Saints and Misfits

This book is everything I ever wanted. It was so beautifully written from the way the author has managed to describe the Islamic way of life and especially the representation of a muslim who lives in the modern world.I went into this book, not even aware that a monster might appear in the story. And that this particular monster is portrayed as a nice, well mannered person who also happens to be a hafiz (one who memorises the entire Holy Quran). Janna is seriously one of the toughest and bravest girl I know. She sticks to her beliefs even though some of the people around her gives nothing but bullshit and even then, she would stand with what is right, with her head held high. She is able to fight off her nightmares that continuously haunts her and finally let it all go.I love the diverse characters and the fact that everyone is so different which makes the story so interesting that it made me unable to put the book down. I've made a record, after weeks and months of reading books at a painstakingly pace, the pages of this book kept turning until there was none left.I can relate so much with this book since it reflects the people who practices Islam. Even for non muslims who read this book, I hope they can capture the messages that the author is trying to relay and try to understand our religion more that whatever the media tries so hard to blame it on us, it is not all true. In this world, there is good people and there are bad people and it doesn't make sense why you would say that muslims are all bad when even people who embraces other religions or not all do bad deeds in this world too. Try to ponder this...This has been a very long review but I still have a bit more to add. I cannot recommend you this book enough since the potrayal of a Muslim character definitely leans more towards positivity and good. I know that Janna has made mistakes that she might regret, acts she wishes she wouldn't have done but you tell me, which human being in this world passes of being perfect, flawless? No one.I will really hold this book dear to me, cherish it close to my heart and recommend to anyone I would come across because this book deserves it all. It deserves the world. It deserves everything.

When I stumbled upon Saints and Misfits a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was such a delight to read that I wish there still more chapters to read. Saints and Misfits shares the story of Janna, a hijabi teen whose Indian father leads a secular life while her Egyptian mother continues to be a practicing Muslim. Janna is dealing with criticism from some of her Muslim friends for hanging out with non-Muslims, lack of understanding from some non-Muslim friends who don't understand why she wears a hijabthe fear and frustration of being sexually assaulted by Farooq, the cousin of one of her closest friends and the sort of "perfect" boy that all parents adore. Farooq spends the better part of the novel stalking Janna and doing everything he can to make sure that he can have some influence over her.And then there is Janna's crush on Jeremy, a non-Muslim boy at her school, her older brother moving back home and deciding to court Sarah--who's just a little too perfect and has secrets of her own, Tats--one of Janna's non-Muslim friends who is just a little boy-crazy and trying to play matchmaker between Janna and Jeremy, And Sausun, her badass niqab-wearing friend who is trying to change the way people think of niqab-wearing girls with her YouTube channel, Niqabi Ninjas.I love how Ali makes sure that the reader understands that Janna's situation isn't very different from any other teenage girl: Janna is Every Girl, dealing with her own identity crisis, with wanting to fall in love, with worrying about if she is popular. And I loved how effortlessly this was conveyed to the reader. I also loved how Ali convey's Janna's struggles with her faith. This is handled so deftly, without ever veering into the heavy-handedness one often sees in stories that touch upon faith and any doubts related to it.Another wonderful thing about Saints & Misfits is the characterization. Each character in the story is so well-portrayed and unique. You never have that foggy sensation of not knowing who is who. They all stand out. And I loved the portrayal of Janna's relationship with Mr. Ram, whom she takes to the senior citizen center every week. Even when Janna sometimes took their friendship for granted, it was obvious that she cared about him and paid heed to the advice he gave her.Would I recommend reading Saints & Misfits? You betcha! And not only would I recommend it--if I were still teaching, it would be required reading for my students *and* their parents. Definitely a 5-star read!

Janna Yusuf is a junior in high school who spends time with her friends Tatyana and Fizz, works hard in school and and at her mosque, and spends time taking care of her elderly neighbor, Mr. Ram. When she is sexually assaulted by her friend Fizz's cousin Farooq, Janna feels powerless and guilty. She holds everything inside and tries to go through life as if nothing had happened. With some help from unexpected people, Janna will learn more about herself and life in general and will find the strength to stand up to the monsters in her life.I enjoyed this heartbreaking and realistic story. The characters and situations were well described and seemed to pop right off the page. I learned quite a bit about Muslim culture and practices as I read, which helped inform me even though I believe something different. There are good lessons about family, relationships, faith, life, and overcoming assault in this book. I think there are some who could definitely benefit from the strength the girls in the story show as they face their fears and those who did them harm. I recommend it and am looking forward to reading the sequel.I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and purchased a copy from Amazon. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book meets all expectations, love it, would recommend

So good 😊 I got the second one can’t wait to read it

Very well written. Humorous, honest and powerful. I love the fact that she uses poetry, speaks to the modern Muslim American teen and yet tells a universal story about a topic that is so difficult.

Loved this compelling, fun read. Full of heart, SAINTS AND MISFITS effortlessly captures the experience of being a hijab-wearing Muslim teen in North America. This book is well written, clever and slyly funny even as it examines serious issues of identity and belonging. What I loved the most was the authentic characters. Jana, the main hijabi protagonist, never appeared as a victim or sad-Muslim trope in need of saving, but rather as a nuanced, well rounded person who finds her own empowerment. Can't wait to see what's next for this talented writer!

In love with this book. Is amaizing!