I cannot speak to the accuracy of the representation, but I loved that we were able to see the similar struggles that Sadia, Amira, and Nazreen. We are able to see how they struggle to balance their faith and their Canadian upbringing, their experiences trying to fit in, and how they make sense of their identity as a whole. Each one of them seemed to portray a different side of a similar coin.

In many ways, this book deals with issues of racism and identity. It was about the ways in which people, even today, can be so close-minded and driven by ignorance. At the same time, it was about these three girls' journeys to figure out how they balance the parts of their identity: their religion, their family, and their dreams.

I was immediately intrigued by this title because of the fact that the main character is Muslim, and the culture is Islamic. There are too few of these stories in the world. By default, for whatever reason, main characters tend to be caucasian, so I was really happy to see a story coming from a non-caucasian world. There a lot of seemingly subtle cultural things that are actually a bigger deal than it is made out to be. It may seem like there was an obsession over the hijab, but it is a significant and culturally defining thing. And to a young girl especially early teens, their world is very limited in regards to the things that matter. Saida, for her was basketball, but the hijab is a huge barrier for her to that.

The characters were likable. I loved the fact that Sadia as into basketball because it is so far from what people assume a Muslim girl would be into. This is a very important story to girls this age. My only issue was that it told the perspective of one girl when it also follows a total of three girls going through roughly the same issue. I feel in this story, the impact would have been greater if it was told in third person, or something. It's hard rotating three feelings on something so important.

Overall this was a really good story. It's important, relevant, and has a unique target audience. The delivery could have been smoother, or the characters maybe older, but I feel this author has great potential to really impact the world of cultural diversity in books, and young Muslim girls to finally have more stories that are directly relateable. I can't wait to see more from this author. 3.5 stars

Sadia is a novel that looks at a young Muslim girl living in Canada as she deals with school, friendships, and her true love: basketball. It is marketed as a YA book, so I originally approached it from that perspective, and was pretty underwhelmed. However, when I looked at it as a more upper middle grade book, I found the quality of characters and storyline to be much better. I do think this would be a great transitional book for young teens moving form middle grade to YA plots and characters.

Sadia is a wonderful character and narrator. From the very beginning, I could see things through her perspective and was instantly transported back to the (always confusing, sometimes intimidating) beginning of high school. I am not Muslim, Syrian, or living in Canada, and am almost old enough to be Sadia’s mother, but I still felt her emotions so strongly.

The other characters were interesting, but not as developed as Sadia. Their perspectives and actions (especially Nazreen’s) seemed to change with very little explanation. Additionally, I would read an entire companion story about Amira; her experiences as a refugee were so interesting, but didn’t get much page-time in Sadia’s story.

While the storyline was not always interesting and engaging for me, I do think it would be for a younger audience (the intended audience.) There was quite a lot of information to digest. Some of the experiences were universal: the idea of changing perspective as we get older, dealing with peer pressure, and finding and following our dreams. Others were more educational for readers who do not have the same experiences or life events: moving from your homeland, racism, and the life of a refugee. This helps readers both relate to the characters and have the ability to learn from them.

My favorite part of the story, outside of Sadia’s overall character, is how realistically teenager the characters sound. Their dialogue sounded the way real teenagers would talk to one another. More importantly, the way they wrote (seen especially in the reports/descriptions they wrote for their photography project). It didn’t sound like an adult imaging how children write; it sounded like the real voice of a fifteen year old.(which made sense when I learned the author is a teacher and reads/hears the voices of young teens often) This made the story feel much more authentic.

Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me. I would definitely suggest it to younger readers in my life to learn more about how someone different from them has so many similar experiences. This would be an excellent book as a read aloud and discussion for families (especially homeschooling families) as well.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

tl;dr Review:

A good story about the struggles of immigrants and refugees and their efforts to assimilate.

Full Review:

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not usually one for young adult books. But since lately I’ve found them to be really well written and poignant, I decided to give another YA novel a try.

This time it was Sadia by Colleen Nelson. Taking place in Canada, this book had some slight differences from what high school in the States would be like, but overall that didn’t affect the story line.

Here’s the story’s synopsis from the publisher:

"Sadia wishes life in high school was as straightforward as a game of basketball.

Fifteen-year-old Sadia Ahmadi is passionate about one thing: basketball. Her best friend Mariam, on the other hand, wants to get noticed by the popular crowd and has started de-jabbing, removing her hijab, at school every morning. Sadia’s mom had warned her that navigating high school could be tricky. As much as she hates to admit it, her mom was right.

When tryouts for an elite basketball team are announced, Sadia jumps at the opportunity. Her talent speaks for itself. Her head scarf, on the other hand, is a problem; especially when a discriminatory rule means she has to choose between removing her hijab and not playing. Mariam, Sadia’s parents, and her teammates all have different opinions about what she should do. But it is Sadia who has to find the courage to stand up for herself and fight for what is right — on and off the court."

As the daughter of an immigrant, I am always fascinated by the stories of immigrants coming to new countries and what their experiences are like in trying to assimilate or not. While this story had more simplistic themes than other ones I’ve read (see: I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter), it still paid tribute to the struggles that immigrants face when they leave their homeland.

What made this story special though was how it really highlighted the refugee experience. This was the first time I’d read a novel that focused on that aspect, and it brought to light many issues that are specific to refugees that don’t always occur when someone is solely an immigrant. I never really sat and thought about what it would be like to have to flee my home in the middle of the night with only what I could carry. It brought home what it might be like to not know what had happened to family and friends that were left behind.

I really appreciated that part of this book, as well as its tackling of the issue of de-jabbing. Not being a Muslim myself (nor Christian – I’m agnostic), I had never thought about how much of an emotional impact de-jabbing might have not only on the person doing it, but also on others who choose to keep their headscarves on.

A third surprise in this tale was that it showcased the issue of racism. Obviously, no one in the US is a stranger to that but I always thought (silly me) that Canada was better and immune to the racial issues we have here in America. The author brought this dark viewpoint to the forefront in different parts of her story and it opened my eyes to how this isn’t just an issue impacting the US.

Overall, while this book is not on the level of The Hate U Give, it is definitely a strong story and includes aspects of the immigrant experience that are different than most novels I’ve read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC. I really enjoyed the book and plan on recommending it to some of my students once it’s officially released!

Follow Sadia Ahmadi, a young Muslim teenager, as she navigates through her freshman year of high school. With the upcoming co-ed basketball tryouts coming up and her best friend de-jabbing, Sadia has a lot on her plate but that doesn’t stop her from overcoming the challenges she faces.

This book is more than just a basketball story—it’s about friendship, family, and the little things that make us who we are.

Such a good book! I expected to not enjoy it as much as I did since it’s about a high schooler, but the plot was so good that I finished the book in one day. It’s an easy read that made me tear up multiple times. I really liked seeing Sadia’s basketball team support her when she almost wasn’t allowed to play in the championship games because of her hijab. Amira’s journey was heartbreaking and I liked seeing her open up and learn more about her. You don’t have to be a sports fan (or 14 year old) to enjoy this book.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book is about a Syrian teenage girl, Sadia, who just started High School in a town in Canada. Her friend Nazreen, whose parents come from Egypt starts taking off her hijab in school to try to fit in, to be like the others. The whole book deals with the conflict of whether or not Sadia should do the same and how it affects their friendship and Sadia's dream to play basketball. When Amira, a refugee from Syria, comes to their class Sadia is tasked to show her around because of her Arabic skills. This opens up a new conflict in Sadia, comparing her experience of moving away from Syria and Amira's. Sadia and her family left before the war broke out and while it was hard to move into a new country she never had to experience the war that Amira had to.

Personally, I loved the friendships in this book. How it dealt with the conflict between Sadia and Nazreen and didn't let their other friend look like the Mean Girl. It showed everyday racism that Muslims have to deal with and the conflict between fulfilling traditional values and trying to fit into the Western Society at the same time. I think the topic is very relevant and could be inspiring to young Muslim girls. I also liked the "love interest" in this book and how it was handled. A solid 4 star read.

Sadia is a young Muslim girl who dreams of playing basketball. As she navigates her way through high school, her friendships are put to the test by the practice of wearing a hijab. Sadia must come to terms with how the head covering affects her play, her best friend removing the hijab, and new friend who is a Syrian refugee.

Sadia is a fantastic heroine. Her voice feels real. I enjoyed this book even though it feels a bit like a sports movie; there is a time and place for that. I can't imagine the struggles that a high school Muslim girl must feel as she wants to fit in (like all high schoolers) yet wants to honor her family and obey her religion. This was a great look into what someone else's life might be like.

This was a good book, and I really wish fractions of stars were allowed because I think it's a solid 3.5.<br>
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It's definitely along the lines of countless other "slice of minority life to promote empathy and awareness" young reader books. This is supposed to be YA, I think, but it definitely vibes as more of a young reader book.<br>
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The plot revolves around Sadia's passion for basketball, and the tension between her and her friend Nazreen who is taking off her hijab at school behind the backs of her parents. Things are complicated even more when a new Arabic-speaking refugee student becomes Sadia's responsibility, and the homeroom teacher starts one of those "transformative" assignments that somehow galvanizes everyone to find their true self and follow their passion. <br>
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I enjoyed the basketball parts, and also the dynamic between Sadia and Nazreen most of all. I've read things from the perspective of the girl who's struggling with the decision whether to wear hijab or not to, but never anything exploring the wider social impact of a decision like that. It's obvious why Nazreen would want to de-hijab, socially and practically, but Sadia never seems to be tempted beyond just "if I took it off I'd be able to play basketball." <br>
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This dilemma is always presented as the pressures of secular society vs. being true to your culture, parents, or traditional values. I would be really interested if the stories that deal with the hijab and overall Muslim lifestyle ever dealt with the idea of God. Sadia isn't even tempted by social dynamics to de-hijab, but its almost wholly couched in terms of modesty as a Muslim value, and her relationship with her parents. <br>
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She's 15, so maybe this is just where she's at in her spiritual growth, but she also prays. Does she think about God? Does she think about the hijab as something she is doing that relates to God? Does she trust God, or think about why God would allow the kinds of things that happened to Syria and to her refugee friend's family? I always wonder how you can write an entire book about how someone's religion and culture impacts their life, and not even touch on what they think about God.

This reads more to me like a "helping non-Muslims learn about Islam" book than a book for Muslim kids themselves. It's very earnest but ultimately nothing terribly remarkable and relies pretty heavily on fairly simple tropes that I've seen before, like best friend who has stopped wearing hijab as a source of conflict. If I had to recommend one contemporary YA for a Muslim teen I'd definitely choose SAINTS & MISFITS or one of Sheba Karim's over this one, but I wouldn't dismiss it entirely because I do think its heart is in the right place.

Sadia is a devout Muslim, one who practices modesty and wears a hijab. When her best friend Nazreen begins to remove her hijab, Sadia feels conflicted and a bit left out. When she makes the basketball team, she finds her modest clothes hindering and restrictive.

This was a fairly quick read. I would have liked to see how religion affected her in other areas, other than the book being hyper focused on the hijab. For example, prayer and diet were briefly mentioned, but didn't seem very important. The concept of passion projects was an interesting concept, and I would have liked to read more about them. Overall, the book felt a bit rushed and could have used details aside from basketball and the hijab.

An inspirational story for all high schoolers and young adults. A young Muslim girl Sadis, who stood up to her religious beliefs with courage and commitment. She loved basketball and had played with her older brother in their yard when she was younger. She made the school team soon discovering her hijab was a issue.. What transpired with the help of a friend and later her team member is awesome. And an assignment her grade 9 teacher gave her class led to such astounding results it should give encouragement to all youth.........'perspective' can help you change the world.

When I want something quick to read I always look to Young Adult novels. I love the quick pace of them, but also that they are usually full of emotion. I wanted to read Sadia because it was a perspective of someone different from me, and I think that diversifying your reading can help you be a more understanding person. I thought the author did a great job of letting us see high school and the world through Sadia's eyes. Her parents are pretty laid back for Muslims (I grew up in a house with a pretty strict Muslim step parent), but shows that just like in any religion there are varying degrees of personality through her two Muslim friends. I also liked that the author touched on the crisis going on in Syria. It is good to expose kids and young adults to current events. I loved that basketball was Sadia's passion, and enjoyed seeing her team have her back when she ran into some problems with rules and regulations, but I absolutely loved the side plot about the photography and passion projects. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA fiction or anyone who may want to step into someone else's shoes for a few hours via Sadia's story.

Colleen Nelson's experience as an educator prompted her to write this important novel. The main characters are muslim girls, which isn't prevalent enough in our novels. Sadia, a young teen who wears a hijab as part of her religion, is passionate about basketball. Throughout the novel, Sadia struggles with various situations and expectations, as most teens do, but the reader is exposed to the additional challenges a minority teen faces.

I appreciate that the teens' struggles are handled in a realistic, but also positive manner. The novel promotes honesty, acceptance, unity, and friendship. Nelson's novel works to break down stereotypes and encourages the reader to consider their own actions.

I believe this novel will have a wide-range of appeal, open to all genders, races, religions, and athletic abilities!

I really liked this book. It presents social issues that teens can learn from.

Sadia is a Muslim girl who wears hijab and loves to play basketball. She is accepted by her peers at school and makes the co-ed basketball team. It’s when they get to the tournament that problems arise with other teams not accepting her different style of uniform. Still, Sadia doesn’t want to remove her hijab for this because she feels deeply connected to her reasons for wearing it in the first place.

Sadia’s friend, Nazreen, has begun removing her hijab (un-jabbing) at school along with changing her more modest clothing to clothing that’s more trendy. Although Sadia doesn’t agree with Nazreen’s choice, she wants to remain friends and keeps her opinion to herself. When the first challenges come with Sadia’s hijab coming undone while playing, Nazreen (who is an aspiring fashion designer) designs her a sleek uniform that will allow Sadia to remain covered but also give her more freedom of movement.

I liked this book a lot. I loved the character of Sadia. She was committed and very sure of herself. I loved how her team stood up for her and how the story ended up.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader ecopy of this book. All opinions are my own.

SADIA is a timely and important book that looks at the experiences of a Muslim teenager living in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Sadia moved to Canada three years ago from Syria before the ymass exodus from the country, and wears a hijab as part of her religious beliefs. When her best friend, Nazreen, decides to start de-jabbing at school, a distance starts to develop between them. With the arrival of Amira, a recent refugee from Syria, Sadia takes on the role of helping another girl to navigate the waters of life to a new country, while at the same time dealing with a developing crush, and the difficulty of playing basketball in her hijab. Throughout the story, Sadia is forced to examine her beliefs, and make choices that her and everyone around her.
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I thought this was an excellent read, and is an insightful look the issues that a Muslim girl could face at the start high school. There is a big gap in the literature about the immigrant experiences of Syrian teens, and I’m happy to see someone bringing some much-needed light to the matter. I think this would be a valuable addition to a classroom and/or library.

This book for teenagers gives some insight in the situation of young Muslim immigrants in Canada. I'm not sure if the hijab is really their greatest problem, but these three girls are described quite believably.
Besides the multicultural isssues this is also a great book for all those who love basketball.

Sadia is a novel about a Muslim teen's experience in high school as she plays basketball and her relationship with her friends and family.
I went into this book with high expectations and thought that it would be similar to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas meaning that it would address issues plaguing society today. This book went in that direction but it didn't quite hit the mark.
Colleen Nelson provided examples of problems that I know are faced by Muslims today and I really enjoyed that, because it gave me more insight into the issue faced today. The way Colleen Nelson tackled these issues were thought-provoking and informative.
The main reason why it didn't hit the spot for me was that the plot just wasn't there. I felt like the plot wasn't well executed and instead of being one synonymous plot where these occasions happened, it was more as if they pieced together microagressions and racist occasions together to make the book. There wasn't really a conflict, so nothing got resolved and it didn't follow the arc that is usually taken for writing books.
At the end of the day, this book was quite enjoyable to read and I found myself interested to find out what happened next. I recommend this book for everyone because the message is so important and kudos for touching on a subject that is controversial in today's society!

Note: This review is based on an uncorrected proof and therefore quotes may not reflect the published book.

I love how much I learnt from this book. Sadia follows the story of three young Muslim girls as they navigate a Canadian high school, fitting in, pleasing their families, and being true to their faith.

The MC, Sadia, is not a refugee but rather an immigrant from before the war reached her home in Syria. Now, Sadia is between Nazreen, her best friend - who is exploring how she fits in with her non-Muslim friends, while also adhering to her parent's strict rules in culture and faith - and Amira, a recently arrived refugee who is still reeling from the trauma of the war in Syria.


"After living in refugee camps for the last and a half, she'd proven that she was a survivor. There was no way high school was more challenging than the life she'd left behind."



This book explores so much about being a Muslim, navigating life as a diverse teenager, and the barriers life can present for those from diverse backgrounds.

The whole story is lovely, easy to read, and delightful to explore. The encouragement from Global Issues teacher, Mr Letner, to engage in 'passion projects' and viewing the world from a different perspective was also great, tying the whole story together wonderfully.

I l o v e d the diversity throughout this book, all the side stories to explore and the overall message the story brings. A great effort from an author, while not ownvoices, that wished to create a story for her students to relate to. I am truly looking forward to seeing how ownvoice readers respond to this book.


"'If you give a kid a teacher...' I whispered.
'She'll want to learn,' Nazreen added, with a smile.
'And if she wants to learn...' Amira continued quietly.
'She'll want to change the world.'"

No one wants to be a refugee. No one wants to leave their homeland to live somewhere far away, away from friends, away, from family, away from things that aren't familiar.

And Sadia isn't technically a refugee. Her family emigrated to Canada when her father decided Syria had gotten too dangerous, so while she had seen some bad things, they left before it got really bad. Sadia is interested in basketball, and her friends and family. She does not want to be reminded about coming to Canada, and having to fit in. It is hard enough to fit in with her hijab, without having to help a new refugee from Syria, who just came to Canada, and speaks little to no English.

I liked how this story is told from Sadia's point of view. Although she is the "other" for most readers of this book, those who are not emegrants, and are not muslim, because she has lived her long enough to know the customs, she brings the reader into her world, so we can see what is going on with her, from racial rules that say she can't play basketball with a hijab, to her mother being sworn at the bus stop.

Good story for all kids. Good for muslim kids who need to see themselves in books, so they know they have a place in Western society. Good for everyone else to see the same.

And the underlying them, of helping others, that runs very strongly through this book, but does not hit you over the had with a two-by-four. These kids are very human, and make mistakes, but when they see a problem, they try to solve it.

Great book. Good additon to any library, or school, or home.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.