JUST A HAT
By SHANAH KHUBIAR
Young Adult / Coming of Age / Jewish Fiction / Small-Town Texas / 1970s
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Page Count: 254
Publication Date: July 18, 2023
Scroll down for giveaway!
Action-packed, humorous, and bittersweet, this 1970s-era coming-of-age novel is more relevant than ever--exploring how a second-generation immigrant kid in a new hometown must navigate bullying, unexpected friendships, and the struggle of keeping both feet firmly planted in two very different cultures.
It's 1979, and thirteen-year-old Joseph Nissan can't help but notice that small-town Texas has something in common with Revolution-era Iran: an absence of fellow Jews. And in such a small town it seems obvious that a brown kid like him was bound to make friends with Latinos--which is a plus, since his new buds, the Ybarra twins, have his back. But when the Iran hostage crisis, two neighborhood bullies, and the local reverend's beautiful daughter put him in all sorts of danger, Joseph must find new ways to cope at home and at school.
As he struggles to trust others and stay true to himself, a fiercely guarded family secret keeps his father at a distance, and even his piano teacher, Miss Eleanor--who is like a grandmother to him--can't always protect him. But Joseph is not alone, and with a little help from his friends, he finds the courage to confront his fears and discovers he can inspire others to find their courage, too.
Just a Hat is an authentically one-of-a-kind YA debut that fuses the humor of Firoozeh Dumas's Funny in Farsi with the poignancy of Daniel Nayeri's Everything Sad Is Untrue.
My Review:
Just a Hat is the coming-of-age story of a Mizrahi Jew who was born in California and was raised in Texas in the 1970s. It follows Joseph (Youssef) as he learns about his family's history as immigrants, the hardships of his friends, and the typical struggles of love and identity when you're a minority in a small town.
I really enjoyed this book and the perspective it brought to topics that can be difficult to discuss. It tackles religion and differences in religious belief - both in how people can get along regardless and the way differences can lead to prejudice. It shows the struggles of an Iranian Jewish family living in America when the Iran hostage crisis occurs. It tackles history, family trauma, and growing up in a very approachable way.
The characters were all very interesting and they each had very distinct roles to play and arcs to go through. I enjoyed getting to know the dynamics of Joseph's school and the struggles he went through as a result of being not just Jewish, but also Iranian. I also really liked the blend of cultures represented. As a Latina I enjoyed the representation of Latinos here, particularly with Matteo and Mr. Ybarra.
Just a Hat is a great way to learn about other cultures while still getting the usual YA themes readers have always loved in the genre. It has fitting in, standing out, being yourself, learning how to fit into your family, learning how to be yourself in spite of your family, and how to love others even when they don't do a great job of loving you. It has a great message about community and personal growth. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy learning about different cultures/beliefs, love coming-of-age stories, and love stories set in older eras in rural towns.
There ARE some curse words and slurs, because they're being directed towards the main character and his friends for their differences or to highlight aspects of growing up. They're used to portray negative perceptions from other characters, but readers highly uncomfortable with them should be aware of their presence. There are also some tough elements (drugs, family loss), which are largely handled well. I do think Vonda's family aspects could've been given a little more attention since they felt a little glossed over by the end compared to other aspects. I give Just a Hat a Lone Star rating of ✯✯✯✯✯. It's a fun read with great messages and a beautiful community that feels like it is still growing, but in a positive way.
CLICK TO PURCHASE:
Shanah Khubiar is a retired law enforcement officer, and she is now self-employed as a subject matter specialist. She holds a BS and MEd in education from East Texas State University and a PhD in philosophy. A student of her Persian ancestry, she incorporates (Mizrachi) Middle Eastern Jewry into her fiction, examining the historical challenges and triumphs of a different culture and narrative than what usually appears in literature. Khubiar is a sometime resident and always fan of most things Texas.
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS:
Signed hardback copy of JUST A HAT
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 5/9/24)
CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH BLOG PARTICIPATING IN THIS BOOK BLITZ!
blog tour services provided by
5 STARS! Tee hee! I couldn't wait to read your review because I listened to this book and was blown away and wondered if you'd feel the same. You are such a tough reviewer (fair, but tough), so that you gave it 5 says a lot. Thanks for a wonderful & insightful review.
ReplyDelete