Other Words for Home
“Just like I am no longer
a girl.
I am a Middle Eastern girl.
A Syrian girl.
A Muslim girl.
Americans love labels.
They help them know what to expect.
Sometimes, though,
I think labels stop them from
thinking”
About This Book:
Published: 2019
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, Novel in Verse
Twelve-year-old Jude lives in a seaside town in Syria with her family. She loves American movies, dreams of becoming an actress, and spends her afternoons with her best friend and cousin Fatima. But the Syrian Civil War is getting closer. Her older brother Issa is attending protests for democracy. The family doesn't feel safe anymore.
Jude's pregnant mother takes her to live with relatives in Cincinnati, Ohio, leaving Jude's father and brother behind in Syria. Jude doesn't know when she'll see them again. In America, she has to learn English, navigate middle school, and figure out what it means to be labeled "Middle Eastern" for the first time.
Slowly, Jude finds her footing in America. When auditions for the school musical are announced, Jude has to decide whether she's brave enough to try out and be seen.
The book is written in free verse, which makes it feel intimate and immediate. It won a Newbery Honor in 2020 and has been praised for giving voice to the refugee experience. Jasmine Warga grew up in Ohio and drew on conversations with Syrian refugees to write Jude's story.
Perfect for readers who appreciate: Middle grade fiction, stories about immigration, novels in verse, Syrian refugee experience, coming-of-age stories
Why We Recommend This Book:
Other Words for Home appears on our reflection cards because it explores what it means to belong when you're caught between two homes. Jude's journey reminds us that identity isn't about choosing one culture over another, but about holding space for all the parts of who you are. Her courage to keep showing up, to try out for the musical even when she's scared, to stay connected to Syria while building a life in America, speaks to anyone who's ever felt like they don't quite fit.
The verse format makes the story accessible without simplifying the complex emotions Jude navigates. You feel her homesickness, her confusion, her small victories. Readers talk about how the book helped them understand what it's like to be a newcomer, to learn a new language while grieving everything you left behind. It's also a beautiful portrait of resilience, showing how Jude finds ways to rise like freshly baked bread.
