Ten Things I Hate About Me By: Randa Abdel-Fattah

Title: Ten Things I Hate About Me

Author: Randa Abdel-Fattah

HARDBACK

Amount of Pages: 297

Publisher: Orchard Books

Release Date: January 1, 2009

Genre: YA/Growing Up

Geared Towards: Teens,

Extra Info: Randa is also the author of Does My Head Look Big In This? [Read Review HERE].

"At school I'm Aussie-blonde Jamie -- one of the crowd. At home I'm Muslim Jamilah -- driven mad by my Stone Age dad. I should win an Oscar for my acting skills. But I can't keep it up for much longer..."

Summary (From Goodreads): Jamie just wants to fit in. She doesn't want to be seen as a stereotypical Muslim girl, so she does everything possible to hide that part of herself. Even if it means pushing her friends away because she's afraid to let them know her dad forbids her from hanging out with boys or that she secretly loves to play the darabuka (Arabic drums).

But when the cutest boy in school asks her out and her friends start to wonder about Jamie's life outside of school, her secrets threaten to explode. Can Jamie figure out how to be both Jamie and Jamilah before she loses everything?

Wdebo's Review: I thought this book was cute and a great, light read, but not really my favorite book in the world, I liked Does My Head Look Big In This? a lot more.

It annoyed me a lot about how hard Jamie would work to try to hide her Muslim/Lebonese background, she dyed her hair yellow AND has in blue contacts? Even though, she does learn in the end that you have to be true to yourself, but still, in her school being popular means hanging out with a bunch of racist bastards and their bimbo girlfriends...woo how much fun! *Swings arms in sarcastic manner*. On the plus side though, Jamie is a very witty narrator always finding ways to crack a joke here and there which was nice to lighten the mood.

I did enjoy the plot/story, the only other book I've read about Muslim/Lebonese culture/heritage/life/etc is Randa's other book, so yeah, I think more people should write about Muslim/Lebonese people, same as writing more about ASIAN people!!! There were sad scenes, and tearful parts thrown with the comedic parts...which were nice...it's always good to have some heart.

I really like Timothy, even though he seems a bit eh, but he was sweet and didn't give a damn about Jamie's background, just her person.

I don't like the cover that much, yes the purple is pretty/soft, but it just seems childish...and how can anyone NOT see that Jamie is Lebonese, even with her blond hair/blond eyes?!!! I mean, are the popular people racist AND stupid??!!

All in all, a pretty good/sweet read, that many people are sure to enjoy.

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)