The Love and Lies of Rukshana Ali by Sabina

Rukshana loves her family but she's been keeping a secret from them. She's gay and she knows that they would absolutely freak out. That turns into

For Read Across America Week 2023 I decided to make a point to read a book that had been challenged. Meaning that there are people who don't think that this book is appropriate or important for students in high school to read. Personally I think this should be read by as many people as possible. It can be hard to read but its a story about family and embracing differences.

Rukshana goes through so much at the hands of the people that she loves just because she fell in love with another girl. Being dragged to Bangladesh under false pretenses and forced to get engaged before she's allowed to go home.

Her friends also had an extremely hard time relating to her. They assumed that the worse her parents would do when they found out is yell. Different background and upbringings mean that communication is really important.

This book does feel like it jumps around quite a bit and isn't super smooth about transitions from one scene to the next. It impacted my experience quite a bit honestly. Pulling me out and distracting from the immersion.

Just a heads up I want to give some trigger warnings there are discerptions of intimate partner violence, child abuse, death and just so, so much homophobia. That being said I do still recommend this book however it can be very hard to read or listen to.