Welcome to Litsy!

I read this with #QueerBC a while ago and am catching up on reviews. This book dives into second-generation Muslim American experiences, friendship, trauma, and being LGBTQIA in this community. The pacing and character development are well utilized, and the stories shared paint a strong picture. It was distressing that the girls‘ trauma was never addressed, often true in real life. Do read the content warnings. #LGBTQIA #MuslimAmerican

For Razia, growing up is complicated by being Pakistani in 1980s NYC, highly religious parents, & her developing feelings for a fellow classmate @ her new high school.

Oh, but this broke my heart. My parents weren‘t as religious as Razia‘s, but her complicated friendships w/ the girls in her community, academic pressure, the feeling that you need to follow your parents‘ plan, & the fear you‘ll disappoint them, all felt familiar to me.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

I adored this book. It is so funny/strange that two girls from different neighborhoods- I grew up in a rural area, Razia in Corona, Queens, from different cultures-I grew up in a southern Independent Baptist home, Razia in a Pakistani Muslim home had the same experiences growing up in the 80s. We both had the very controlling mother and the hyper zealousness of our religions. Reading this book reminded me of how my childhood friends saved me.

A beautifully written book about tradition and what happens when it clashes with a new generation's expectations. The author explored the contradictions without diminishing the values of the community that raised Razia.

#queerbc @PuddleJumper

I heard the audio book read the by author herself, and I was deeply impressed. I loved the insights into Razias life and how she grows up. How she finds herself between two cultures that both are a part of her. It feels to me like it deepened my understanding of Pakistani and Islam culture, at least I really hope so. But oh, the book was over way to soon! I just sat there and thought: “Oh... no... not now!“

#queerbc @PuddleJumper

Realized I never posted my March Bookspin picks
#Bookspin is any #roll100 book and #doublespin is the tagged audiobook for #QueerBC
@TheAromaofBooks @PuddleJumper

A quietly beautiful and powerful queer coming of age novel set in a 1980s Pakistani American community in the Corona neighbourhood of Queens, NY. Told in vignettes, the story follows Razia as she makes and loses friends, participates in community Muslim events, and falls in love with Angela, a classmate. Razia's eventual separation from her family, community, and only world she's ever known is heartbreaking, because you know them all so well. 💔

From debut author Maleeha Siddiqui , a modern spin on the Parent Trap trope. Funny and realistic characters and dialogue.

#ReadAway Day 11 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

Beautiful! Definitely want a hard copy for my classroom library.

I loved the character work in this book, but the storyline wasn't the best, imo. I get that it's a bildungsroman, but the plot threads seemed random at times, and the ending was way more heightened than the rest of the story. I'd say it's worth reading, but it's not my new favorite book. #comingofage #historicalfiction #lgbtqfiction