Under the Radar

by Hana Hisham

Nineteen sixty-eight. Dallas Texas doesn’t understand many things, but he sure does know everything there is to about cars. He’s a precocious sixteen-year-old mechanic who can’t handle change, but change sure doesn’t care about what anyone can’t handle. In the garage, Dallas does all the talking, while his friend Sonny does all the thinking. Will he succumb to the realities around him, or keep on living in the wonderland of his mind? Under the Radar, society’s blind spot.

121 pages, Paperback

First published August 16, 2025

About the author

Hana Hisham is an Egyptian writer born in 2008. She wrote 'Didn't Catch Your Name' and 'Under the Radar' when she was sixteen, and Viva Las Vegas when she was seventeen.

Reviews

[Charis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The vibes were good, and this main character was very compelling. I saw the world so clearly through his eyes. I found the theme of the meaning of childhood very fascinating.

And I loooved the ending. I was beginning to see it coming, and I’m glad it ended like it did. It was bittersweet, but it tied together well.

Something I found weird was the characters from the author’s other book making cameos. Nothing wrong with that, except for the fact that this book takes place in the late 60s, whereas that one was the late 80s, so the characters wouldn’t even have been born yet??

But that’s just a small note. This story grew on me. I will definitely be picking it up again sometime. It made me think.

Also, the main character reminded me a lot of Texas McCormick from Tex, and not just because of the name. His mindset was very similar. Maybe that’s what I liked a lot about it.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly such an amazing book!
It made me think until my head exploded and that's my favourite kind of book to read.
So well written, an insanely skilled writer it's unreal..
The characters are all very likeable and often times you get a very good insight into them through the eyes of the main character.
It was so interesting to see the way his train of thought changed throughout the book, great emotional rollercoaster, perfectly paced.
Real good insight to how it feels to grow up and to understand certain problems and how it feels to have to deal with them even if you don't want to.
Deep characters, deep book, great!!

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this book!!!!!!