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neelamreadsalot's review against another edition
2.0
I would suggest that if you felt similar to any of my grievances below, then to pick up Love from A to Z by S.K Ali
I think debut novels on minority characters can be tricky and I’m glad I read that one first before this one because she does a lot better with representation and the story in general in that one.
I feel bad writing this review because I read S.K Ali’s other book and really liked it. This one feels…well it just doesn’t right with me.
The book is obviously geared towards young Muslim teens (not my age demographic) but it feels almost white-washed. Yes, it has elements that are consistent with the Muslim community, but it also plays so heavily of typical stereotypes. One of the stereotypes that didn’t sit well with me was the “hijabi girl doesn’t care that someone saw her without hijab because they thought she was beautiful.” It’s such an inappropriate message to young teens and certainly not in line with the character who actually chose to wear it despite parental criticism. It’s such a no-brainer concept that if someone sees you without your hijab, your reaction (even if there is a freeze moment) will be to grab the closest thing to cover yourself. If that feels uncomfortable for you, then you’re probably not hijabi. No offense intended.
The friend Tats REALLY bothered me. It was giving “my friend doesn’t accept me for who I am with my hijab” vibes and MC ignored all of it. It was truly the weirdest overlook. And Fizz was just the biggest stereotype and that was just disappointing.
The romance was unnecessary and uninteresting.
The thing that bothers me the most about this book is that it’s overall not a girl’s girl book. From the mother, to the friends to MC herself, no one really lifts anyone up the way I have personally seen in the Muslim community or just in general. MC herself is a pretty mean person but fronts like a good person, and because of that, it’s so hard to sympathize with her when shes upset.
I think there were a lot of disconnected topics squished into this story and none of them are fleshed out properly by the end.
I think debut novels on minority characters can be tricky and I’m glad I read that one first before this one because she does a lot better with representation and the story in general in that one.
I feel bad writing this review because I read S.K Ali’s other book and really liked it. This one feels…well it just doesn’t right with me.
The book is obviously geared towards young Muslim teens (not my age demographic) but it feels almost white-washed. Yes, it has elements that are consistent with the Muslim community, but it also plays so heavily of typical stereotypes. One of the stereotypes that didn’t sit well with me was the “hijabi girl doesn’t care that someone saw her without hijab because they thought she was beautiful.” It’s such an inappropriate message to young teens and certainly not in line with the character who actually chose to wear it despite parental criticism. It’s such a no-brainer concept that if someone sees you without your hijab, your reaction (even if there is a freeze moment) will be to grab the closest thing to cover yourself. If that feels uncomfortable for you, then you’re probably not hijabi. No offense intended.
The friend Tats REALLY bothered me. It was giving “my friend doesn’t accept me for who I am with my hijab” vibes and MC ignored all of it. It was truly the weirdest overlook. And Fizz was just the biggest stereotype and that was just disappointing.
The romance was unnecessary and uninteresting.
The thing that bothers me the most about this book is that it’s overall not a girl’s girl book. From the mother, to the friends to MC herself, no one really lifts anyone up the way I have personally seen in the Muslim community or just in general. MC herself is a pretty mean person but fronts like a good person, and because of that, it’s so hard to sympathize with her when shes upset.
I think there were a lot of disconnected topics squished into this story and none of them are fleshed out properly by the end.
cobaltbookshelf's review
3.0
S.K. Ali delivers great a contemporary coming-of-age story about a 15-year-old Arab-Indian-American girl named Janna Yusuf.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There are multiple plots that don’t really connect like pieces of the same jigsaw puzzle, but it delivers on Muslim representation and boasts a diverse set of characters you can really root for. Not without its faults but one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There are multiple plots that don’t really connect like pieces of the same jigsaw puzzle, but it delivers on Muslim representation and boasts a diverse set of characters you can really root for. Not without its faults but one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
fatima_ff's review against another edition
dark
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I am shifting the shame. He needs to feel it
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for years and when my book club finally decided to read it I was over the moon.
In our streak of reading authors mostly from South Asian/Muslim diaspora SK Ali’s novels are hard to skip. From Love From A to Z and Saints and Misfits there is a common factor in both: unapologetically Muslim.
Characters, writing, narrative and setting are all catered and building to give the reader the feeling that they have stepped into a world where Muslims exist the way we feel most free and happy to exist as. We wear our hijabs and niqabs proudly and run around doing silly YouTube vlogs in our abayas not caring who looks at us weird.
We also deal with our own the way we deem fit. Sometimes not so well. As any community out there we share the same traits as all human beings do: we are not perfect nor did we ever aspire to be because God already has a job.
Saints and Misfits is a story about a non traditional but not rare Muslim family. A divorced mom a dad married to a non Muslim a son dropping out of college and a daughter who was sexually assaulted by the most ‘holy’ person in the mosque group.
<>What was most interesting was the mentions of prominent non Muslim characters such as Tatyana Sandra Mr. Ram and Jeremy. Tats was a closer friend to Jannah than Fizz. Mr. Ram was more fatherly to her than her own dad sometimes. Sandra was someone Janna saw as someone who needed help outside of her immediate life. Jeremy was by far the strongest example of someone we can become so closely entwined with we may just end up hurting them.
All in all. Loved the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual assault
chelseatm's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the new perspective (for me) of a Muslim teenager. I would love to see more young adult novels from this point of view.
The story had a lot of strong points and was interesting throughout. However, I felt that it was clumsily executed and the characters' relationships to one another felt disingenuous.
As much as I enjoyed the story and perspective, I feel like this needed another draft before being ready. This is a good book for understanding more about the Muslim experience but the story itself is not worth the read.
The story had a lot of strong points and was interesting throughout. However, I felt that it was clumsily executed and the characters' relationships to one another felt disingenuous.
As much as I enjoyed the story and perspective, I feel like this needed another draft before being ready. This is a good book for understanding more about the Muslim experience but the story itself is not worth the read.
drridareads's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars rounded to 3
Seeing someone like yourself represented in book is no big deal for a lot of people. But this is my first book a Muslim protagonist.
Like a lot of people, I was worried about how Islam would've been represented. Fortunately it was pretty good.
The discussed some issues like judging people and others faced my Muslims in both Muslim and non-muslim societies.
I really liked Janna wasn't perfect. We aren't. We too get crushes even on non-Muslims. We get carried away by looks too sometimes. We're normal people.
So Janna a Muslim girl has a crush on Jeremy a non-Muslim. Which is all fine. Except that behaviour is stalkerish. She hasn't said hello to the guy yet but seen his house on google maps? Unacceptable.
I feel like the author tried to encooprate so much stuff into a book for some sort of checklist. I felt like some parts sensitive like sexual harassment weren't played out that well. Personally I feel like when going through this I cannot simultaneously have a crush, specially if that guys is the assaulter's friend. It just felt very jumpy between Farooq and Jeremy. And after this just some funny YouTube video cannot make you feel good.
I did however like the idea of Niqabi Ninjas. Got disappointed when I didn't find it on YouTube :/
Seeing someone like yourself represented in book is no big deal for a lot of people. But this is my first book a Muslim protagonist.
Like a lot of people, I was worried about how Islam would've been represented. Fortunately it was pretty good.
The discussed some issues like judging people and others faced my Muslims in both Muslim and non-muslim societies.
I really liked Janna wasn't perfect. We aren't. We too get crushes even on non-Muslims. We get carried away by looks too sometimes. We're normal people.
So Janna a Muslim girl has a crush on Jeremy a non-Muslim. Which is all fine. Except that behaviour is stalkerish. She hasn't said hello to the guy yet but seen his house on google maps? Unacceptable.
I feel like the author tried to encooprate so much stuff into a book for some sort of checklist. I felt like some parts sensitive like sexual harassment weren't played out that well. Personally I feel like when going through this I cannot simultaneously have a crush, specially if that guys is the assaulter's friend. It just felt very jumpy between Farooq and Jeremy. And after this just some funny YouTube video cannot make you feel good.
I did however like the idea of Niqabi Ninjas. Got disappointed when I didn't find it on YouTube :/
alyshaofavonlea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
joana_stormblessed's review against another edition
4.0
This! It had the potential to be a 5 star read but the ending let me down a bit. But still amazing and important read
fai_aka's review against another edition
5.0
I’m going to start recommending this book to everyone especially Muslims teenagers haha.
It’s the real portrayal of the struggle of a muslim teenage girl, and it teaches about Islam in a subtle way.
We need more books like this!
I want “Niqabi Ninjas” to be reallll
P/s:
It’s the real portrayal of the struggle of a muslim teenage girl, and it teaches about Islam in a subtle way.
We need more books like this!
I want “Niqabi Ninjas” to be reallll
P/s:
Spoiler
Even though I wished I could read what happened to Farouq after Janna told her family about him.dominicangirl's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence