Book Review: Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo

Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo is a powerful and poignant novel in verse about a young girl named Nima who is grappling with her identity and place in the world. Set in both the United States and Sudan, the book explores themes of cultural identity, belonging, and the importance of love between women.

Nima is a young Sudanese girl living with her mother in America. Her father is dead, and she often imagines what the younger versions of her parents must have been like in the past. Throughout the book there is great emphasis placed on photographs, songs, and cultural heritage, especially language. I loved how snippets of Arabic were incorporated throughout. It lent a duality to the language in the book that reflected the very duality of Nima herself.

Nima often feels invisible and as though she doesn't really belong anywhere. She imagines she has an alter ego named Yasmeen. Yasmeen starts to appear more and more often. Eventually, Nima embarks on a journey into the past with Yasmeen through various dreamlike sequences. These sequences slowly reveal truths about the past (that Nima never sees coming) and which reshape her understanding of herself, her mother and her relationship with her. 

This was truly such a great read. The poetic imagery in the book is breathtaking. Elhillo's words flow like a river, and her use of language is evocative and emotive. She has a talent for capturing the essence of a moment and bringing it to life on the page. The verse format adds an additional layer of depth and emotion to the story, allowing the reader to feel Nima's pain and confusion in a visceral way.

At the heart of the book is the relationship between Nima and her mother. Elhillo beautifully illustrates the complexities of this bond, showing the deep love between mother and daughter, as well as the challenges that arise when cultural differences create a divide. The book emphasizes the importance of the love between women, highlighting the strength and resilience that comes from these relationships.

What I found most impressive about this book is the way Elhillo captures the struggles of a young girl caught between two worlds. Nima is torn between the country she was born in and the country her parents call home. She feels like she doesn't quite fit in anywhere, and the book beautifully illustrates the isolation and confusion that comes with this experience.

Overall, Home is Not a Country is a stunning book that explores important themes with grace and depth. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys beautifully written stories about the complexities of identity and the power of love between women, especially mothers and daughters.