But it easily stands on it's own and doesn't require readers to be familiar with the characters or storylines in the first book.
Ali's Misfit in Love, the sequel to Saints and Misfits. Parents need to know that smart and stong Egyptian Indian American teen Janna Yusuf returns in S.K.
She takes part in an Islamic Quiz Bowl team, too, getting to know more about people like Nuah, a nice dude who is friends with the monster, and Sausun, a niqab-wearing girl who becomes a surprising ally for Janna.Characters watch The Princess Bride, listen to Billie Eilish, drink Gatorade, and read The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Ram, her elderly Hindu neighbor, tries to figure out what to do about her crush on white, non-Muslim Jeremy, and hangs out with friends. Janna’s brother, Muhammad, has recently moved home, taking a year off from college, and is courting Sarah, a study circle leader at their mosque, who Janna feels is, annoying, “the most perfect Muslim girl.” Janna spends time with Mr. Janna keeps the assault to herself for much of the story, busy navigating the many parts of her life, but the monster is always around and Janna is fearful and angry. Farooq, who Janna mostly just refers to as “the monster,” is well-respected in their community, a sort of golden boy at their mosque, who has memorized the entire Qur’an (but doesn’t appear to actually understand any of it). She’d rather not be hanging out with them, but after her friend’s cousin sexually assaults her at a gathering, she needs to get out of town. We first meet Janna, wearing a burkini, while she’s in Florida with her dad and his family. Ali does a great job of weaving the big and little things together as we watch sophomore Janna Yusuf learn, grow, and find her voice. This excellent book manages to be both about BIG things (faith, family, sexual assault) and about very everyday things (friendship, tests at school, crushes). People think he’s holy, untouchable, but nobody has seen under the mask. Well, monsters wearing saint masks, like in Flannery O’Connor’s stories. Same planet, different worlds.īut sometimes worlds collide and beautiful things happen, right?ģ. Because although, alliteratively speaking, Janna and Jeremy sound good together, we don’t go together. Like me-the way I don’t fit into Dad’s brand-new family or in the leftover one composed of Mom and my older brother, Mama’s-Boy-Muhammad.Īlso, there’s Jeremy and me. They’re in your face so much, you can’t see them, like how you can’t see your nose.Ģ. Saints, those special people moving the world forward. There are three kinds of people in my world:ġ. Saints and Misfits is an unforgettable debut novel that feels like a modern day My So-Called Life…starring a Muslim teen.
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