Saints and Misfits

 Ali, S. K. Saints and Misfits. 217. 336p. ISBN 9781481499248

When people look at Janna Yusuf, all they see if her headscarf. They don't see that she's a really good photographer, an amazing student, a loving sister, a great helper to an elderly neighbor, open-minded, and a daughter to divorced parents, an Egyptian mother and an Indian father. Strong in her Muslim faith, Janna wears the hijab because she feels comfortable and less exposed. A junior in high school, Janna and her best friend, who is not Muslim, complement each other well. 

In her community, everyone look up to Sarah and to Farouk. Sarah, or Saint Sarah, as Janna refers to her, is the perfect Muslim girl, always respectful, always amazingly dressed, leading all of the fundraising efforts at the Mosque, and studying to complete a doctorate. Her brother, Mohammed, begins to date Sarah, and Janna gets the opportunity to observe her. Then there's Farouk. He can recite the Koran by heart, and is deemed blessed. But behind this facade lays a monster who attempted to rape Janna at a party. 

Terrified of the boy she calls the monster, Janna doesn't know how to bring him down so that other members of her community will see him for what he really is. Janna is also conflicted, because she lately finds her thoughts going to Jeremy, a non-Muslim boy with a nice forehead.

With exams, Mohammed moving back into their small apartment and needing to occupy her room while she moves in her mother's own bedroom, with the monster lurking in the background and her infatuation with Jeremy, what's a proper Muslim girl to do? Can she be both a saint and a misfit?

Janna is a wonderfully real characters, with emotions and a personality that shines throughout the book. Not rebellious by nature, Janna must figure out a way to move forward from her horrifying experience with the monster. Fans of realistic fiction interested in learning about a different culture will love this book!