One of the things that I really loved about this book was its representation of niqab. Ali scrapes at the veneer of piety (a hijab or a beard) to show all of her characters as human beings, trying hard, and making mistakes as they go. Saints and Misfits captures the unfortunately judgmental side of Muslim communities in the US. “Saints” are a real thing in our communities-the Quran-memorizing youth who lead activities at the mosque and are lauded to the skies by adults. It also deals with family, culture, religion, divorce, academic integrity, and interfaith relationships. True to YA form, this book deals with serious issues like stalking and sexual assault. The plot follows Janna’s real life: she has finals at school, gets involved in a quiz bowl competition at her mosque, and tries to make good choices that are true to who she wants to be. But Fizz’s cousin Farooq, memorizer of the Quran and the community’s favorite teen, is a monster. Her best friend at mosque, Fizz, is a saint-a member of the prominent and pious Noor family. Her best friend at high school, Tats, encourages her to pursue a relationship with her crush-Jeremy.

Like many American-Muslims, she has two best friends. Janna, who is a sophomore, loves Flannery O’Connor and photography she works part-time as caretaker for an elderly Hindu neighbor, Mr. She is a misfit, and she is dealing with a monster. But in Janna’s Muslim version, there are saints, misfits, and monsters. This book is a riff on the high school social class system: geeks, jocks, preppy, nerds, emo, etc. He wants to know why she can’t wear a one-piece like the one Linda is wearing Janna explains to her dad, “I’m a hijabi, remember?” Janna is caught between her dad, on the less-practicing end of the Muslim spectrum, and her mom and brother, who agree on everything. Janna’s parents are divorced, and she is on vacation with her dad and her stepmom. It’s the perfect moment to describe the American-Muslim experience-young people caught between all kinds of rocks and hard places. She emerges, water squelching out everywhere and the black fabric getting covered in sand, only to be berated by her dad, “Janna, why do you have to wear that thing?” The novel opens with Janna Yusuf in the water at the beach, scanning the coast to choose the perfect moment to come out-when no one is paying attention to her and her awkward burkini.

It perfectly captures what it’s like for Muslim teens growing up in America-trying to practice Islam when they’re still sorting out what the shape of that Islam is and how it fits together with the rest of their life. Ali, is the book that I’ve been holding my breath for since I was fourteen years old. I loved this book so much that I’m splitting the conversation into two parts-the non-spoiler review that follows, and a spoilery discussion of the book, which you can find here.

Saints and misfits