10/04/2021
Fahmy (That Can Be Arranged, for adults) centers Huda F., “just your friendly neighborhood Arab-Muslim hijab-wearing American whatever,” in this unconventional fish-out-of-water story. After their parents move Egyptian American Huda and her four sisters to largely Muslim Dearborn, Mich., Huda plans to “hang out with the other hijabis” as a way to make friends. But realizing that “wearing hijab is not a personality trait,” she finds that she doesn’t necessarily fit in with her new school’s communities of hijabi athletes, gamers, and fashionistas. While navigating her habitual people-pleasing (“I fake interest in whatever other people are talking about”) and seeking approval and acceptance, she also encounters hostility and prejudicial treatment from students and a teacher, and wonders whether to openly discuss the discrimination or keep quiet and fade into the background. Simple lined cartoon art against ample white space portrays female Muslim characters with an array of skin tones and wearing a variety of hijab styles. In this entertaining, frequently wry fictionalized memoir about an important subject, Fahmy is forthright in her dialogues and depictions. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kathleen Ortiz, New Leaf Literary & Media. (Nov.)
12/17/2021
Gr 7 Up—Fahmy's (Yes, I'm Hot in This) semiautobiographical comic tackles growing up and carving out identity. The author, a Muslim and Egyptian American, describes how as a teen she transferred to a new high school in Dearborn, MI, where she went from being the only student who wore a headscarf to just another hijabi. Realizing that now she blends right in, Huda suddenly feels as though she has no personality (and no friends for that matter), so she decides to find herself and try out the various hijabi cliques at her school: the athletes, the gamers, and the fashionable "hijabonistas." While figuring herself out, Huda also deals with fitting in with her Muslim community; she also encounters an Islamophobic teacher who gives bad grades to all of the Muslim students in her class. Although some of Huda's experiences are specific to a Muslim teen, her attempts to adjust her personality and interests to fit in are universal experiences that all readers can relate to. Huda uses spare, almost stick figure—like, cartoons to illustrate her story, which is told with easy-to-follow panels. Though her artwork is simple, it brims with emotion, enhancing the storytelling of this warm, reassuring tale. VERDICT Centering on a marginalized character attempting to find herself, this is a tale that will resonate with young people seeking to carve out their own identities.—Shazia Naderi, Bethpage P.L., NY
Praise for Huda F Are You?
A 2022 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books List Selection
A 2023 ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project Pick
"Fahmy portrays the negotiations of identity—be it social, cultural, or personal—in high school with humor and genuine warmth . . . [a] funny, thoughtful story of negotiating school dynamics, cultural identity, and individual agency." —BCCB
"Fahmy comedically captures Huda’s embarrassing moments, conflicting desires for validation and acceptance, and the sarcasm she uses as a coping mechanism when facing everyday Islamophobia, xenophobia, bigotry, and microaggressions . . . Hilarious, charming, and much needed." —Kirkus
"[An] unconventional fish-out-of-water story . . . [an] entertaining, frequently wry fictionalized memoir." —Publishers Weekly
"In her signature loose, expressive cartooning style, Fahmy deftly balances humor and seriousness . . . The specific context of Huda’s story is sure to resonate with Muslim teens, but the pitch-perfect jokes and search for a way to stand up for herself without standing out too much is something lots of teens can relate to." —Booklist
“Huda Fahmy’s YA debut is a window into the world of a Muslim teen in modern-day America. A hilarious navigation of high school, faith, and acceptance, Huda F Are You? is a must-read that I devoured in a matter of hours!” —Hafsah Faizal, New York Times bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame
“I was hooked from page one, and read the entire book in one breath. The story is both heart-wrenching and hilarious, as Huda Fahmy flawlessly weaves together laugh-out-loud moments with the emotionally raw honesty of the coming-of-age struggle. I cannot wait to have this book on my shelf for many future rereads!” —Svetlana Chmakova, award-winning author of Awkward, Crush, and Brave
“Only Huda Fahmy could take the complex experience of navigating her developing Muslim identity, add a generous sprinkle of teenage awkwardness, throw in expressive illustrations and witty asides, and weave it all into a coming-of-age story this warm and engaging. I didn’t want it to end!” —Tyler Feder, award-winning author of Dancing at the Pity Party
“An honest, heartfelt exploration of identity and self-awareness, Huda F Are You? is a relatable, poignant tale of growing up Muslim in the United States. Readers will cheer Huda on, and each picture brings hilarious teenage antics to life in this wonderful graphic novel!” —Uzma Jalaluddin, award-winning author of Ayesha at Last and Hana Khan Carries On
“This is the book, the one I’ve been waiting for my entire life. Full of wit, wisdom, and all-too-real hilarity, Huda F Are You? is for all of us who explored every pull from every direction—except the one from our own hearts. After inhaling the story, you’ll do what I did: reread it again and again to savor its brilliance.” —S. K. Ali, award-winning author of Saints and Misfits
“Warm, insightful and laugh-out-loud funny, Huda F Are You? explores the complexities of belonging in a way that readers of all backgrounds will appreciate. A treat and a triumph.” —G. Willow Wilson, Hugo Award–winning creator of Alif the Unseen and Ms. Marvel
2021-09-15
Fahmy’s fictionalized graphic-novel memoir explores the complexities of identity and what it costs to be pleasing.
When Egyptian American Huda and her family move to Dearborn, Michigan, she finds that suddenly she is far from being the only hijabi in her school. At a loss, Huda realizes that she has always adapted to accommodate others instead of finding her own interests. Although she fears that her personality was defined by being different due to her hijab, she also doesn’t fit in with the hijabi athletes, gamers, and fashionistas at school or with her masjid peers, since her parents previously emphasized cultural assimilation. Even her position as the smart sister in her family is challenged as Huda faces academic challenges and a teacher who is hostile toward Muslim students. Fahmy comedically captures Huda’s embarrassing moments, conflicting desires for validation and acceptance, and the sarcasm she uses as a coping mechanism when facing everyday Islamophobia, xenophobia, bigotry, and microaggressions. Neither does the author shy away from reflecting on Huda’s internalized Islamophobia, self-hate, and moments of cowardice as she grows and learns. Background Muslim characters show different skin tones and female characters wearing different styles of hijab as well as those who do not. The full-color artwork shows stylized, cartoon-style figures whose minimalistic features emphasize the emotions shown by their facial expressions. A variety of lettering styles signals background commentary, humorous asides, sound effects, and more.
Hilarious, charming, and much needed. (author’s note) (Graphic fiction. 12-18)
