A Today Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
âThe bighearted, wildly charming, painfully real love story Iâve been waiting for.â âBecky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
From William C. Morris Award Finalist S.K. Ali comes a âheartfelt and powerfulâ (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) romance thatâs The Sun Is Also a Star meets Anna and the French Kiss, following two Muslim teens who meet during a spring break trip.
A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoesâbecause they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together.
An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zaynebâs teacher, who wonât stop reminding the class how âbadâ Muslims are.
But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isnât bad. Sheâs angry.
When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her auntâs house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break.
Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, ânicerâ version of herself in a place where no one knows her.
Then her path crosses with Adamâs.
Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adamâs stopped going to classes, intent, instead, on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister.
Adamâs also intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father.
Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals.
Until a marvel and an oddity occursâĶ
Marvel: Adam and Zayneb meeting.
Oddity: Adam and Zayneb meeting.