The Israeli characters were refreshing, and taught me alot about the aftermath of racism. Mrs Redwood was one of the best characters, and I’m still contemplating Eran’s mother’s speech. With the mere focus on the character-driven plot, the storyline could drag on sometimes. It made many sentences feel repetitive. Yet, everyone should read this book. You will leave it with a clearer mind, and your eyes wide open, ready to see the world. Isn’t that what a thoughtful book is supposed to do?
What Makes Us will be released on the 15th of October.
October 13, 2019
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
When Eran Sharon leads a protest to stop the police from performing searches and such without actual reason he never expected the large crowd that came to protest with him. The protest is so large it attracts the attention of the local news crew. Things are going great and the news crew is welcome until a group of anti protesters comes face to face with Eran's protest group. Shouting leads to a physical altercation which the news crews have caught on tape and now the story will be aired and available for everyone to see. When the story is aired Eran finds out exactly what his mother has been hiding and finally understands why she never wanted to tell him the truth about his family history. Now with all their secrets out Eran and his mother must face the consequences of actions they had nothing to do with in a battle they didn't choose.
This book was just okay for me. I was interested in this book as the story sounded amazing, however I feel like it came up just a bit short on delivery. There were moments when I felt for the characters and moments that I thoroughly enjoyed them but this didn't happen early enough. The story did a lot of flipping back and forth from time periods and perspectives which just made everything more confusing and harder to follow.
The characters were well done. Eran, our main character, was done very well. He was portrayed as a complete hot head with a short temper for almost all of the book. While this didn't get me to like him at all, it did do an amazing job of showing the similarities of Eran and his father while simultaneously showing the contrast of Eran and his mother.
I like the fact that this book brought up social issues. It forces the reader to take a look at social injustice and how people are judged based upon things they can't control, such as family members and race. We are also forced to look at consequences. Eran pushes a man and faces major consequences for it, but he pays for more than a simple push. He pays for what others believe him and his mother have done. It shows how people can be victimized by simply being who they are instead of the judgments on them being justified.
What I didn't like about this book was that it seemed to go on and on. Even though the story was pretty good and there were so many good parts of this book it still just dragged on and seemed like it was a lot longer than it actually was. This made it hard to stay focused on certain parts of the story as it was easy to lose focus on what was happening.
You can find this and all my other reviews at https://fourmoonreviews.blogspot.com/...
When Eran Sharon leads a protest to stop the police from performing searches and such without actual reason he never expected the large crowd that came to protest with him. The protest is so large it attracts the attention of the local news crew. Things are going great and the news crew is welcome until a group of anti protesters comes face to face with Eran's protest group. Shouting leads to a physical altercation which the news crews have caught on tape and now the story will be aired and available for everyone to see. When the story is aired Eran finds out exactly what his mother has been hiding and finally understands why she never wanted to tell him the truth about his family history. Now with all their secrets out Eran and his mother must face the consequences of actions they had nothing to do with in a battle they didn't choose.
This book was just okay for me. I was interested in this book as the story sounded amazing, however I feel like it came up just a bit short on delivery. There were moments when I felt for the characters and moments that I thoroughly enjoyed them but this didn't happen early enough. The story did a lot of flipping back and forth from time periods and perspectives which just made everything more confusing and harder to follow.
The characters were well done. Eran, our main character, was done very well. He was portrayed as a complete hot head with a short temper for almost all of the book. While this didn't get me to like him at all, it did do an amazing job of showing the similarities of Eran and his father while simultaneously showing the contrast of Eran and his mother.
I like the fact that this book brought up social issues. It forces the reader to take a look at social injustice and how people are judged based upon things they can't control, such as family members and race. We are also forced to look at consequences. Eran pushes a man and faces major consequences for it, but he pays for more than a simple push. He pays for what others believe him and his mother have done. It shows how people can be victimized by simply being who they are instead of the judgments on them being justified.
What I didn't like about this book was that it seemed to go on and on. Even though the story was pretty good and there were so many good parts of this book it still just dragged on and seemed like it was a lot longer than it actually was. This made it hard to stay focused on certain parts of the story as it was easy to lose focus on what was happening.
You can find this and all my other reviews at https://fourmoonreviews.blogspot.com/...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews