A review by misspalah
I Am Thunder by Muhammad Khan

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"You need to pray, Muz,' he eventually said. 'It's hard at first, course it is. Like in that famous Malcolm X quote! 'What quote?' Wasn't Malcolm X just a badáss version of Martin Luther King? "Just a sec, he said. I heard rustling, as if he was rifling through a book. 'Got it. OK, you listening, Muz?' 'All ears.' 'OK, here it is, he said, and began to read. "For evil to bend its knees, admitting its guilt, to implore the forgiveness of God, is the hardest thing in the world. It's easy for me to see and to say that now. But then, when I was the personification of evil, I was going through il. Again, again, I would force myself back down into the praying-co-Allah posture! "Wow, I said, lost for words.

• I am thunder and i wont keep quiet by Muhammad Khan

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Muzna Saleem is a fifteen-year-old who loves writing, but her parents want her to become a doctor, even though she struggles with Math and Science. As an only child, she respects her family's traditions. When her best friend gets involved in a scandal, her parents make her change schools and cut ties with her friend.

And that alone shifted the trajectory of Muzna’s life altogether. She was slowly being brainwashed and radicalized under the pretense of being in love. The book highlights how easily teenagers can be drawn into extremism and radicalization. The author, Khan, addresses serious issues like Islamophobia and radicalization through Muzna's story, making them relatable and understandable. In the foreword, the author says Muzna's experiences are supposed to be relatable to everyone, regardless of background. Themes like family pressure, inadequacy, and the need for acceptance resonate with many people. It's important that we readers realised that how young adult books is inclusive and offer diverse stories so that we can learn about the world from each other. Either difficult topics like religion and politics is highlighted in the book to promote awareness and understanding. However, the book has flaws. While authentic voices are important, it is vital that the portrayal should be accurate and realistic. The book claims to represent Islam and Muslims but sometimes reinforces stereotypes and biases. It also includes problematic elements like slut-shaming, bullying, and the idea of becoming radicalized for a romantic interest. These issues detract from the story, making it less appealing. Overall, the story is not that bad, it did possess interesting premise at some parts, but way too many cliches for me to rate this 4 stars.