Samira’s Worst Best Summer
by Nina Hamza 
Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
From the author of Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year, this tween novel centers the experiences of an Indian American Muslim girl who fears that she’s going to have the worst summer ever, but finds a new sense of community. Filled with irreverent humor and lots of heart, and perfect for fans of Hena Khan and Karina Yan Glaser.
Samira has always been best friends with Kiera. But these days, Kiera would rather hang out with the cool girls, leaving Sammy to play with Imran, her little brother, who is on the autism spectrum. Then out of nowhere, Sammy’s house gets TP’d. Could Kiera be behind the prank? Or maybe it’s because they’re the only Muslim family on the street?
Sammy and her Umma try to convince Imran, who is upset that their house was targeted, that they weren’t being singled out. Their solution—asking a neighbor to TP their own house—works a little too well, and Sammy is left cleaning up soggy toilet paper after a surprise storm. It’s there that she meets new girl Alice. Alice wants to figure out who was responsible for the original TP’ing, and she wants Sammy to help her.
Suddenly, Sammy’s “boring” summer is full of clue-finding hunts, dinner parties, garage band practices, and getting to know her neighbors (and neighborhood) like never before. And when Kiera starts stealing Alice away, Sammy must decide whether she can continue on without a best friend or if she wants to stand up for her new pal. One thing is certain: this summer is either going to be the worst (or maybe the best) of Sammy’s life.
Cover image and summary via Edelweiss
The Partition Project
by Saadia Faruqi 
Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
In this engaging and moving middle grade novel, author Saadia Faruqi writes about a contemporary Pakistani American girl whose passion for journalism inspires her to learn more about her grandmother’s experience of the Partition of India and Pakistan—and the bond that the two form as she helps Dadi tell her story.
When her grandmother comes off the airplane in Houston from Pakistan, Mahnoor knows that having Dadi move in is going to disrupt everything about her life. That fact is confirmed when Maha has to give up her bedroom to the grumpy old woman and is assigned to be Dadi’s unofficial babysitter.
As an aspiring journalist, Maha knows all about the importance of facts (though her best friend would say that stories are just as important). She can’t wait to start her journalism elective—until their teacher announces that their big assignment will be to film a documentary, which feels way outside of what she would call “journalism.”
While Dadi starts to settle into life in Houston and Maha scrambles for a subject for her documentary, the two of them start talking. About Dadi’s childhood in northern India—and about the Partition that forced her to leave her home and relocate to the newly created Pakistan.
As details of Dadi’s life are revealed, Dadi’s personal story feels a lot more like the breaking news that Maha loves so much. And before she knows it, she has the subject of her documentary.
Cover image and summary via Edelweiss
The Wonders We Seek
by Saadia Faruqi, Saffa Khan
Illustrated by Aneesa Mumtaz
Quill Tree/ HarperCollins
In this compendium of remarkable Muslim figures throughout history—with stunning portraits and illustrations by Saffa Khan—authors Saadia Faruqi and Aneesa Mumtaz introduce the reader to many of the Muslim physicians, musicians, athletes, poets, and more whose contributions have influenced the world we live in.
This richly illustrated biographical collection highlights some of the talented Muslims who helped make the world we know today, for readers who loved Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls.
A brilliant surgeon heals patients in the first millennium.
A female king rules the Indian subcontinent.
A poet pours his joy and grief into the world’s bestselling verses.
An iconic leader fights for civil rights.
And many, many more.
Throughout history—from the golden age of the empires of Arabia, Iraq, Persia, and India, up to modern day—Muslims have shaped our world in essential ways, with achievements in music, medicine, politics, human rights, literature, sports, technology, and more. Give this book to readers who are excited to learn about great figures and thinkers in world history!
Summary and cover image via Edelweiss
This review was originally published in School Library Journal.
Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero
by Saadia Faruqi
HarperCollins/Quill Tree. Sept. 2021. 368p. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780062943255.
Gr 5 Up–Twenty years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 11-year-old sixth grader and robotics enthusiast Yusuf Azeem lives with his Pakistani American family in a small Texas town. His father is an immigrant businessman-turned-hometown-hero, his Texas-born mother is a freelance journalist, and he has a doting three-year-old younger sister. The close-knit Muslim community in the town, including the Azeems, attend local activities such as youth football games and parades alongside their non-Muslim neighbors, partially in an effort to fit in. However, changes are afoot in their town: hateful graffiti is sprawled on buildings; a white nationalist group takes root and challenges the Muslim community’s long-standing plans to build a mosque; and school bullying of Muslim students, including Yusuf, occurs daily. These events make it clear to the Muslims of Frey, TX, that they may never be truly embraced for who they are, throwing into question the personal and communal sacrifices that they have made, and forcing Yusuf to forge his own path in the pursuit of justice. Relatable and multidimensional characters of various ages and backgrounds are portrayed with nuance and empathy. Journal entries written by Yusuf’s Uncle Rahman from his own childhood at the time of the attacks offer additional insight into the impact of 9/11. The young characters’ struggles to balance personal commitments to their faith with parental expectations and their own desires will resonate with readers of many backgrounds. An author’s note explains that the story was inspired by the experiences of Ahmed Mohamed, nicknamed “The Clock Boy,” a Muslim Texan school boy who was wrongly accused of bringing a bomb to school.
VERDICT Gripping, well-paced, and poignant, this is an essential purchase for all libraries and a must-read book of our times that raises important questions about who controls historical narratives, what it means to stand up for justice, and the legacy of an event that cannot be forgotten.
It All Comes Back to You By Farah Naz Rishi
HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books
Two exes must revisit their past after their siblings start dating in this #ownvoices rom-com that is perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon, David Yoon, and Morgan Matson.
After Kiran Noorani’s mom died, Kiran vowed to keep her dad and sister, Amira, close. Then out of the blue, Amira announces that she’s dating someone and might move cross-country with him. Kiran is thrown.
Deen Malik is thrilled that his older brother, Faisal, has found a great girlfriend, even if it’s getting serious quickly. Maybe now their parents’ focus will shift off Deen, who feels intense pressure to be the perfect son.
When Deen and Kiran come face to face, they silently agree to keep their past a secret. Four years ago—before Amira and Faisal met—Kiran and Deen dated. But Deen ghosted Kiran with no explanation. Kiran will stop at nothing to find out what happened, and Deen will do anything, even if it means sabotaging his brother’s relationship, to keep her from reaching the truth. Though the chemistry between Kiran and Deen is undeniable, can either of them take down their walls?
Cover image and summary via Penguin Random House
The Marvelous Mirza Girls by Sheba Karim
HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books
To cure her post-senior year slump, made worse by the loss of her aunt Sonia, Noreen decides to follow her mom on a gap year trip to New Delhi, hoping India can lessen her grief and bring her voice back.
In the world’s most polluted city, Noreen soon meets kind, handsome Kabir, who introduces her to the wonders of this magical, complicated place. With the help of Kabir—plus Bollywood celebrities, fourteenth-century ruins, karaoke parties, and Sufi saints—Noreen discovers new meanings for home.
But when a family scandal erupts, Noreen and Kabir must face complex questions in their own relationship: What does it mean to truly stand by someone—and what are the boundaries of love?
Cover image and summary via HarperCollins