Bhav Benipal, boy, age 16, from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, on 15th February 2009. Rating: 9/10
Kiss the Dust is the best book that i have ever read. It tells us about the Kurdish people, about theirs life problems and what circumstances they had to go through when being killed by Iraqi government and it also gives us a good lesson of Tara being only a thirteen year old girl and how she strongly faces all the hard situations.
Celeste, girl, age 12, from wellington, New Zealand, on 17th July 2007. Rating: 8/10
I think thats an interesting story that shows you how lucky you are.
One-of-a-kind, girl, age 16, from Tauranga, New Zealand, on 18th June 2006. Rating: 8/10
I loved this book so much. I remember reading this book in third form and i loved it then and still do. it shows us what the world is really like and that it isn't what it seems like in the movies. The world can be a cruel place to live in but when sticking together you can get through life.
courtney, age 12, from comstock park, michigan, United States, on 23rd May 2006. Rating: 8/10
i thought the book was very rivetting. you never knew what was going to happen next. the ending was great and i hope that sometime in the near future she will make another one just to basically explain the ending and not leave the young readers hanging at all.
Valeria, girl, age 15, from Bogotá, Colombia, on 7th March 2006. Rating: 7/10
THis book is good because it show us how peolpe suffer in those wars
Michelle Kesler, girl, age 15, from oregon, United States, on 1st December 2005. Rating: 9/10
It was an amazing book of trials and tribulation, of what a family had to go through to be together,what they had to do to become safe. Why was it that in the older times people had to go through those things? I dont really know, but I do know that if I had to go through those things that may I would'nt have made it, may I would'nt have the will power that Tera and her family had during their struggle for safty and freedom to do what they wanted. I read this book because I love to read not because I had to. I believe that reading is a privilage and each of us has the right to read or not to. We get to decide on almost everything in our lives and we still think of it as hard or boring. What would you do in Tara's place?!!! This book is amazing and people who want to know about our world, and life back then and to come should read it!
Jessica D, girl, age 15, from Australia, on 16th November 2005. Rating: 2/10
I had to read this book for a school novel review. I found the book fairly boring. No matter what i just couldnt get into it, everytime i started to read i began to fall asleep! When i got to school my friends would explain the book to me and i thought it sounded pretty interesting. I think it is just the way that the book has been written. It doesnt let you get into it.
Tasha Boroff, girl, age 13, from Englewood, United States, on 13th November 2005. Rating:
I loved this book. This book was realy great. I had to read this book for a school project. At the end of the book I was realy surprized. Well got to go.
mishmish, girl, age 15, from jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 12th November 2005. Rating:
The book is amazing. I did not like it at the beginning, but I changed my mind in the middle. I am one of those people that dose not like to sit down and read, but this book changed every thin to me about reading. Good books can really build your imagination. I love it!!!!!!
Jessica, girl, age 12, from Loganville, Georgia, United States, on 11th November 2005. Rating:
I thought the book was very good. I loved how it gave great detail on how the political things are in the Middle East and about how serious things are for some families. I also really enjoyed this book because it made me feel anxiousn or excited for the people in the book when they were in critical or emotional situations. I really liked the book Kiss the Dust.
Kalynn, girl, age 13, from snellville, United States, on 11th November 2005. Rating: 9/10
this book was interesting because you got to learn about differnt cultures!! Tara is a very nice girl, she is outgoing and obedient! Hero is obedient but self-centered.
Amanda, girl, age 12, from Loganville, United States, on 11th November 2005. Rating: 8/10
This book was pretty good....i liked how it was very detailed. The book made you want to keep reading and never ever put it down. I thought it was going to be boring since it was for school....the quizzes were pretty hard since the book was very detailed. this book was very good i really enjoyed reading it!!!
Rachel, girl, age 13, from Nebraska, United States, on 10th November 2005. Rating:
I like the book so far im only a little ways in but still its a book that I want to keep reading and never put it down!!!! I like learning about refugees it makes me feel grateful for what I have. At the begining it was a little confusing I think i can get it if I read more on to the story. I thought that it would be a little boring because I have to do it for an assignment but im reading more and more every night.
bec, girl, age 12, from sydney, Australia, on 9th November 2005. Rating: 7/10
I have not read this book yet although I certainly mean to because the reveiw seems good. Anonamous, girl, 15, I disagree with you. Sure, it is fine to sit in your comfortable home and comment on things that you obviously have no idea about, but these people have gone through so much. Real people, with personalities, thoughts going through there heads twenty four seven, with ideas and hopes and dreams just like you no doubt have. imagine it was you. How would you feel if someone said how boring your whole life story was? Thankyou.
Kabowd Mensah, girl, age 13, from Colorado ,Englewoood, United States, on 8th October 2005. Rating: 9/10
WOW! I expected this book to be very boring since it was a school project. I just realized how lucky I am. I am an imigrant from Ghana,West Africa and I have never read of such violence.This book is more than I thought it will be and I look forward to reading more books like this one.
Marcelina Geneve, girl, age 12, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, on 27th September 2005. Rating: 6/10
I thought Kiss the Dust was an okay book. All the way through I was intrigued and actually thought,"This is a great book!" I was proven wrong though at the end because the ending was TERRIBLE!! It ruined the whole book, for me, it dissappointed me so. It was as if the author, Elizabeth Laird, was rushing to finish the book. That is why I was so dissappointed with this book, and gave it a 6.
SUSAN, girl, age 12, from MAINE, United States, on 17th September 2005. Rating:
I LOVE THIS BOOK IT IS VERY SAD.
Jeebs, girl, age 14, from Nelson, New Zealand, on 9th August 2005. Rating: 8/10
My class was told to read this book, Kiss the Dust, by our English teacher and instantly everyone thought "Oh man, not a boring book!" But once into the pages of this book, it proved us all to be entirely wrong! Kiss the Dust is such a thought provoking book, and it talks about the real and important issues in the world. Reading it gave me such a different perspective on the way people live. Definitely a wonderfully good read!
Lola, girl, age 13, from London, United Kingdom, on 27th June 2005. Rating: 7/10
I thought that this was a good book. We had to read it for an english project and I would not read this book by choice as I don't really enjoy reading that much. However, it made me think about Refugees' situation and realise how lucky I am. :-D x.X.x
Amber, girl, age 13, from Queensland, Australia, on 8th June 2005. Rating:
I haven't read this book yet, but it seems very touching when my teacher read parts of it out to the class. I know what goes on in it but I guess I will have to read it to get the full effect. I have read Secret Friends by Elizabeth Laird and it made me cry both times I read it I have to go now but I believe Elizabeth Laird is a great writer and hope that this will be published!
[Anonymous], girl, age 11, from United Kingdom, on 3rd June 2005. Rating: 10/10
I think the book was amazing, it is the best book i've ever read and i think that it is Elizabeths Lairds top book joint with The Wild things series(which are amazing aswell!) I really,really,really recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a sad,exciting,brave kind of character in their reading. Elizabeth laird' books are all fantastic and i really, really liked them all! I say this as i have read: The whole of the wild things series (10 in the series) Hiding Out Kiss the Dust Red sky in the Morning Jakes Tower Seceret Friends Garbage King And Quite a few others! All of these books can be got from you're local libary or from Amazon I relly think you should read some of Elizabeth Lairds books!
jenni, girl, age 14, from hawkes bay, New Zealand, on 2nd June 2005. Rating: 9/10
at school we had to do a "novel study" on this book.i found it very interesting and it really made me think on what it would be like living as a refugee and how hard their lives can be.i thought it was a very thought provoking book. i recommend you reading it!
aby radwin, girl, age 14, from holden hill, Australia, on 2nd June 2005. Rating: 5/10
i didn't really like the book because it was boring for me for other people in my class it is interesting for them but no i didn't enjoy it. I think i didn't like it because i like reading eather sad novels or scary novels not novels like Kiss the Dust because theres nothing sad or scary about the book! thank you!
Nina Alkurdia, girl, age 14, from United Kingdom, on 20th May 2005. Rating: 10/10
im so glad that somebody out there who isn;t a refugee has decided to be so caring and show the people who live without any difficulties how there is so many people suffering out there and all we seem to care about is ourselves! i believe that who ever thinks this is typical book about refugees is just one of those selfish and ignorant people who dont seem to care and never will unless they experience it themselves and you wouldn't want that to happen! SO JUST BE GRATEFUL!!!!!!!!
ellen rud, girl, age 13, from west sussex, United Kingdom, on 10th May 2005. Rating: 10/10
Although i am only half way through i still think its amazing, i haven't finished a book since year 3 and genreally find reading boring, but i haven't been able to put this book down, we were ment to read up to chaptor 4 but i carried on and om on chaptor 12, i'm really enjoying this book and would recomend it to anyone.
Himani , girl, from United Kingdom, on 24th April 2005. Rating: 9/10
I thought this was a touching story. It really makes you feel what it would be like to be a refugee. When I first saw it, I thought it was going to be boring but I quickly got into it. It is a beautiful book I would say you'd think the same.
Allen, boy, age 13, from North Carolina, United States, on 15th April 2005. Rating:
The book was GREAT!!! I just finished reading the last chapter today. The ending was really good!! well i just wanted to say how compliment on how good it was!!
Chin , girl, age 12, from virgina, United States, on 25th March 2005. Rating: 10/10
i have not even read the book yet but i found out there is a kurdish book. i got really intersted into it becuase i am a kurd and my mom had to face the same things like the girl in the story. i am really excited to read it.
kristin, girl, age 12, from washington, United States, on 21st March 2005. Rating: 9/10
I thought that this book was really touching and the characters in this novel, especially Tara, had to go through many hardships and unfortunate events. Even though the family went through these events they always stayed together as a family. This book is well written and it makes you actually see and visualize what is happenning in the Iraq and Iran war. Everyone would like this wonderful book!
Bronwyn Bauerhuit, girl, age 14, from canberra, Australia, on 9th March 2005. Rating:
I think this book is really good. my class had to read it for an english assignment and i think it really opened their eyes to what some of these people have to go through. I think no one in my class regrets reading this book. It was just so touching and eye opening. Thank you to Elizabeth Laird for having the courage to write and publish this.
Jonny, boy, age 11, from Cambridge, United Kingdom, on 3rd March 2005. Rating: 8/10
I think this book really made me think about the middle east sitution. How other people are being thrown out of thier homes by thre goverment. This book was good but very depressing
Robert Lott, boy, age 15, from Binghamton , United States, on 22nd February 2005. Rating: 8/10
This book was a wonderfully made book. It made you feel sorry for The kurds, you relize that you have so much and that your life is great, and that you weren't happy with so many things. So I started to give to charity's. It makes you feel that by you being greedy that you aren't helping anyone So you feel the need to help peole like tara's family. This book changed my life. I wonder now how i was so immature and that i was a jerk. I hope that someone outthere that has read this book will also feel the way i did about it.
[Anonymous], boy, age 14, from United States, on 21st February 2005. Rating: 6/10
We had to read this book for my English class this year... I can understand why for the cultural part of it, but overall it isn't particularly geared to older readers. I found it pretty boring, there were only one or two times where I actually wanted to know what was going to happen next... I'm not saying that it's not a good book, just that I didn't especially like it.
jessica norton, girl, age 15, from act, Australia, on 17th February 2005. Rating:
this book was realay good it gave readers a veiw of wat it was like in those times an dit made me feel just how luckyi am!!! this book rocks!!! :)
[Anonymous], girl, age 13, from United States, on 8th February 2005. Rating: 10/10
this is one of the best books i have read. everybody should read this book because it teaches you a lesson. i hope that this incourges you to read this book.
[Anonymous], girl, from United States, on 1st February 2005. Rating: 10/10
i loved this book alot. it was so sad. i remember i started to cry. i would recomend this book to anybody. it teaches us alot, so read this book and you won't regret it!!
Nahreen A., girl, age 15, from Modesto California, United States, on 14th January 2005. Rating: 10/10
i loved the book it was really intersesting to see what Tara would do and how here point of view changed throw out the story. You would think that someone that want throw so much would just give up but she still fights and never gives up hope
Katie, girl, age 10, from London, United Kingdom, on 13th January 2005. Rating: 10/10
I thought it was really brave to do what that family did . It is really brave and adventurous. But people with a nervous dispositin should not read it
amy , girl, age 19 (13? when i read it the first time), from California, United States, on 12th January 2005. Rating: 9/10
Over and over I hear the last sentence. I can remember reading it that first time under the covers and just crying. To be without a home, shifted from govt. to govt., was something I never believed happening. It's only as I grow older and every once in a while read an article about the Kurds that I realize that it was not just a story, it was someones life. In light of current events it's a reality everyone should know about; it's gives the middle east a diffrent light.
nicole, girl, age 12, from Mew Port Richey, United States, on 15th December 2004. Rating: 8/10
I just got finished reading this book in school. I found it very interesting. Every day in class I couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to see what happened to Tara wt the end ,but I thought it was fantastic!.
Taylor , girl, age 11, from Battle Creek, United States, on 12th December 2004. Rating: 1/10
I really am interested in this book,but not so iterested to be telling someone about it.I think this book is about a little girl about 12 years old searching for family secrets.Tara is a kurd. With out tara knowing about all of her family secerts, tara is friends with one of her tribes enemies.
Pearl, girl, age 12, from Renton, WA, United States, on 10th December 2004. Rating: 10/10
I think that this book is really good so far! We're reading it in class and so far, I've enjoyed it. Some parts may seem boring, but then some parts have you hanging off your seat. We haven't finish the book yet. The author ahs a good way of showing us kids in middle school what it was like back then, with Iraq, Iran, and Kurdistan. She showed us what kids did for fun back then without electronic things.
Ashanta, girl, age 12, from Renton Washington, United States, on 9th December 2004. Rating: 9/10
I thought the book was really good. You'd be reading it and think it's boring and right when you're about to stop reading it totally turns around and is cool and exciting. I hope that my statement will encourage people to read this book.
Kara, girl, age 14, from evanston, United States, on 18th November 2004. Rating:
I really liked this book, and to people that no me i dont really like books. This book kept me on my feet, and didnt bore me in any way. But yea it had its momoents, when things go flat and you seem to want to let the book down. But then all of a sudden something else happeneds and your stuck in the book. But other than that i would have to say this goes in the best books ever slot.
Kristina, girl, age 14, from New York, United States, on 18th November 2004. Rating: 7/10
This novel was assigned in my 9th grade Humanities class. Though the reading was a bit simplistic, I liked the plot. I could see a lot my myself in Tara, which is always a good thing while reading a novel. It also helps to get rid of the common misconception that Iraq and Iran are like potato and potahto; exactly the same. They are two different countries with different languages and customs. All in all, I liked this novel. :)
Austin, girl, age 13, from Buffalo , United States, on 12th November 2004. Rating: 8/10
I thought this book was very interesting. I found it interesting because I am an American, not an Iraqi, or a Kurd. I have no idea what it is like to live in a country where you see young boys getting shot, because of their religion. It was also adventurous. When The family traveled to Iran, and went over the bridge, and went along the narrow paths. It made me want to keep reading. I thought it was a well written book. Good job Elizabeth Laird!
Liza, girl, age 13, from Toronto, Canada, on 30th October 2004. Rating: 10/10
I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. First off it becuase I am an iraqi kurd and my uncle was a pesh murga and during the time of the iraq and iran war my family went through a rough time and so i can relate alot to this book. I have heard many stories from my family about things they went through and they are all very similar to what goes on this book. this book really speaks out about what the kurdish people went through and I find it very good that people out there who arent even kurdish care so i would like to say my thanks to Elizabeth Laird and God bless her for having such a kind and caring heart.
Liza, girl, age 13, from Toronto, Canada, on 30th October 2004. Rating: 10/10
This is my second comment but I would like to also say that I would definatley recommend this book to anyone or atleast those who care but for those who dont care dont read it because you honestly need to have empathy and truly understand what is happening. I read this book on my own free will not because i had to. This happend very much before i was born but it still bothers me because it happend to my family and i was born in kurdistan and am i very proud of that. I miss my beautiful country soo much:) thats ok though because i will always love it and it will always be my home even if someone locks me out of it and throughs away the key!
Caroline, girl, age 13, from Napier, New Zealand, on 27th October 2004. Rating: 7/10
I had to read this book for an english exam so I found it quite hard to get into, but once I was a decent way through it I was engrossed in it.I really enjoyed it and read the book again. It really made me think about what the people of kurdistan have to go through every day.
Rebecca, girl, age 15, from Melbourne, Australia, on 24th October 2004. Rating: 8/10
When i first read Kiss the Dust i thought it was quite boring. As i got further into the book i found it quite interesting to find out what Tara and her family had to go through for their freedom amd piece of mind.
G, girl, age 13, from New Zealand, on 23rd October 2004. Rating: 4/10
I read it at school and I found the begining a bit boring. It got more interesting as you made your way though the book but I have read better. It just wasn't a book I really wanted to read. I could put it down without wanting to start reading it again. Perhaps this is because I like really exciting books so I think that if your a person interested in the tough situation they're in and the different lifestyles. It was farly sad but had a happy ending.
Arshad kurdi , boy, age 15, from christchurch, New Zealand, on 20th October 2004. Rating: 1/10
This book is one of the greatest book that i ever have read and i liked it alot.I liked because it is about my country it tells other people what has happend and whats happening to Kurdish people.I hope one day people care about Kurdish people.Thank you
Katy, girl, age 14, from Virginia, United States, on 13th October 2004. Rating: 7/10
I love this book..uh so far, I have to do it for a book report but it caught my attention from the very beginning. We are learning about culture and religions and the life of the people in the Middle East and Mediterranean(sp?)area. This book has already taught me alot about how the kurds lived and i havent even finished the book! ...hehe the book report is due at the end of the month....and i havent done any my research, oops, maybe i'll post again once ive finished
farahnaz, girl, age 18, from S.K, Canada, on 7th October 2004. Rating: 1/10
I think this book is great, and i would reconmand it to whoever wants to know how it would feel to live in a world where nothing is save and that you are in dangrerous every day. we in canada or Europe take things for granted but when you read this book you will learn some new things about people outside of your save world and its really sad but it has a happy ending.
Jo, girl, age 14, from West Coast - Westport, New Zealand, on 30th September 2004. Rating: 9/10
I thought this book was rather boring in the beginning, but once i got into it I thought it was really interesting and I would defitnily recommend it! It's very real and to the point and it gave me an insight on how refugees get treated and what the families actually feel like and what they have to deal with. If you think refugees have it easy- read this book!
Nergiz, girl, age 14, from North East, United Kingdom, on 24th September 2004. Rating: 1/10
i love it because im from iraq Kurdistan too and i love reading these kind of books especially about my country and people im interested in these things and i miss my country so much :( well anyways if you publish it its a lovely story and good luck with it =)
Michelle, girl, age 11, from New York City, United States, on 18th September 2004. Rating: 10/10
I really like this book. This book was really sad. It really touched me and would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read sad books. I think this book was one of the best books I have ever read.
M, girl, age 13, from Brookville, United States, on 9th September 2004. Rating: 7/10
This book was o.k. The only reason I read this was because I had to for a book report. The begining was really boring, but it got better twards the middle. I have read better books! Sorry!
[Anonymous], girl, age 13, from none, United States, on 25th August 2004. Rating: 8/10
This book was pretty good, it was very informative and shows us kids what s really happening outside our little world of friends and schooll.
[Anonymous], girl, age 15, from Victoria, Australia, on 12th August 2004. Rating: 4/10
This book is confusing, but still its ok. But this book is still boring,there are thousands of book about reffuges. And thier all the same information and about the same thing, a kid trying to survive the harsh conditions, working as hard as she can to lool after the family. They escape from thier home to another home where its peacful. Its all the same thing. Dont you get bored? Think about it, you can almost look at the cover of the book (that is about the reffuges)and immediatly know whats going to happen, because its just so obvious. What do you think?
