Thirteen-year-old Aaliyah is attending a K-pop concert in Lambert, England, with her friends when an explosion sends the audience stampeding to safety. I will like to add that all the people I’ve spoken to at the DWP and even the interviewer were lovely. All polite and helpful. I just truly do think that they underestimated my needs but it’s now been corrected and I get high on both. A truly empowering story with a Muslim girl at its heart, who has had enough of the world’s preconceptions of Muslims.

I originally joined for my son however my dr suggested I apply for myself and should have actually done so years ago. I did and was awarded standard for care and high for mobability. Now whilst grateful I was confused because my care needs are more than mobility. I have a neuro condition and have just been diagnosed with Pro-Longed QT waves. Along with many other symptoms I have memory loss which means cooking is dangerous as I often forget I’ve put the oven on or even to turn it off at the end. I set reminders but within mins I forget. However the DWP said I can use a microwave so I’m ok. I argued that a microwave isn’t exactly the healthiest and since nutrition has been linked with healthy living anything less than this is detrimental to our health. With meds having side effects of weight gain I def don’t need to be helping it along. Aaliyah has such a real presence, a character you can’t help to want to relief of all her pains and worries. Seeing Aaliyah process and deal with the hate and bullying ends up being very educational of the Muslim community and faith. Coffee house Caffè Nero has announced the 16-strong shortlist for the inaugural Nero Book Awards, recognising the outstanding books of the past 12... M. Dassu serves up an important, necessary book about racism and identity." Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant "Unflinchingly honest, heartbreaking, powerful, important and hopeful." Sophie Wills, author of The Orphans of St Halibuts "Tense, terrifying, transformative.

Genre

I enjoyed the character development of the main characters and her friends. As a mother of a 12-year-old daughter myself I felt that the children were portrayed quite accurately and in a relatable way. The parents were not portrayed as overly religious or hard to connect to. They were quite involved in their daughter's life and were supportive the way I would imagine or hope I would be myself towards my own children. Wow, this story is so needed in these times. A world in which Muslims truly face Islamaphobia and kids face bullying needs books like this to teach empathy and also resilience. Set in the U.K., a middle grade girl (who happens to be Muslim) is celebrating with her diverse circle of friends at a K-pop concert when a bomb goes off. The fallout is tragic: several people are killed, one friend's injuries result in her leg needing amputation, everyone at the concert experiencing some sort of trauma/PTSD, and the community becomes riddled with Islamophobia. Aaliyah becomes a target of hate by classmates, neighbors, and her best friend's older brother. To show her community that all Muslims are not evil, she decides to wear a hijab to remind them (and herself) of the tenets of her faith. As the hate continues to manifest around her, Aaliyah and her friends make plans to confront racism head on at their school.

Loved the literary shout-outs, and the hypocrisy of allowing swim caps and hats but not hijab, but sigh, didn't love the cat thread. I think I just don't like fictional cats, I sound like a broken record. I think the inclusion was to show how much Aaliyah had to keep hidden in her life and how she needed comfort, but I don't know, sigh, I found the contrast of tone jarring to the pacing. Rich and strange (and kitted out with an eye-catching cover), but stronger in the set pieces than the internal logic. Screening: a bomb goes off in a concert the mc attends, and a scary aftermath. Some islamaphobic altercations (these did read age appropriate) An essential read to encourage empathy, challenging stereotypes, exploring prejudice, racism, Islamophobia and positive action. A.M. Dassu is the award-winning author of the critically acclaimed Boy, Everywhere, A story of hope, speaking up and the power of coming together in the face of hatred. Perfect for readers of Elle McNicoll and Helen Rutter. "A major, much needed voice in UK children's fiction." Alex Wheatle, author of Cane Warriors and Crongton Knights . "One of the best, most relevant, most important writers we have in the UK today." Liz Kessler, author of When the World was Ours "A. M. Dassu serves up an important, necessary book about racism and identity." Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant.

About the Book and Author

Internationally acclaimed author A. M. Dassu’s follow up to Boy, Everywhere is an essential read to encourage empathy, challenge stereotypes, explore prejudice, racism, Islamophobia and encourage positive action. But when a terrorist bomb goes off at the end of the concert, they are thankful that they weren't closer to the front, where people have been killed and maimed. They also said as I can bath I’m independent. I can bath (cant shower as I can’t stand that long) but have to have someone with me due to seizures so not exactly independent is it. Not many have to have their child listen out for you. They said in the interview I didn’t have a noticeable tremor. Which I agree. For that 1hr I didn’t. For that 1hr on the video call I sat on my hand. I said I do have video documentation of it and happy to send this. Hijab bans in France and Quebec along with general islamophobia on the rise this book is quite relevant to the times we presently live in.