A Girl Like That, Tanaz Bhathena

A Girl Like That
Written by Tanaz Bhathena

A beautifully written book about a tragic life cut short.

The book opens at Zarin and Porus’ deaths, a girl and boy that are not related, alone together in a car. The story is told from differing perspectives about what led to this moment. Zarin is a orphan growing up in Saudi Arabia, raised by an abusive aunt and subject to many other abuses over her life. She is labeled a troubled child and is bullied by her classmates. The only person to really care about her is Porus.

The story is one that could be written anywhere but Saudi Arabia adds so much to the story that wouldn’t be relevant in Anytown, USA, the Religious Police being at the scene of the accident is just the first. The themes encountered are familiar: death, abuse, rape culture, mental health, bullying. Seeing them from another cultural view is what really makes it unique.

It is not an easy to read book, I had to push myself to complete it. There are a lot of hardships and triggering events in it. It is disturbing and stays with you in a way that only stories that hit home can.

Review by Crystal Walker, Skyline High Media Center
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 9-12

A Girl Like That
Written by Tanaz Bhathena
Farrar Straus Giroux
378 pages
Release Date: February 27, 2018
A review copy was provided by the publisher.

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