Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

I have been having a great year in terms of finding, being told about, and reading great, WOW type books.

This is one of those. Love Hate & Other Filters is the story of Maya and her senior year of high school in a world where her brown skin and her Muslim faith mark her as different in her community. When a horrible thing happens in another part off her state she faces what has become all too common, blaming Muslims and/or people of color for the actions of others even when there is (as is often, almost always the case) no connection between them and what ever it is that happened.

This happens as part of a larger story, the story of young romantic feelings, parent-child relationships, culture clashes between where one comes from and where one is, and modernity. I especially felt the weight of the parent-child piece since I am a parent. It is always more complicated then children think it is to manage what we think is best for our kids, what they hope for, dream about, want, and to keep our own fears and dreams in check or balance. But I also felt for Maya and wanted to see her get her wish, to go to her dream college and pursue her art. I wanted her to find her wings and soar and I was angry on her behalf when she was stifled.

My heart broke and mended over the 300ish pages of this one, total love!!

(Finished July 1, 2018)