When Michael Met Mina

When Michael Met Mina
Written by Randa Abdel - Fattah
Contemporary, Social / Political, #LoveOzYA
Published June 28th 2016
360 Pages
★★★★
Before Mina, my life was like a completed jigsaw puzzle but Mina has pushed the puzzle onto the floor. I have to start all over again, figuring out where the pieces go.

When Michael meets Mina, they are at a rally for refugees , standing on opposite sides.

Mina fled Afghanistan with her mother via a refugee camp, a leaky boat and a detention centre. Michael's parents have founded a new political party called Aussie Values.

They want to stop the boats. Mina wants to stop the hate.

When Mina wins a scholarship to Michael's private school, their lives crash together blindingly.

A novel for anyone who wants to fight for love, and against injustice.
Life for Mina and her mother has been harrowing. A young child and a single mother forced to leave war torn Afghanistan for the inhumane conditions of a refugee camp. Desperate to reach asylum, they seek refuge in Australia only to be detained and begin their new life behind the fence of a detention centre. But now Mina has just been granted a scholarship at one of the most prestigious schools in Sydney, and is moving to the leafy and affluent suburbs to begin her new life in what is seemingly a sterile environment where ethnicity determines your status as a member of the community.

Michael's family believe in an Australia that preaches white, anglo saxon values and assimilation for those who immigrate to our shores. Michael's father is on the cusp of forming a new political party in Aussie Values, spreading the message of selective immigration and the misguided notion that Islam funds terrorism. Michael believes what his parents are campaigning for from their safe and affluent leafy suburb, until he meets new girl Mina who leaves him questioning his beliefs.

Mina is unlike anyone Michael has ever met. She's passionate, beautiful and isn't afraid to stand against casual racism among our multicultural communities. Through Mina's eyes, Michael starts to learn that perhaps his parents values aren't that of his own and forges his own path. But when Mina's family is made a target of his father's Aussie Values campaign, can Michael stand against injustice?

My Thoughts

When Michael Met Mina was an emotionally and politically charged read that ignites passionate debate between Australians. Told from dual points of view, Michael is a quiet young man who has been raised in a household with strong social beliefs. His father is head of the Aussie Values political group who support policies of stopping the refugee boats and denying those seeking asylum and scaremongering amongst supporters to believe Australia will be overrun, making our lives poorer for the intake in new citizens. There's a misconception within the media and our nation's political parties that those seeking asylum aren't genuine refugees, because they choose to seek refuge in Australia, often arriving via Indonesian people smugglers. It's these media reports in which the Aussie Values campaign is based and almost identical to the Reclaim Australia movement. Parents tend to instill their own morals and beliefs on their children, so Michael's character has always been surrounded by those with strong, misguided opinions. But that is about to change when rather than having opinions based on familial morals and the media, he discovers what is means to seek asylum from Mina, a girl who has lived through the ordeal.

Mina is intelligent, articulate, passionate and not afraid to speak out against injustice. She's been through a harrowing journey, leaving the only life she had ever known to travel to Australia with her mother to seek refuge, only to be detained. It's a storyline pulled from the Australian headlines, asylum seekers being detained, often taking years before they are allowed to call Australia home or returned to their homeland, trading security for living a meager existence in limbo.

I grew up in a time where Aussie Values were the basis in so many homes. We watched series like Kingswood Country, where Aussie larrikin Ted Bullpit told his son in law to leave your money on the fridge wog and casual racism was part of our dialect. Australia has since grown as a nation and Michael's character reflects our need for compassion both socially and politically. Michael was a product of his environment as was Mina, but both on either end of the spectrum.

Michael blindly believes what his parents have instilled in him and hasn't yet formed his own opinions. He soon realises how discriminatory his opinion is after seeing Mina hurt by his misguided accusations, although Mina's passion could easily be mistaken for anger. I loved how fierce her opinions were but her character often felt abrasive. But through a shared compassion, both Mina and Michael were able to grow as characters. The slow burning romance was absolutely lovely. Mina was able to see that Michael was more than his father's organisation and in turn, Michael begun to form his own opinions through Mina's experiences.

When Michael Met Mina is the book that young adult has been desperately deprived of. Confident,  relevant, beautifully written and intensely passionate with a strong moral compass. 

24 comments

  1. Love this review, the book sounds intriguing. Will be putting it up on my wish list :)

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    1. It's a wonderful read Clara, a great exploration of tolerance and acceptance while forging your own path in those difficult teen years. I hope you can grab a copy soon, would love to see your thoughts.

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  2. Wow, this sounds like a really powerful, yet enjoyable read. I'm glad you liked this one and could relate to some of it! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. It truly was Lauren. Such an important read for teens, in Australia especially.

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  3. You know how I've been meaning to read more Aussie books Kelly, and this one sounds fantastic! Definitely going to give it a try. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3

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    1. YAAAAS! We need to start you on more Aussie reads Zoe. In the past two years especially, our young adult authors have really taken the world by storm. I love our contemporaries, it's books without bullshit.

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  4. Great review of what sounds like a really important book.

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    1. It really wad. I did struggle at times with Mina's character though, she felt incredibly angry and even judgemental. As the storyline progressed, I really did begin to like her more and more.

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  5. This sounds like an incredible book, and one that's important to have in the current political climate. Thanks for sharing, Kelly, I'm definitely adding this to my TBR!

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    1. Couldn't agree more Cilla. Books not only have the power to introduce readers into new worlds, but also change lives, in this case through tolerance and understanding.

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  6. I am so looking forward to reading this one, Kelly. I love that it tackles such a relevant topic and it seems to do so with a lot of care and thoughtfulness.
    I can't wait to experience the beauty of this one.
    Beautiful review, Kells!

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    1. Thanks Nick. I think it's a book that so many will find relatable, not just Aussies. The intolerance towards the Muslim community, the prejudice, the stereotyping. It was such a wonderful read, really enjoyed it.

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  7. Timely read what with all the hate all over the social media and the world. I just added this book to my pile. <3

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    1. It was great timing, a really positive light among so much darkness in our world at the moment Joy. Looking forward to seeing what you think of it.

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  8. What a fantastic premise! I need to read this for sure.

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    1. It's a brilliant book Christy, I do hope you can grab a copy soon.

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  9. Wasn't it just BRILL, Kelly? Actually, one of my lecturers at uni last semester was researching the asylum seeker issue and hearing her talk about it...like, holy crap, the media is so corrupt lol. The more you know.

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    1. They are, which I think is based off what Canberra decides to release to the public too. They'll only tell us statistics to support their own agenda. And it's been proven that so much of what we're told is not factual either. We should be fostering compassion and understanding, but it's hard when you have pockets of our communities that are hell bent on pedaling hate isn't it. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one too!

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  10. Wow. We need books like this now more than ever. Thanks for putting it on my radar.

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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    1. We really do Karen. It was so magnificently written, really enjoyed it.

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  11. Wow, this definitely sounds like something I need to read. I love stories like this. Great review! :)

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    1. Thanks Lisa. It's a wonderful read, full of heart and goes a long way to breaking down stereotypes as well.

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  12. This book is so incredibly important, especially with what's happening in Australia at the moment. We definitely need to be more compassionate and this book talks about that boldly. I'm glad you enjoyed it too Kelly.

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  13. As always very thoughtful review, Kelly. I think it’s important that the authors write YA books on such topics. Though in some cases I feel like the author tries to give readers their message, but forget about the story itself. Your high rating gives me hope this is not that kind of book.

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