School story -- Amina and her best friend Soojin have been through a lot together, so when Emily (a previous tormenter) begins to make friends with Soojin, Amina is untrusting. She's also trying to reconcile her desire to sing in public with her massive stagefright, and to figure out how to interact with a visiting uncle, who has different values, Pakistani values, that do not always mesh with Amina's family. There's also an upcoming competition to read the Koran that she's expected to participate in, and their beloved mosque comes under attack. There's a lot going on in this book, but it's incredibly well done, and reads true to the life of a contemporary sixth grader. Amina and her friends have a lot of challenges, but her family is there for her, her community comes through, and she finds friendship and hopefulness in places she never expected. Feel good, well paced, authentic. ( )

This book illustrates the struggle many American-born children of immigrant parents have as they try to understand who they are and where they belong. Amina was born in the United States to Pakistani/ Muslim parents.

A sweet story about a Muslim teenager growing up in America. She is experiencing lots of different things at the same time-- a big group project, best friend drama, her uncle visiting the US, and even a horrific hate crime (so read with caution if that's a trigger for you). A great read for middle school aged readers, and anyone who wants some diversity in their library. ( )

Good story about a Pakistani American during her first year of middle school. Amina was best friends with Soo-Jin who was to become a citizen this year. There are the concerns of jealousy,acceptance and trying to meet her parents approval. But there are lessons from the Quran, from her visting Uncle from Pakistan, some Urdu and the value of music. Also, the sense of community not only from the mosque members but from the schools she attended and the outside faith community.

I received this Advance Reading Copy from the publishers as a win from the FirstReads contest. My thoughts and feelings in this review are entirely my own.. ( )

Pakistani-American Amina and Korean-American Soojin have been best friends for years, but when they start middle school, Soojin begins to become friends with Emily, who made fun of them before, and talks about changing her name to Susan after her family's upcoming citizenship ceremony. Amina worries about losing her best friend, participating in her mosque's Quran recitation competition, and her uncle's upcoming three-month visit from Pakistan. When the mosque is burned and vandalized, Amina and her family are shocked, but the broader community rallies around them in a display of beautiful interfaith cooperation, and Amina becomes brave enough to perform her recitation - as well as sing in her school's winter chorale concert.

See also: A Place at the Table; American As Paneer Pie

Quotes

I want to explain to my father that it would be completely embarrassing to be the only kid tagging along with her parents at back-to-school night. But he would just say, in the Urdu accent he hasn't lost after living in the Milwaukee area for twenty years, "Embarrassing? I don't understand this embarrassing. What do you care what people think?" (15)

Three months is an awfully long time to have a guest live in our house, especially someone who is never wrong. Plus, it's going to seem like a whole lot longer if we all have to pretend to be perfect the entire time. (26)

"If Soojin is truly your best friend, she'll forgive you. You'll just have to wait and see. And you have to trust that just because she makes new friends doesn't mean she stops caring about you." (Mama, 142)

"What kind of person would want to destroy a place where people gather to pray and learn?" (Amina's brother Mustafa, 162)

The heaviness that has settled around my heart is getting to the point where it is slowly being crushed. I'm afraid I will never feel normal again. (163) ( )