A review by cielo_reads
You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen

challenging emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

First Impressions: Loving the intersectionality of this writing.

Three Black Muslim girls start a blog that goes viral after a recent terrosist attack was assumed to be Muslim by his name. Sabriya (who goes by Bri on the blog)  begins You Truly Assumed (YTA) As a private online journal to express her feelings after the recent rise in islamophobic things happening after the attack. After she realizes it was accidentally public and other Muslim girls of color resonate with her words. Soon Zakat (who goes by Kat on the blog) is working on the icon & drawings for the blog & Farah (who goes by Rose on the blog) works on the coding & website design. I really loved this book and how clearly and seamlessly Sabreen is able to express intersectionality. All three MC’s are Black, Muslim & Girls none of those identities can be seperated but that doesn’t stop society from trying. I also really appreciated the realistic way Sabreen talks about Islam; Americans/ non Muslims tend to think of islam as an “unchanging and oppressive”. However just with all religions the interpretation of the holy texts change slightly over time. As more women and non male scholars gain respect in the field, changes can be and are made. For example when Zakat’s Masjid removed the gendered entrances as it alienated a part of their community and they even added a third prayer room for people who don’t find themselves fitting into binary genders. That truly warmed my heart to read and I’ve only read about things like this in college as an outsider of the religion. 

Also the first time I've ever read any mention of the way those colleges have predatory loans targeted at low income people of color in a fiction book. Like the realness is so appreciated Sabreen!! 

This is an amazing book for Black Muslim Representation & and introduction to intersectional oppression and how difficult it is to experience Anti-Blackness/ Racism, Islamophobia & Misogyny all at once.
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