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Pieces
As if track practice, yearbook meetings, and tumultuous friendships weren't enough, sisters Hannah and Noreen are catapulted into a disorienting new reality when their dad returns home from his medical mission in Syria a haunted and broken man. All of a sudden, their once tight knit family is falling to pieces. Little do they know, things will become a lot more crazy and unpredictable as each of them fights a different battle.
- GenresRealistic Fiction
184 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2019
1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Afshan Malik
1 book28 followersAfshan Malik is a Chicago native turned southern belle who loves chilled Dr. Pepper, afternoon naps, and historical novels. She recently completed her masters degree in the nonprofit field and looks forward to bringing her interests together at the global nonprofit Rabata. She is the calm eye of the storm in much of what life tosses her way and enjoys soaking up the Texas sun with her husband and five children.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 27, 2020
i've tried reading books with muslim representation from big name publishers, and none come close to how genuine this story is. absolutely zero pandering to a nonmuslim audience going on here, we have a relatable-women-only zone.
despite the book being a quick read, the story still has a lot of depth (yes i cried) and the characters all felt fleshed out. it gave me food for thought to reflect on myself, especially in how i react to struggle and treat my loved ones. i love it when a contemporary novel manages to do that.
dahlia, the mother, is a stand out. her adult perspective alongside the teenage daughters added a lot of maturity. she was patient, graceful, and strong beyond my reach while still being human. how often is a mother in a YA novel a sympathetic and thoughtfully-explored (maybe even #goals) character? especially in a story about muslim americans? it was gratifying to get to peer into what it would be like to walk in her shoes.
also. . . . .. . no spoilers but noreen's storyline? iconic. i don't want anyone else but afshan malik writing muslim high school girls anymore, the rest of yall are on timeout.
despite the book being a quick read, the story still has a lot of depth (yes i cried) and the characters all felt fleshed out. it gave me food for thought to reflect on myself, especially in how i react to struggle and treat my loved ones. i love it when a contemporary novel manages to do that.
dahlia, the mother, is a stand out. her adult perspective alongside the teenage daughters added a lot of maturity. she was patient, graceful, and strong beyond my reach while still being human. how often is a mother in a YA novel a sympathetic and thoughtfully-explored (maybe even #goals) character? especially in a story about muslim americans? it was gratifying to get to peer into what it would be like to walk in her shoes.
also. . . . .. . no spoilers but noreen's storyline? iconic. i don't want anyone else but afshan malik writing muslim high school girls anymore, the rest of yall are on timeout.
August 17, 2020
I love YA books with substance! That’s what you’ll find in Pieces. Hannah is struggling with her Dad’s PTSD, who has come home from a service trip serving Syrian refugees. Not only that, he lost some team members during an attack. The entire family is facing a new normal, finding ways to help the Dad as well as move on with their lives. Lots of feels and some tearful moments. But you see the resilience of the human spirit come thru. I loved Hannah and her family! And hope Afshan Malik comes up with a Part II, because I am not done reading about them!
February 16, 2020
Pieces by Afshan Malik is an interesting glimpse of the American Dream torn apart by a fateful choice and the extreme trauma experienced by (Adam) a man, father and doctor who bravely volunteers for Doctors Without Borders and finds himself caught in a tragedy when the temporary hospital he works for overseas is infiltrated by terrorism, violence and death.
The aftermath when Adam returns home for his wife Dahlia and two teen daughters offers a closer look at the haunted and debilitating aspects of P.T.S.D. and how it affects our loved ones as much as the person suffering from it.
Although there were times in the story I wished for more depth into the emotions of each individual character, I appreciated that not only did I get to hear from his family what this is like, but I also was given a glimpse of a religion I don’t know a lot about, as they practice Islam. The girls wear headscarves to cover their hair and pray every day at school. I appreciate any story that helps me understand another person and a situation that I might never know otherwise.
Also notable that both girls seemed relatively popular, but Hannah especially becomes a victim of bullying and peer pressure when the “dream” starts to crumble and the image of perfection that her family may have held to outsiders has been compromised by gossip and the pettiness many of us remember from our school years.
I am grateful to the author for talking about choices, taking chances, cause and affect and the depth and scale of the human heart to forgive, forge new paths and to love.
The aftermath when Adam returns home for his wife Dahlia and two teen daughters offers a closer look at the haunted and debilitating aspects of P.T.S.D. and how it affects our loved ones as much as the person suffering from it.
Although there were times in the story I wished for more depth into the emotions of each individual character, I appreciated that not only did I get to hear from his family what this is like, but I also was given a glimpse of a religion I don’t know a lot about, as they practice Islam. The girls wear headscarves to cover their hair and pray every day at school. I appreciate any story that helps me understand another person and a situation that I might never know otherwise.
Also notable that both girls seemed relatively popular, but Hannah especially becomes a victim of bullying and peer pressure when the “dream” starts to crumble and the image of perfection that her family may have held to outsiders has been compromised by gossip and the pettiness many of us remember from our school years.
I am grateful to the author for talking about choices, taking chances, cause and affect and the depth and scale of the human heart to forgive, forge new paths and to love.
September 28, 2020
"100% a good read. A story that focuses on the depths of mental issues, trauma, and the way they impact more than one person in a family. Good descriptive writing with great character development and storyline." -Radhiyah D. (My 17yrs old daughter)
January 22, 2020
If you're not reading anything else, then this is a really fast read. The author does a great job of going into each characters perspective of the trauma they went through. It seems like she has personal experience or has done a real good job in researching.
Nice to read about a typical modern Muslim family going through the daily routines of praying 5x/day, picking up dinner from the local restaurant, the daily stresses of middle and high school for a Muslim teenager.
The penultimate chapter was a real surprise but was handled superbly. I do hope there will be sequel to this book, so we can follow the lives of this family.
Nice to read about a typical modern Muslim family going through the daily routines of praying 5x/day, picking up dinner from the local restaurant, the daily stresses of middle and high school for a Muslim teenager.
The penultimate chapter was a real surprise but was handled superbly. I do hope there will be sequel to this book, so we can follow the lives of this family.
January 11, 2020
The author did a great job showing the perspective of each main characters point of view in dealing with their fathers/husbands mental illness.
I appreciated the details in this book, and was surprised that it was an easy read for a not so light issue. I enjoyed it and hope there’s a sequel.
I appreciated the details in this book, and was surprised that it was an easy read for a not so light issue. I enjoyed it and hope there’s a sequel.
October 7, 2019
Wonderfully written about a family dealing with PTSD and trauma. Very quick read.
February 12, 2022
The story is unlike anything else I have read. Malik discusses important topics like mental health, family life, the effects of war, and even assault. The book makes for a great teaching tool, allows students to get into the lives of an all-American Muslim family as they unravel. While the canon of American Muslim literature is only developing, this book has a special place in it.
What I loved -
- The mom and dad were endearing, complex characters.
- The alternating points of view
There are some stories in which the characters stay with you long after you finish the novel. I'm not sure if the dialogue of the teenagers seemed too clean or sanitized, but the way the characters talked didn't seem realistic at moments of intense emotion. I am glad Malik wrote the book in a way that is palatable for a wide range of audiences.
What I loved -
- The mom and dad were endearing, complex characters.
- The alternating points of view
There are some stories in which the characters stay with you long after you finish the novel. I'm not sure if the dialogue of the teenagers seemed too clean or sanitized, but the way the characters talked didn't seem realistic at moments of intense emotion. I am glad Malik wrote the book in a way that is palatable for a wide range of audiences.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews