Enjoyable book -- as an adult, I found it a little instructional? didactic? more focused on explaining culture than telling story -- however, I can also see where kids might need that level of context for the story to flow, and the story was interesting. I liked Aliya's gradual growth, and I liked her family's emphasis on how making your own choices within your faith is part of celebrating faith rather than reason for judgement from the outside. ( )

Competently written, but so tightly focused on being Muslim in America I wonder if it will fail to interest students. ( )

Recommended for cross cultural discussion in schools.

This is a well balanced look at the problems of being a Muslim in a non-Muslim country, of being different and trying to fit in. It is set in the American fifth grade, average age 10 years, and therefore has the more gentle feel of junior school. There is bullying, but it is within controlled limits. Had the book been set in senior school I would have expected it to have a harsher feel and it would have been a more uncomfortable read.

Aliya is from an Indian American Muslim family. They are practicing, but do not wear hijab. On Sundays she goes to Quran school and mixes with other Muslim children. They discuss various aspects of their religion that impact them personally, such as having a boyfriend and whether to wear hijab. During the fasting month of Ramadan, Aliya grapples with pressures to fast for the first time, struggling to do the right thing.
When a new girl joins the school, wearing hijab and comfortable with herself and her religion, Aliya doesn't know how to react to this surprising confidence and is initially wary. As their relationship grows, Marwa voices many of the issues that had bothered Aliya, she stands for school council and compares her hijab with her sneakers - she would no more go outside without hijab than attend a PE lesson without sneakers, a wonderful analogy.

The book raises many issues that would be relevant to children of Muslim origin and to others who feel isolated or are struggling to fit in. It does so in a gentle manner with some clever comparisons. Perfect for youngsters of top junior or low senior age, and as a starting point for discussion within classes about acceptance and understanding of differences.
Recommended. ( )