LitPick Review
All My Rage is told from a rotating point of view between Salahudin, his mother Misbah, and his (sometimes) best friend Noor. Pakistani immigrants, Sal and Noor are in high school and face some challenging adult issues. At first they have each other, but when The Fight occurs, they do not speak for months and they are some pretty troubled months. Sal is fighting to keep the family motel in business while dealing with a very sick mother and an alcoholic father who only makes the situation worse. Noor wants to go to college when she graduates, but her uncle wants her to take over the liquor store, so she is applying to colleges on her own and hoping something will work out. She does not want to let him down because her uncle rescued her when there was an earthquake at home and brought her to the United States to raise, but she really wants to get a degree and free herself from her uncle's expectations. Alternating between the characters' points of view allows the reader to experience the depths of emotion each goes through, and it adds to an already compelling story.
Opinion:
It took me a few chapters to get the characters straight. Once I did, I fell into the world of Sal, Noor, his parents, her uncle, and their lives in Juniper, California and thoroughly enjoyed the journey. That said, it is not for the faint of heart. The book deals with harsh sadness, heartbreak, and loss, and the characters have to endure the effects of racism, alcoholism, and abuse. The role of family is a huge centerpiece of the story, and the characters' personalities are interwoven with their places in their families. Once I became invested in the characters, this meant that I was experiencing their grief and their joys alongside them and that is the mark of a good author.
This book is intended for teens/young adults. I would caution any reader to be sure they are ready for the harsh topics mentioned above. There are multiple situations of abuse. Alcoholism is woven into the story, but its effects are not dulled for the reader's protection. Racism is a main topic in the book and I am glad the author did not sugarcoat it, but it could be a bit much for a younger reader.
