 | Love from A to Z Author: Ali, S. K. | |
| Price: $10.65 | ||
Summary:
Eighteen-year-old Muslims Adam and Zayneb meet in Doha, Qatar, during spring break and fall in love as both struggle to find a way to live their own truths.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: UG Reading Level: 5.00 Points: 13.0 Quiz: 507815 |
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 05/01/2019 Gr 8 Up—Two Muslim students, Zayneb and Adam, meet during their spring break in Doha, Qatar. High schooler Zayneb lives in Indiana and has an Islamophobic teacher. Adam, who attends college in London, stopped going to classes after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Both write their thoughts in journals divided into sections on Marvels and Oddities. This is a poignant love story between two practicing Muslims who stay true to themselves and to their beliefs. - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
School Library Journal - 05/01/2019 Gr 8 Up—Morris Award finalist Ali has written a classic romance that's also a story of love for family and friends, Muslim identity, oneself, and the city of Doha, Qatar. Zayneb Malik is a high school senior, hijabi, and Gryffindor/Slytherin mix. When she gets suspended over an incident with an Islamophobic teacher, she starts her spring break early, leaving her town in Indiana to visit her aunt in Doha. Also on the way to Doha, via London, is Adam Chen, returning to his dad and sister. He stopped attending his college classes two months earlier after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the same illness his mother had. Instead, he's been making various things. As Adam and Zayneb spend time together, their feelings intensify. But with numerous obstacles in their lives, they'll have to decide if pursuing a relationship is a possibility. The story is told in alternating viewpoints through the characters' journal entries, each divided into sections of Marvels and Oddities (the good and the bad). Muslim identity and culture are authentically and unapologetically infused throughout without overexplanation but are still accessible for a wide audience. Cultural appropriation, racism, the effects of war, and the impact of everyday Islamophobia are all explored with nuance. An author's note lends further context. VERDICT Heartfelt, honest, and featuring characters readers will fall in love with, this is sure to become a beloved book for many.—Jenna Friebel, Oak Park Public Library, IL - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
