Other Words for Home (2019)

《Other Words for Home》是一本诗歌形式的儿童读物。 故事讲述了一个叙利亚难民家庭的故事，主角是12岁的女孩裘德（Jude）。该书夺得了2020年纽伯瑞奖银牌。

Other Words for Home is a 2019 free verse children's book by Jasmine Warga. The story is about a family of Syrian refugees with Jude, a 12-year-old girl, as protagonist. The book won a 2020 Newbery Honor.

The Summary

The book is divided into six parts.

Part I : Changing

Jude is a 12-year-old girl who lives in a city in Syria on the Mediterranean Sea. There are many tourists in her city, but her father never allows her to talk to them, men, or anybody she does not know. Unlike many places in Syria, Jude's city, which is not as large or bustling, is safe from the war. Jude lives in an apartment across a courtyard from her extended family, and her best friend is her cousin, Fatima, with whom she eats her afternoon snack. They like to watch old movies from the United States together. As Jude enjoys her childhood, meeting a new friend with Fatima and exploring the city, she hears about the Syrian Civil War from her older brother, Issa (eye-sa). She feels like her brother is changing too much as he attends protests, and she hears about the horrors of the war from her father. Issa later moves out of the apartment. When his new apartment is raided by the police, the city becomes less safe, and police are everywhere. Jude's mother tells her that she is pregnant and it is time to leave Syria. They say goodbye to Jude's father, Issa, Fatima, and Auntie Amal. Jude promises Fatima that she will never forget her and Issa that she will be brave.

Part II : Arriving

Jude and her mother fly to Cincinnati, Ohio in a plane. They go through the immigration process at the airport. Jude feels lucky, but heartbroken to be leaving her father and brother. She meets her Uncle Mazin, Aunt Michelle, and cousin, Sarah. Aunt Michelle welcomes Jude as soon as she sees her. On the drive home to their house in Clifton, a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Sarah makes fun of how Jude speaks English. They arrive at the old three-story house where the family lives, in an area with many trees and hills. Uncle Mazin shows Jude all of his technology in his study. Jude watches a movie with Sarah, and she thinks that they are becoming friends until she hears a comment that Sarah makes to Aunt Michelle. She continues to be amazed by her new home, even though she feels grief from leaving her family, and Aunt Michelle is very nice to her. She takes Jude and Sarah out to eat at a French restaurant. Jude has some conflicts with her mother about adjustment to life in Cincinnati, America.