Young Muslim's Book Club discussion

What do you think about Na’ima B Robert?

I really loved Boy Vs Girl, it had a heartwarming story and great Niqabi rep too. I was disappointed with She Wore Red Trainers, though. It didn't handle certain topics very well imo.

Oh... I have never read any of her books before but I've had a writing class session with her and she was really nice :D

I actually enjoyed She Wore Red Trainers. What was it that you didn't like about it, Tarria?

While I enjoyed most of the book, I found the shotgun wedding at the end of the book hard to believe. Where was the settling of the Mahr and the Walima/Sadaqa? Straight after a five minute Niqah in an airport they're on their way to Mexico where they'll live together as a married couple for the first time. They're eighteen, barely know each other and now they don't even have their families around for advice! Family is very important in Islam and at the time of marriage their support is most needed!

I didn't see your comment until now! But I see where you're coming from. For me, I was just really pleased with the Muslim rep so I overlooked the shotgun wedding, though, yes, it did definitely strike me as a bit odd. Lol. In my opinion, it has the best Muslim rep out of the handful of books with Muslim characters. lol.

Yes I was pleased too! And I loved the deaf rep with Amira's little brother and her White-convert best friend.

But there were just little things apart from the ending that really tainted my experience.

I'm not sure where the author's from but does she know London well? When Ali moves there from the countryside and is IMMEDIATELY swept up by a bunch of really nice practising Muslim boys who do their best to help the community I kinda laughed. Please, it was so unbelievable. If reverts were treated with such kindness like this, the world would probably be entirely Muslim.

I get what the author was trying to do, but she should've also explored the more dangerous gangs everywhere before Ali discovered the good one, they're only briefly mentioned in the brother subplot.
Instead by chance he falls right into place so there's no struggle there.

Being a teenage schoolboy in London is extremely dangerous due to the gangs and knife crime, it's so easy to get in with the wrong people and your life is ruined. As I said, this was touched upon in the subplot on Ali's brother but not nearly enough.

I just realised how long this was lol sorry

I just started reading Boy vs. Girl this morning, and even though there are some things I don't love about it so far, I'm still glad I'm reading it!

The Muslim rep seems great, AND all their talk about preparing for Ramadan and making goals is actually hyping me up to do the same for our own upcoming Ramadan! I unknowingly started this book at the perfect time :)

Tarria, I actually know nothing of London so of course, I didn't know about the gang issues of London. So I know more now of what's not fully fleshed out in the book. Thanks for clarifying. :)

Noor, that's awesome. I read Boy v. Girl in middle school. It has been so long, I forgot what it was about lol.

Hiii new here, just loooking through the thread!

I've only read She Wore Red Trainers, but I enjoyed it. I did also find the end wedding odd though, it seemed a bit rushed. I'll add Boy v. Girl to my tbr!