Proud: Living My American Dream

by Ibtihaj Muhammad

The inspiring and critically acclaimed all-American story of faith, family, hard work, and perseverance by Olympic fencer, activist, New York Times bestselling author, and Time "100 Most Influential People" honoree Ibtihaj Muhammad At the 2016 Olympic Games, Ibtihaj Muhammad smashed barriers as the first American to compete wearing hijab, and she made history as the first Muslim American woman to win a medal. But before she was an Olympian, activist, and entrepreneur, Ibtihaj was a young outsider trying to find her place. Growing up in suburban New Jersey, Ibtihaj was often the only African American Muslim student in her class. When she discovered and fell in love with fencing, a sport most popular with affluent young white people, she stood out even more. Rivals and teammates often pointed out Ibtihaj's differences, telling her she would never succeed. Yet she powered on, rising above bigotry and other obstacles on the path to pursue her dream. Ibtihaj's inspiring journey from humble beginnings to the international stage is told in her own words and enhanced with helpful advice and never-before-published photographs. Proud is an all-American tale of faith, family, hard work, and self-reliance.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Sports, Biography, Middle Grade, Muslims, Biography Memoir

304 pages, Hardcover

First published July 24, 2018

About the author

Ibtihaj Muhammad is a fencer and the first Muslim American woman in hijab to compete for the United States in the Olympic Games. She is also the first female Muslim American to medal at the Olympic Games, winning bronze in the women’s saber team event. An activist, speaker, and entrepreneur, Ibtihaj has written a memoir, Proud, and inspired the first hijabi Barbie in her likeness.

Reviews

[Mariah Roze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that everyone should pick up and read, especially in the USA. Right now, there is so much hate towards Muslims and their religion. Our president is trying to ban all Muslim immigrants and make life harder for Muslim-Americans. This book really highlights all the good that is happening in the Muslim community. Reading this book is a way to open your eyes and to fight against the hate that is going on in the USA and around the world.

"At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Ibtihaj Muhammad smashed barriers as the first American to compete wearing hijab, and made history as the first Muslim-American woman to medal. But it wasn't an easy road--in a sport most popular among wealthy white people, Ibtihaj often felt out of place. Ibtihaj was fast, hardworking, and devoted to her faith, but rivals and teammates (as well as coaches and officials) pointed out her differences, insisting she would never succeed. Yet Ibtihaj powered on. Her inspiring journey from a young outsider to an Olympic hero is a relatable, memorable, and uniquely American tale of hard work, determination, and self-reliance."

[Hasna M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is very inspiring!

[Kelly]

Young Reader Editions of adult books used to be so sad, but in the last half decade or so, they've really gotten so good. This is no exception.

A look at how Muhammad found her passion for fencing and how her identity as a solidly middle class black hijab-wearing Muslim impacted her journey through a sport best known as one for upper class white people. Muhammad's passion for her family and deep need to reconnect with her spiritual side throughout her rise in the sport were wonderfully rendered here, too -- she is so relatable to so many teens and such a powerful role model for those teens who share any or all of her identities. She is who she wished she had when she were young.

Recommended for readers who love sports memoirs or who want to see women of color and women of faith excelling in their areas of passion.

[Snakebite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Ibtihaj Muhammad's fencing journey and how she became who she is now. As the first American Muslim woman to reach the Olympics her journey was hard but that made her all the more influential. I really like how she stands up for herself and tries to shatter the bizarre stereotypes about Muslims.
Kind of makes me want to look up the Ibtihaj Muhammad Barbie doll.

[Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proud is an amazing and inspiring book about Ibtihaj Muhammad. She fenced in the 2016 Rio Olympics and made history as the first woman to compete in a hijab. She was also the first American-Muslim woman to win a medal. But she had to face racism from almost everyone around her; her coach, officials and many of her teammates let her skin tone affect their idea of her skills and abilities. But Ibtihaj was an amazing fencer and didn’t let that stop her. Her friends and family supported her and helped her throughout the book.

Proud was life-changing for me. It was a beautiful and inspiring story about family, perseverance and hard work. I thought this story was amazing, and it teaches you that no matter if you are different from your peers (or competitors in this case), you should keep working at what you love to do. I would rate it 5 stars. Ibtihaj Muhammad’s story was amazing, and personally, I think anyone who has ever felt “different” should read this book.

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cool and fascinating person.

I really enjoyed reading this, for myself. I originally picked it up thinking it might be a good book to take out to local middle schools, and it wasn't a great fit for that.* But for me, just reading it, it was great.

I spent 7 years or so of my youth on a synchronized swimming team, and I imagine that synchronized swimming and fencing have some things in common. They're niche cultures, with lots of lingo, politics, and very specialized skills. I loved Muhammad's reflections on how she was so attracted to this particular sport, the times she considered dropping it, and what drove her to be the best.


*For some of the same reasons I go into in my review of Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love reading about an underdog fighting against the odds to overcome, and this book doesn't disappoint. It's all the better because it's true. I appreciated reading about the hard work it took to succeed. About learning to accept and love yourself despite others' opinions. I appreciated her struggle to choose her own actions (instead of reactions), and not let others decide who she became.

I agree with her . . . I don't see why we view wearing a hijab as so different. As scary.

She talks about the humbling experience of being a role model for so many youth who also wear a hijab, or who are a minority who see themselves in her, but I think she is a role model for all. We should all work so hard for our dreams. We should all be willing to speak out against the injustices against others.

[Nandi Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book on perhaps the first African American Muslim female in the world of fencing. In spite of a strict Muslim upbringing, she found that she excelled in fencing as something she took up for a summer respite that turned into a passion that she still plays. What got me is the harsh treatment she got from some of her coaches and trainers, but in spite of it all, she would never give up ultimately winning the Bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. I hope to see her really shine in 2020 though, I know she'll do so.

[Leili V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really admire Ibtihaj: this book is inspiring. Not sure the age level it’s marketed for, but I’d suggest older tweens/younger teens. I really enjoyed learning more about this amazing woman. I especially liked that she kept things very real in her story. It is not easy to be a Black, Muslim, nor female human in this country, but she kicks ass at all of that, and kicks ass in a sport in which not many people that identify as either of those things play. She doesn’t sugarcoat things. But she gives us all hope.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ibtihaj is an amazing woman. I cannot imagine putting up with all the things she was up against and keep going. I felt inspired by her and loved her devotion to her faith. As she was talking about living her faith, I felt much more in common with her than differences. She is an inspiration and a great role model.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

6th-8th
Biography
This book caught me completely offguard. I took a chance on it because someone told me it was interesting. I've never been informed about fencing, but this book does an amazing job at showing you what true hardwork and dedication can do when striving for your dreams. I also love how the main character sticks to who she is throughout the book and doesnt change for anyone no matter what.

[noor. · Rating 5 out of 5]

if i read this a hundred more times i rlly will never be sick of it.
i’m so happy i picked this up again <3 i literally had read it sm times at like age 10 and i had loved it :) comfortttt book 📕

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know much about Ibtihaj Muhammad before reading this aside from the Olympics win, but she is so inspiring!

[Kimberlie ౨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

So umm. Ya, not for me, I had to read it for something personal so not exactly my choice, but umm yep. 👍

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspiring book! I could not put it down. I was impressed by Ibtihaj’s commitment to her religion and her incredible work ethic in spite of the many obstacles in her way. I’m not sure what differences there are between this and the adult version, but my library only had this so I went with it. 😂

[Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muhammad Ibtihaj
Proud: Living My American Dream 304
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
July, 2018


Proud: Living My American Dream by Ibtihaj Muhammad is about a regular woman becoming a world class fencer and a author of this book despite the odds in this middle school book. In her childhood she had very strict rules and very protective parents. Her parents thought sports were really good for her so she had a lot of sports experience. Her Muslim faith stated that she had to wear very covering clothes and wasn't allowed to wear shorts or a short sports uniform. When she was young one summer she chose track with a little pushing from her parents but in one race she got too hot and stopped running. Her mother was disappointed and she stopped running because she didn’t want to disappoint her parents. Her mother found out about fencing and thought it would be a good sport for her but her coach had to touch her to adjust her and she didn't like it because he. She got back into fencing because she discovered she could get a scholarship to college with the sport. She eventually discovered a passion for it and kept going and eventually reached the Olympics.
This book is a very inspiring book about the view from a person experiencing discrimination, like being made fun of and being disrespected by her fencing team in the olympics. It shows the world from her point of view and how she deals with being made fun for her outfit and religion. Because the book is about the author it tells about the events with detail and her opinions.Like when she was disrespected by her fencing teams it told how she got through it by talking to her sister on the phone and having her coach. The themes are bravery and courage and love because she had to be brave to face all the criticism and her family and coaches really cared about her. Muhammad has become very popular for her fencing talents. There has even been a Barbie Doll made of her. Verdict: This book is great for anyone who likes nonfiction or is struggling with being made fun of.


Penn Potter

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review: I picked this audio book up from the library on a whim to find strong females in books for young girls. I wasn't sure what to expect with this one as I don't usually read memoirs or non-fiction but this book blew me away. Ibtihaj and her story are such an inspiration! The narrator did a fantastic job with inflection to show the full range of emotions Ibtihaj experiences throughout her journey from disappointment, stress, joy, love, excitement, anger and frustration. I loved how she told us not only the triumphs but also the times when she lost her way, it is clear that all of her accomplishments are due to her determination, hard work and a great family support system. I not only learned a lot about fencing but also about the Muslim faith. This was such an informative and inspirational book, I am so glad I picked it up!

[Grace Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I learned so much about the sport of fencing and the lije of Ibtihaj Muhammad's journey through her life. This book is so interesting, I never wanted to put the book down. The author uses such descriptive words to allow its readers to visually imagine what the author is saying. Overall, I rated this book a 5 out of 5 stars because it was everything to me. It was interesting, fun, and extremely inspiring. Ibtihaj Muhammad is such a role model for girls and I love the way she fights for what she believes in.

[maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the most inspiring book I've read. Her journey had A LOT (and I mean ALOT) of ups and owns, but in the end she conquered. Her step-by-step motivational journey will not only help athletes that are trying to achieve a goal but anyone with simple life struggles!

THIS BOOK IS A MUST-READ!!!!

[Carly Bohach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED Ibtihaj's story. She is positive, inspiring women and sports figure. I loved how she never gave up, worked hard and was never discouraged. She never comprised her beliefs and never stooped the people who looked down on her. She is the definition of good sportsmenship.

[Michelle Glatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me. Muhammad pulls no punches in this recounting of the challenges shefaced both on and off the fencing strip. Her perseverance is astounding.

[rafia · Rating 4 out of 5]

↪ 4.5 stars

"I didn't have any role models who looked like me in fencing, and there weren't any other Muslim women wearing hijab at the elite levels of sport to inspire my quest. I had myself, my family, and my faith, and that was enough for me to persist."

now, I'm not very good with wording but Ibtihaj sure is. If you didn't already know, Ibtihaj Muhammad is a Muslim-American Woman Olympic athlete. She struggled hard in her life and overcame many challenges. It was really inspiring to read about her journey but I, personally, feel like there was a lot missing. Maybe that was because it was the young reader's edition, but there was a little bit more I was expecting. There were many ups and downs, but mainly ups, to be honest. (not that I was waiting for her to fail lol.)

nonetheless, this was a really good read, and I don't usually read memoir/autobiography books.

one final thing, I look up to Ibtihaj a lot because she didn't fight with people's ignorance. She was strong even when her own team or classmates doubted her. I personally have had an experience like hers, in which her team, in my case "friends", left her out of many things such as group meetings and group lunches. She kept her faith in Allah and her family and didn't let anything bring her down and that's what I admire about her.

I'm proudly a Muslim-American, and one of the reasons for that is people like Ibtihaj, that stick up for themselves and show that others can too, helped me find the courage to be proud of who I am and my religion.

♡

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir of the first American Olympian to compete wearing a hijab. Ibtihaj starts with a story of a teacher refusing to say her name because it is too hard, showing the kinds of racial and religious prejudice she faced as a black Muslim girl growing up in America. She explains how she first turned to fencing as a way of gaining scholarships for college, but how it grew into her lifeline once she graduated and couldn’t find a job. For her, the most powerful part of her 2016 Bronze medal win was not the culmination of all her efforts, but the platform it gave her to serve as a role model; she even had the first Barbie in a hijab produced to model her! Although this is a Young Reader’s Edition, I think the pacing is far too slow for this book to be engaging for most middle-school students, despite the inspiration of Ibtihaj’s message.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ibtihaj Muhhamad is an inspiration to anyone who has ever been told they couldn't do something because of their gender/race/religion/etc. She is not only a championship fencer but a thoughtful and positive person who seeks to improve herself and the world around her. I was really struck by the way she persevered to follow her fencing dreams, even though she experienced disrespect and mistreatment at the very highest levels of competition from her own teammates and coach.

[MrsAgnello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic and charming and so full of inspiration. I ended up in happy tears and I couldn’t recommend this more.

[ikallam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a young muslim hijabi girl, and there are like 5 other girls IN MY GRADE ALONNEEE with hijabs too. Honestly i do fencing and after reading this i started thinking maybe its not for me. I mean ive always liked runnning more, so i might start running track.

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I listened to the audio. Ibtihaj is such an inspiring woman. I liked everything about her story.

[Joy Lane]

Lexile score 960 and 16 pts.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Ibtihaj didn't sugarcoat her experience with her teammates. She was real and honest! I learned so much about fencing and her story is truly inspiring to always keep fighting for your dreams.

[Arianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ibtihaj Muhammad grew up in suburban New Jersey, and as the only black Muslim in her class, Ibtihaj often felt like she had to explain herself to others, especially as she grew older and began wearing hijab. Ibtihaj’s parents always encouraged her and her brothers and sisters to do athletics, so in high school, Ibtihaj tried something new: fencing. The first thing she loved about fencing was that fencers wear long sleeves and pants. As part of her religion, Ibtihaj always dresses modestly, so finding a sport where everyone wore long sleeves and pants was great! Ibtihaj quickly took to fencing, and when she was a junior was good enough to compete on the national circuit. It even earned her a scholarship to college. Although she fenced through most of college, it wasn’t until after college, having difficulty finding a job during the Great Recession, that Ibtihaj really focused on her fencing. She began to think she might have a shot at the Olympics. Ibtihaj’s journey to the Olympics was not easy. It took hard work a sacrifice. It involved intense pressure and mistreatment at the hands of coaches and teammates who didn’t think she belonged in fencing. But Ibtihaj never let any of that break her. She would go on to achieve her dream of competing in the 2016 Olympics, becoming the first American to compete wearing hijab.