PACL Recommends: Teen Fiction for SWANA Heritage MonthLike this list

16 items

• Only This Beautiful Moment

  Nazemian, Abdi,

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  2019. Moud is an out gay teen living in Los Angeles with his distant father, Saeed. When Moud gets the news that his grandfather in Iran is dying, he accompanies his dad to Tehran, where the revelation of family secrets will force Moud…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Four Eids and a Funeral

  Àbíké-Íyímídé, Faridah,

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  The death of a beloved mentor, and the need to save and rebuild their fire-damaged Islamic Center, bring former best friends Said and Tiwa back together, rekindling their romantic relationship.

• Six Truths and a Lie

  Shukairy, Ream,

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  Told in their separate voices, six Muslim teens are falsely accused of an alleged attack on a Los Angeles beach and must trust or turn their backs on each other to prove their innocence.

• The Next New Syrian Girl

  Shukairy, Ream,

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  A defiant Syrian-American boxer and an anxious refugee bond over the pressure to be perfect Syrian daughters and the repercussions of the Syrian Revolution both at home and abroad.

• Spice Road

  Ibrahim, Maiya,

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  When she learns that her brother is spreading the nation's secret spice magic to outsiders, sixteen-year-old Shield warrior Imani sets out on a dangerous mission to find him, discovering secrets that lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes--and in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• All My Rage

  a Novel

  Tahir, Sabaa,

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  A family extending from Pakistan to California, deals with generations of young love, old regrets, and forgiveness.

• As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

  Katouh, Zoulfa,

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  Eighteen-year-old Salama Kassab, a pharmacy student volunteering at the hospital in Homs, is desperate to find passage on a refugee boat for herself and her pregnant best friend, but first she must learn to see the events around her for…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• You Truly Assumed

  Sabreen, Laila,

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  In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.

• Ida in the Middle

  Murad, Nora Lester,

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  After eating a magical olive, eighth-grader Ida is transported to an alternate reality where her family never left Palestine. Torn between two versions of herself, Ida must decide who she wants to be and how to find her place in the world.

• Squire

  Shammas, Nadia,

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  Writer Nadia Shammas and illustrator Sara Alfageeh blend their Arab heritage in this adventurous graphic novel, filled with swordfighting, disguises and sharp commentary on imperialism.

• Shubeik Lubeik

  Muḥammad, Dīnā,

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  Shubeik Lubek—“your wish is my command” in Arabic—follows three characters in a fantastical Cairo, where they battle bureaucracy and prejudice to make their biggest wishes come true. A wild mix of fantasy, feminism and politics!

• It All Comes Back to You

  Rishi, Farah Naz,

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  After Kiran Noorani's mom died, Kiran vowed to keep her family-- dad and sister Amira-- together. When Amira announces that she's dating someone-- and might move across the country with him-- Kiran's world is turned upside down. Deen Malik…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Zara Hossain Is Here

  Khan, Sabina, 1968-

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  Ever since her family moved to Texas from Pakistan when she was a baby, seventeen-year-old Zara Hossain has only ever called Corpus Christi home. Being the only Muslim girl at her conservative Catholic school, blending in isn't really an…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• We Hunt the Flame

  Faizal, Hafsah,

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  In an ancient Arab-inspired kingdom, 17-year-old huntress Zafira disguises herself as a man to find a lost artifact that could restore magic to her cursed world. A tale of rich world-building, high stakes and a captivating romance.

• Darius the Great Is Not Okay

  Khorram, Adib,

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  Named after a legendary leader, Darius feels the weight of the world when he travels to Iran, facing family issues, mental health struggles and an identity crisis. A heartfelt novel about love, family and discovering yourself, with humor…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• All-American Muslim Girl

  Courtney, Nadine Jolie, 1980-

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  Sixteen-year-old Allie, aged seven when she knew her family was different and feared, struggles to claim her Muslim and Arabic heritage while finding her place as an American teenager.