Welcome to Litsy!

Modern (if teens were still using Facebook) Speak (Laurie Hulse Anderson) sans verse but with a Arab Indian American who knows of a monster within her community of Muslim community. After nearly being raped she sees him everywhere and the internal battle for sharing what she knows in their shared space is waging war on her friends and family when the monster is seen as a saint.

~14 July 22~

Everyone should read despite their age..but especially teens and this book talks about some major important stuff like sexual assault yet it keeps things really light and cute.. It is everything halal.. A must day..
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

#saintsandmisfits #skali #commutereads #metroreads #bibliophile #kindlereads #kindle

IMAGE: Book cover on kindle (background inside of a metro)

~21 June 22~

My current read.. Saints and Misfits..started reading this yesterday and I have a feeling that am going to love it.. 😌

#saintsandmisfits #currentread #bibliophile #skalibooks #muslimreads #kindle

IMAGE- Books title page displayed on kindle ereader

So the thing is, the MC annoyed me nearly until the very end… even though I understand all to well what she went through. I appreciated this view into Muslim life… and different nuances therein. But it just had some hallmarks of a debut novel - I‘ve enjoyed another book by the author already- made this just ok for me. But, it‘s my #doublespin for #bookspinbingo this month! #readmyowndamnbooks

I did some #audiostitching.

SAINTS AND MISFITS is great in every respect except one: it‘s yet another Canadian-authored novel set in Nowheresville, USA. There‘s absolutely no reason it needed to take place in America, unless you buy into the idea that we should all cater to those Americans who‘re totally incapable of relating to anything set elsewhere.

I reject this premise, so even though I love the book, I‘m annoyed at Ali‘s choice.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up because I signed up to do a book tour for Misfit in Love, but I didn‘t know it was a sequel to this, so I looked up on Libby if the library had an audiobook and they did. I loved the day to day life of Janna. I was confused about the titles of chapters of Saint, Misfit, and Monster.
#bookstagram #bibliophile #litsy #littens #bookreview #review

A great YA cultural read with a strong female protagonist. Wonderful presentation of Islamic culture in a way that is educational & not intimidating. Heartbreaking examples of prejudice toward teenage Janna that just hurt my soul. Strong, dynamic characters with excellent personalities & great interactions. The crux of the plot was delivered in a bit of a disappointing telling rather than showing way, but the rest of the plot was well handled.

This book hit home for me, and I think it can be powerful for many women and girls. Stalking is not a joke, nor is sexual assault and unwanted advances. We need more books that speak on this issue, including rape and attempted rape. We also need to speak up about our own experiences, and stand with other women who have been in these situations. Evil ie Predators, Rapists, and Perverts will not win. 1000/10 🌟

#Booked2019 Book with a Muslim author or MC @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

S. K. Ali's Saints and Misfits is a brilliant contemporary YA novel. At its center is Janna Yusuf, a Muslim daughter of divorced parents who is working to understand her place in her family, which includes her older brother who has moved home, and her feelings about her religion. She has chosen to wear the hijab, a visible symbol of her religious faith. (continued in comments)

A sort of coming-of-age story following a Muslim teenager. Not a whole lot happens here, but it still kept me interested.

(Substitute for The Astonishing Color of After)

#MarchMadnessChallenge

I love my local #indie. I went with a list of books last week. They had two in stock and ordered the rest for me. They arrived yesterday and I picked them up on my lunch hour. Yay for a mini-#bookhaul. I‘m really looking forward to the tagged book.

Hoping to get this started tonight!

#bookreview This book has some very important messages. It also fails in a key place. There is a character that thinks not wanting to face your attacker and take them down is weak. And she isn't challenged for that belief. She is called a bitch for other things. She is never explicitly called out for that wrongheaded belief.
Trigger Warning for attempted rape.

I'm in the water. Only my eyes are visible, and I blow bubbles to ensure the rest of me stays submerged until the opportune time.

My #TopTenTuesday is all about books that I loved so much that I wish they had a sequel 📚 These are books that have some of my favorite characters, settings, and stories!

What book do you wish had a sequel?

My full list is here: https://bookloaner.wordpress.com/2018/06/25/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-want-a-seque...

Janna is a teenaged hijabi girl struggling to figure out who she wants to be in the world. Being a good Muslim is very important to her, but so is drawing, photography, Flannery O‘Connor, and a non-Muslim boy she is crushing on.

She starts to doubt herself after a friend‘s supposedly pious cousin attempts to rape her. He is highly respected and she doesn‘t think anyone will believe her if she tells.

Spoiler alert—there are no terrorists.

Loved this one! Highly recommend.

I'm really glad I stuck with this! It was a beautifully complex book about a Muslim teenage girl dealing with an attempted sexual assault by a boy in her community, her crush on a non-Muslim boy, her expectations about who people really are (Surprise! People surprise you), and more. The teenage voice in this felt very authentic. I wouldn't say I'd recommend the audio version though; the narrator's voice was too slow and not expressive enough.

Okay I think you people who suggested Home Fire instead of this one were right. I'm not too into the #audiobook narrator of Saints and Misfits. Has anyone else listened to the audio?

#misfits
#MarchintoOz
@Cinfhen @Lizpixie

This book was brilliant! I loved learning about a religion different than mine, as well as a different culture from my own. I feel like the characters and reactions to things were solid as well! Check it out if you haven't!

So, as of yesterday I am unemployed. I am sad and a little terrified, especially as my lease is up soon and so I am going to have to make some hard decisions if I can‘t find something in time. I haven‘t told many people. But it‘s also become clear I do have people on my team. Trying to find the balance between job hunt and taking care of myself. This is a supportive, if more anonymous, community. So thanks for letting me vent.

Con: much teenage angst—romance, divorced parents, school stuff, religion—(typical contemporary YA but I wasn‘t in the mood); #audiobook narrator Ariana Delawari too chirpy for my taste; helpless main character.
Pro: MC grows a spine; nuanced portrayal of several #Muslim teens in USA; light yet heartfelt; feminist; attempted sex assault (nongraphic) handled well.
I considered bailing on this but I‘m glad I stuck with it.
#CanadianAuthor #OwnVoices

The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.

“Muhammad is in front of the kitchen sink, chugging raw eggs from a carton for a new regimen he's on.”

Wait, what? Can you buy raw eggs in a carton?

Day one of the #riotgrams February challenge. Here's my shelfie!

#CurrentRead

A young Muslim navigates high school and family while trying to stay true to her religious beliefs and trying to understand a sexual assault that occurred with an older boy highly respected in their community and mosque.
I really enjoyed this look into the life of a teenager trying to maintain a balance between the pressure of high school and her culture.
My only complaint is the lack of resolution regarding the sexual assault.

I will start by stating teen romance is not my genre, so I am acknowledging I can‘t really compare this to anything, but lit. fic. rom. What I enjoyed was the peek into a Muslim teen‘s life-What was important, rules, and even a romance that cannot be. What was tough was her love of foreheads, the high drama (which does happen to teens, I know), and the big scene that one was waiting for during the whole book just fell flat for me. #canadareads

Hello Littens! I just started this one tonight as I begin my reading through Canada Reads selections. What is fun is the protagonist is a Muslim teen youth of a divorced family. It is written by a Muslim woman and the book is YA. I thought of all those people doing challenges and this has to hit some of those check boxes. There are trigger warnings though for sexual assault (I am guessing by the description and clues in the book)

I know I'm in the minority here, but I had a hard time connecting with this book. Because it was a YA book about a Muslim teen, there were naturally a lot of cultural references. The problem I had was that I didn't always follow what they were referencing. As a non Muslim, I would have appreciated more explanation. On the flip side, stripped of its cultural essence, I feel this story would be run of the mill YA. I guess I was just expecting more.

Next up for 2018, another recommendation! #litsyatoz letter S

Happy 2018! I read 179 books in 2017 (my best reading year so far) and these are my top 20 books of the year. It was so hard to make this list because I read a lot of really amazing YA books in 2017. I am so excited about a new year of books and sharing what we're reading on Litsy. Hope you're all having a great start to 2018! 🎉📚❤

Here's my full list of favorite 2017 reads https://bookloaner.wordpress.com/2017/12/05/top-20-books-of-2017/

I finished this one around a week ago I think and absolutely loved it !! It tackles Sexual Assault in the muslim community so well and starts a discussion around it. So i highly recommend.

TW: Sexual assault, proximity with assaulter, aromisic comment.

Here's my review: https://wp.me/p7aVNV-93H

Thank you so much @kendrastephaniekaryn !!!! I absolutely love everything! Great book selection, I'm really excited about both titles. And I will definitely be colouring some Christmas cats while watching Christmas movies over the next couple days! And drinking Christmas tea, too! And don't even get me started on the Blue Jays pencils, those are everything!

#SecretSantaGoesPostal
@MrBook @BookBabe @Avanders

The Morris Award Finalists were just announced and this was the only title that my library currently has on the shelf. So i grabbed it to read on my lunch break today. Also, I‘m wearing an Ariel skirt today.

Reading outside today - while I still can before the weather gets too cold for such activities. Loving Saints and Misfits, so far. Had the distinct pleasure of meeting and speaking with the author at BTAF earlier this fall. She was lovely and I'm so grateful for this excellent #windowbook.

I really liked this book about a teen girl who is Muslim, learning to balance her community and her life. She is true to herself and introspective, a well written and real feeling character.

I put the book down in the hallway and noticed how it matched the flowers....took a snapshot for ya. Finished this today and didn't want it to end. I wanted more development of some supporting characters at the end...just wanted to hear from them more. Felt like I knew all the characters. Good solid read if you want to walk in the shoes of a Muslim teenager in the USA. Authentic, real narrative. #diversevoices #muslimbookshelf @youneverarrived

Reading Janna's struggle is heartbreaking especially as she keeps the secret of her sexual assault to herself for 3/4s of the book but that last quarter, as she admits to herself the reality of the situation and starts to tell others, allowing them in and to share the burden, she finds the strength she needs to confront "the monster" that started it all.

The Hate U Give is a hard book to follow. Thus, this read is going a bit slowly for me. Working on finishing my winter cowl that I started last year in the meantime. Look how it matches the book cover! Kinda, sorta. #rebound #knittersoflitsy #knitsy

"...Because when we just do things without a why, we become husks. Easily crumpled, no fruit inside."

Loved this commentary on intention in S.K. Ali's Saints and Misfits

Thx @jhod 4 tagging me 4 my #fivestarpredictions from my TBR list! I love a heavy dose of dystopian fiction to ground me. My personal lit theme this year is #socialjustice, which I hope at least Octavia's Brood lives up to. Of course, there are 6 instead of 5 books here. Saints&Misfits is a YA #ownvoices read 2 bring me back 2 the present post-dystopia. Ready for your reviews on ☝🏽. Let's hear ur 5 ⭐️ predicts @Smrloomis @Tanzy13 @Jessisreading !

This Afghani beef, eggplant and rice dish served with a cucumber mint salad came out really good thanks to Blue Apron! Thought it paired well with this book which I heard about last week on the "Get Booked" podcast. #bookanddinner

I thought this was a really interesting story. A lot of information about being Muslim and the practices behind it which I found interesting.

Such a great book. I haven't read a ton of YA about Muslim American teens, but this was a great introduction. There's definitely a trigger warning for sexual assault, and while it's not super graphic, it does play a role in the central narrative.

Loving this diverse YA. The teens actually sound like teens which is always refreshing.