Maya Aziz is an American born Indian Muslim. She’s trying to fit into 2 worlds. One where her parents expect her to be the perfectly behaved daughter, study hard and find a husband. The other is the teenage girl with hopes of going to NYC University to study to be a film school graduate and fancying a boy that she knows her parents would definitely not approve of.
I really enjoyed reading about a Muslim protagonist and learning more about Muslim culture. I also learned about the huge pressure that is put upon the young adults and the 2 worlds that they have to fit into. Religion was not a huge aspect of this book and I can understand why Ahmed would shy away from this. I would have enjoyed reading about Maya’s beliefs and religion though.
Ahmed raises the very relevant and on topic issue of Islamophobia. Maya stayed calm in the face of incredible hatred and violence towards her. She was also kind. She is a great role model for both young adult’s that face such abhorrent racism and an example to those who perpetrate it. To be able to read from the perspective of a young person who faced such awful words and actions is humbling. It made me think of how I can do better to make anyone (of any ethnic background) feel safer. Ahmed writes with passion and experience yet makes her story relatable.
Yet Maya still behaved like a flawed teenager. For this I loved her.
A 4 star read for me.
I would like to thank Readers First for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I really enjoyed reading about a Muslim protagonist and learning more about Muslim culture. I also learned about the huge pressure that is put upon the young adults and the 2 worlds that they have to fit into. Religion was not a huge aspect of this book and I can understand why Ahmed would shy away from this. I would have enjoyed reading about Maya’s beliefs and religion though.
Ahmed raises the very relevant and on topic issue of Islamophobia. Maya stayed calm in the face of incredible hatred and violence towards her. She was also kind. She is a great role model for both young adult’s that face such abhorrent racism and an example to those who perpetrate it. To be able to read from the perspective of a young person who faced such awful words and actions is humbling. It made me think of how I can do better to make anyone (of any ethnic background) feel safer. Ahmed writes with passion and experience yet makes her story relatable.
Yet Maya still behaved like a flawed teenager. For this I loved her.
A 4 star read for me.
I would like to thank Readers First for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.