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heidi_wilson001's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
pbandjane_library's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia, Racism, and Classism
yumnas's review against another edition
5.0
This book is the second book I’ve read that I think is a fair representation of living in America as a Muslim (the first being A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza). It’s relatability touched me on a deep level, bringing tears to my eyes numerous times.
I loved the dialogue on specific matters disputed between Muslims. The girls in the book talked about LGTBQ+, dating (halal dating?!? XD), women’s rights, and, in general, whether or not we have a right to “reform” Islam. While I may not have agreed with some of the things that were discussed in the book, I loved that it helped form my own opinions on topics I otherwise would not have thought to.
I also loved the counter assimilation theme. Rather than trying to become more assimilated and believing that in order to complete her american dream she had to be “more american”, the main character realized that she can have both worlds and still belong. She can still be an Arab- Muslim and be an American and still feel like she belongs. Anyone that’s a first generation American knows what this feels like and is confused as to how to deal with it. What I learned from this book? The only way to deal with it is to be you, love who you are, be comfortable with who you are, and everyone else will come along eventually.
Last thing: the girl in this book is totally amazing. The way she tells off racists and bigots is admirable and is strong in a way I hope I will be in the face of hate.
I loved the dialogue on specific matters disputed between Muslims. The girls in the book talked about LGTBQ+, dating (halal dating?!? XD), women’s rights, and, in general, whether or not we have a right to “reform” Islam. While I may not have agreed with some of the things that were discussed in the book, I loved that it helped form my own opinions on topics I otherwise would not have thought to.
I also loved the counter assimilation theme. Rather than trying to become more assimilated and believing that in order to complete her american dream she had to be “more american”, the main character realized that she can have both worlds and still belong. She can still be an Arab- Muslim and be an American and still feel like she belongs. Anyone that’s a first generation American knows what this feels like and is confused as to how to deal with it. What I learned from this book? The only way to deal with it is to be you, love who you are, be comfortable with who you are, and everyone else will come along eventually.
Last thing: the girl in this book is totally amazing. The way she tells off racists and bigots is admirable and is strong in a way I hope I will be in the face of hate.
courtney_g1's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kimhancock11's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this book. It does a great job of addressing the nuances and variety of ways to worship. Not everyone worships the same and that shouldn’t make us good or as.
ikraa's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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
4.5
christiana's review against another edition
4.0
The best books are ones that teach me a lot while still being great stories and that’s exactly what this was. I loved how realistic the story and the characters were. Also, Allie figuring out that religion is a spectrum, not one size fits all (and that every religion has its great and problematic things) is a message that doesn’t lose its potency, I think. I love that she came back to the idea that she felt better doing it without any fake platitudes.
laflormorada's review against another edition
4.0
Allie Abraham is just you're average all-american girl. She studies hard, enjoys singing and musicals, has a large loving family and is "maybe dating" one of the most popular boys in school. The only thing is Allie has a secret, a big secret, one that is weighing on her more and more each day. Allie is really Alia, and she's Muslim. Her whole family is Muslim, Circassians to be exact but no one knows what that means. They don't really practice (her mother converted to Islam when she married, but her father isn't religious anymore) but being Muslim is still a part of who she is, isn't it? She's always had to deal with the world's negative perception of Islam and her father has encouraged her to fit in but is it really okay to hide a part of herself? When her so called friends start making ill-informed comments about Muslims, she finally knows it's time to speak up. Then she meets her boyfriend's father... an anti-Muslim t.v. show personality, and things get even more complicated...
This is a coming-of-age story about belonging in two different worlds (and creating your own). Allie is a very strong character, kind of an old soul but she's also a natural people pleaser. Like any teen she wants to fit in and be liked, but her transition to a more outspoken version of herself is believable. This book is largely about her exploring her faith and herself, about what it means to be an unconventional Muslim in American society today. The romance is part of Allie's story but doesn't take over her story which I loved. At times it did seem like the author was inserting her thoughts into the narrative (especially when the girls were having their weekly Q'uran study group) but this didn't bother me too much because I learned so much about Islam through these asides. This book is slower-paced and largely centers around the main characters with just enough teen drama to keep the pages turning.
This is a coming-of-age story about belonging in two different worlds (and creating your own). Allie is a very strong character, kind of an old soul but she's also a natural people pleaser. Like any teen she wants to fit in and be liked, but her transition to a more outspoken version of herself is believable. This book is largely about her exploring her faith and herself, about what it means to be an unconventional Muslim in American society today. The romance is part of Allie's story but doesn't take over her story which I loved. At times it did seem like the author was inserting her thoughts into the narrative (especially when the girls were having their weekly Q'uran study group) but this didn't bother me too much because I learned so much about Islam through these asides. This book is slower-paced and largely centers around the main characters with just enough teen drama to keep the pages turning.