WOW. JUST WOW. I was really excited about this book to begin with because the synopsis sounded so good and also Hafsah Faizal tweeted about it and of course, I HAD TO READ IT. Y'all should know that whenever I go into a book with a Muslim MC I always hold my breath because I'm so terrified of being misrepresented. But this? THIS DID AN AMAZING JOB.

From the very first page, I was in love with Allie's voice. She was opinionated but also hesitant about voicing those opinions... and then she felt guilty about that. Basically, I was already relating extremely hard to Allie! What was so amazing about this book was that Allie was exploring her religion as if for the first time even though she was born into it. I was also born into the religion but never really understood it until I willed myself to educate myself. It was just so nice to see such a beautiful spiritual journey.

ALSO!!!! She lives in GEORGIA! It's always fun to have a character that lives in your home state haha!

I really enjoyed the other Muslim characters. I loved her complicated relationship with her family, especially with her father. This touched on a lot of issues without me feeling like every cliche was there (which has happened before and it's NOT fun). The Muslim friends she made with their differing views about their faiths was such an interesting part of the book and I really loved the fact that they were kind and supportive even with their differences. I also appreciated (though of course while I read it I was so angry which is the point) the "friends" that say "accidentally" racist things. I just thought everything that happened within Allie's social circle was so important to read!

I also really loved the debates within the book. Because Allie's learning about being a Muslim, she talks a lot about being a "Good" Muslim and she struggles with the idea that she isn't good enough. All of these things just really hit home for me. Sure, there was a love story within it (I'm usually not a fan of the whole dating thing with Muslim MC's, but hey the cool thing with this book was this was acknowledged and discussed!), but this was more about the self discovery and family and fighting racism!

Honestly, I read this book in a matter of a few hours because it was just so beautiful. I cried TWICE (last time I did that was Love From A to Z, so.... obviously, this means A. LOT.). I laughed, cried, felt second-hand embarrassment AND felt the anger and confusion and guilt. I could FEEL every emotion. Can I just say that I was just really proud of Allie? REALLY PROUD, OKAY?!

There's just SO MUCH I want to discuss about this book but that means spoilers, so I can't! But just know that I seriously want to buy this book for everyone I have ever met so that they not only get a beautiful story, but also learn about Islam and cultures and religion and family and love and faith.

If you love reading Muslim stories (DUH!), standing up to racism and hatred and ignorance, fighting for what you believe in, trying to fit in, really yummy food, friendships, and drama you would love this book! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about Muslims and see a relatable yet unique perspective about struggling with faith. I think those that liked A Very Large Expanse of Sea or Saints and Misfits would also enjoy this book!

This book was so good! I will recommend it to everyone who comes into the store because I think it will end up on my favorites of the year list.

A powerful Own Voices contemporary novel that discusses religion and what it is like to be passably white, but still part of a minority group. This book is real and frank and full of heart. It a story that is easy to fall into and hard to put down.

This book is relevant and important and still entertaining. I loved Allie so much and her relationships were so much fun to follow. Her romance is super cute, I loved seeing her friendships grow, and her parents were real and I loved the family dynamics.

TW: Islamophobia (challenged) & death

This book definitely hits with today’s society, as Allie deals with Islamaphobia, as she’s from an Islamic family but she looks like an All-American girl. It’s interesting to follow her journey and her struggles, including whether or not she’s a good Muslim.

Hot topic issues are addressed (including bigotry, religion, discrimination, and politics) in a delicate and tactful way. I enjoy being educated when reading a book, and that was the case with this one (as I learned more about Islam, but it wasn’t overpowering/preaching). The characters are all well developed and realistic for the YA audience portrayed in the book. Alli’s voice is authentic, and like others her age, she just wants to belong and find her place and purpose in the world. This would be great for high school readers, as some discussions on religion could be above the heads of a middle grade audience.

Sadly, there were things missing in the ebook ARC I read, such as text messages and Instagram conversations. As a result, there were a few gaps in the story. Overall, this is a wonderful coming-of-age story.

First and foremost THANK YOU to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for granting me access to this title that, for lack of more creative words, is nothing short of a MASTERPIECE.

I enjoyed this entire story from page one until the last, and I believe these type of stories hold such strong cultural significance, that many schools should include these reads in their curriculum.

Allie reminds me of a pair of sisters I met once, who not being strictly raised in the Islamic faith, yearned to learn more and more and felt pride when people asked them about it. Once of them became a spokesperson of an Islamic organization in NYC and the other one an immigration lawyer who currently assists in cases of middle eastern immigrants coming from islamic countries. They both embraced their faith and became successful people. Allie is that dreamer as well. I loved how she developed and thru the pen of Nadine Jolie Courtney, we see her loving her american size, but also giving her faith the importance that it should have. In the beginning we see a strong Allie, who isn't quite sure how to handle her boyfriend's ultra conservative an anti muslim father, but through the story development, we see her learning more about the anti islamic hate, just within her city limits. This is a great wake up call for her and makes her pause and seek to learn more about her own culture and faith. It is a strong reminder for young people reading that these are social problems that exist till this day and just keep holding interest.

With the sweetness that comes with first love, but also the coming of age part of learning what society sees as threats, the marginalization of a community and the constant battle muslim-americans face on a daily basis due to ignorance and intolerance.

As the daughter of a hispanic immigrant myself, I feel a deep sense of respect - even more than before- for all people struggling to make their culture and faith something the rest of the world can see with positive eyes, and those who learn how to embrace this just like Allie did.

Absolutely fantastic read

This book had me hooked from the VERY beginning.

As a white woman, in college, I decided to major in Arab, Armenian, Persian, Islamic studies and before this, I had absolutely no introduction to Muslim culture or families. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the beautiful culture because of that major, but I know many people are still ill informed.

This book touches on that as well as focuses a non-practicing Muslim and how that affects her identity. I absolutely adored this book and I love its interactions with Islam. It was so well done and I think a must-read for all!

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book.)

“All - American” teenager Allie Abraham seems to have it all: perfect grades, kind and caring parents, and a dreamy boyfriend. But hidden behind her pale skin and reddish-blonde hair, is a girl hiding a huge secret: she is actually Muslim. Allie’s father is a Circassian Jordanian man who grew up as a practicing Muslim, and her mother is a white American who converted to Islam shortly after she was married. Allie’s family has moved around the country (due to her father’s job as a college professor), and she’s always seemed to get along with everyone but has never felt like she’s been part of a community. Allie’s father wants her to take advantage of her appearance in order to not be discriminated against and he stopped practicing Islam before she was born. This is hard for Allie, as she doesn’t feel like she can completely connect with her Circassian family. When Allie and her parents end up in Providence, GA, Allie finally finds what she thinks will help her figure out who she truly is: actual friends in a group of Muslim girls she goes to school with, and a swoon-worthy new boyfriend, Wells. Unfortunately, she soon finds out dating is considered halal in the Islam faith, and on top of that, Wells’ father is a conservative, xenophobe who spews hate against Muslims on his cable TV show.

This book does a great job of examining what it means to be the “perfect” anything (“perfect” all-American, “perfect” Muslim), while also navigating typical teenage concerns (friendships, dating, relationships with parents). I enjoyed watching Allie attempt to learn about her heritage, embrace all the parts of herself, and begin to truly love who she was.

All-American Muslim Girl is a great story that will resonate with everyone who has ever wondered about and questioned who they are. It is a realistic look at someone who is trying to discover what it means to have beliefs/faith and how those things affect their daily lives as well as how those things will be perceived and accepted in today’s society. This book is a tremendous look at how self-discovery and finding your place in this world is not always an easy journey but is an important one for sure.

I don't normally read YA, but this book caught my attention. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but I really connected with Allie, a muslim teen who is learning about her religion and heritage. I connected because I'm doing the same with Judaism, when she talked about how praying made her feel I connected completely and understood. I felt for her as she struggled with questions of what mskes her a good muslim or a bad one. As as she found herself and her voice I rooted for her. I cried with her and laughed with her. This book was beautiful. I read it in one sitting. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

There are very few books that actually make me cry at the end but this is definitely one of them. All-American Muslim Girl is equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming and has such an important message for the current political climate: acceptance. Acceptance of oneself, one’s religion and one’s culture.

Allie’s exploration of her faith and her struggle with what it means to be a “good” or “bad” Muslim was at times painful because it is so deeply personal. I wanted to reach through the page and hug her and let her know that there is no such thing as good or bad, there are only people who are trying their best to move within such a large and complex system. I identified so much with her struggle because I've often thought of myself as a bad Catholic. I don’t pray often enough, I rarely go to Church, I haven’t even read the Bible for goodness sake. I’ve often felt guilty or liberated at different parts of my life and I found it so admirable that Allie found such a deep connection to her faith and decided to take the initiative to learn more about her religion and where she fits into all of it. I was so happy to see how her confidence grew and her bonds with her extended family were strengthened as she drew comfort from her religion.

I also loved this book because it shows that the political is also wildly personal. Several times throughout the novel people disparage Allie’s faith in front of her and then tell her not to worry about it and that she is taking it too personally, it’s “just politics.” For people in positions of privilege (wealth, social status, race) they can throw out their opinions with little consequence (or unfortunately be rewarded for them as is the case for some of the characters in this book), but for everyone else, the repercussions can be life or death.

One of my favorite things about this book is that Allie is still just a regular sixteen years old. Yes, she’s dealing with big issues like religion, the patriarchy, and systemic racism but she’s also going on her first date, getting in silly squabbles with her parents, and trying on clothes and personalities as she figures out who she is and how she is most comfortable. She deals with regular teenage girl issues, makes mistakes and says things in anger, but at the end of the day, her friends and family have her back. If there is only one book you read this year let it be this one!

First, thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I will not be spoiling this book because it was just so good.

I loved Nadine Jolie Courtney's All American Muslim Girl.

Allie was one of the most believable protagonists I’ve read this year. I was laughing, crying, squealing with, and rooting for Allie throughout the whole book. Allie goes from this closeted Muslim girl to being unapologetically Muslim, defying all kinds of wrong stereotypes and misconceptions that people have of Muslims. And, everything she experiences is incredibly true for anyone trying to find who they really are.

Overall, I'm sobbing and bursting with happiness at how real and perfect this book is. I'm so glad about how the author chose to tackle all the issues Allie faces and managed to write this book. This girl, 🙋🏻‍♀️, will be reading all of Nadine's past books and will most definitely be here for anything else she writes.

Thank you, Nadine Jolie Courtney, for writing this awesome book. If you're looking for a great read, this is the one. Mark your calendars for November 12, 2019.

You can follow me on Twitter @humnahmemon or subscribe to my blog for more book reviews: www.humnahreads.wixsite.com/home

THIS! BOOK! I haven't read a book that feels this relevant is a very, very long time. This book covers important topics, it also impacted me more then what I very thought it would. My grandmother was born in a different county, and she came here when she was a young woman, and the idea that she could/might have gone through this broke my heart. What even brock my heart more is that it is almost 2020 and people are still living through and dealing with the topics in this book.

We follow Allie Abraham who is growing up, connected to her religious and cultural; she, just like so many, doesn't always feel like they are on the same page, but what matters in this story is that she is trying to figure that out. It is a character-driven story with strong characters who are both ones you roots for and others you can't stand and you feel like yelling at them for there closed off thoughts. Back to Allie, she is a high school student who is dating a popular yet sweet boy name, Wells. They are cute and work so well together. However, that characters with a close mind and made me want to yell at them just happens to be Wells father. His father is famous for being very conservative, saying really bad things about people and race.

The relationship between Allie and her partners is an imported part of this book. I also like how we see, how she has grown up, is different than how her parents grew up. The relationship between her and her other family members also was an important part of the story too.

So, other than the story dealing with the topic of race and belonging, my favorite part is learning about Syrian and Circassian communities through Allie's family. That's the fascinating part of this book because of the religious and cultural.

The representing the anti-Muslim, feminism, "being American" is this book. I feel like this book couldn't have come out at a better time. I think people of all ages, races, beliefs need to read this book, learn and grow even more from these powerful words.



This review will be in Double the Books Magazine November Issue.

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney is amazing! what a heartbreaking and amazing story, I loved all the different perspectives in the story.

This book was everything. It's everything every high school student needs to read. Right now. As a homeschooling mom, I'm already figuring out lesson plans for when my kids get older and can dive headfirst into this book. Allie is strong and confused and fierce and just so wonderful. I can't suggest this enough. It was so good.

Allie is a Muslim girl of Circassian descent on her dad's side and some kind of Catholic on her mom's. She has red hair and doesn't look how Americans expect Muslims to look, and her anglicized last name, Abraham, doesn't give her away. Her mother converted to Islam, but neither of her parents observe Muslim religious practices or holidays. Dr. Abraham is a science professor with his first tenure track job after years of academic migrancy, and isn't interested in religion. Allie never was either, until an Islamophobic incident on a plane gets her thinking and wondering. She's increasingly conscious of the language gap between her and her grandmother, and then she starts dating the son of a professional bigot/TV personality. Allie finds a Muslim study group and begins educating herself about her religion's traditions.

Adobe Digital Editions crapped out on me. It didn't show me Allie's text or Instagram comments. It went tiny, and then it dumped my bookmarks, so I can't refer back.

My main takeaway is that it's a good story, likeable character, sweet family relationships, and refreshingly everyday about Muslim Americans. Courtney takes on the double job of educating and storytelling, and manages both well, though I look forward to a day when writers holding marginalized identities don't have to constantly explain and justify.

As a Caucasian american woman I was really interested in reading this book so I could learn about the Muslim culture and get a glimpse of what it is like to be a Muslim american. This book was funny, it was informative, it was gut wrenching in some parts and most of all it really made me think and made me want to work harder on trying to show people of different cultures and backgrounds that I accept them and like them. There's so much nastiness in the world today, and some of that is depicted in this book. It made me think hard about my white privilege and how I can be an ally to others.

I enjoyed this book and the diverse perspective it offers to YA literature. I would highly recommend this to any of my students who enjoy contemporary novels. I think they would find the issues of being a diverse teen in America relatable as well as the relationships she has with her boyfriend, friends and family.

This book represents an important voice in our culture today. Allie is a strong, opinionated, passionate, American-Muslim teenager. The author does a beautiful job of taking us along as Allie grapples with her religion, family, and her overall identity.

All-American Muslim Girl tells the story of Allie and her feelings about being Muslim. Allie is a white, red-headed American whose American mom converted when she married. Although Allie was born Muslim, her family is not very religious. Allie starts exploring her faith and struggles with her relationships with family and friends as she tries to figure out what role being Muslim plays in her life.

I loved the discussion throughout the book about "good Muslims and bad Muslims" and what that means to different people, including other Muslims. Allie's struggle with "not looking Muslim" was important in recognizing stereotypes. I am not well-versed enough to know about the accuracy presented about Muslims and even have a difficult time discussing/writing about this book because of my lack of knowledge, but I definitely feel like this one did a good job of discussing faith, Islamophobia, and stereotypes.

I absolutely loved this book. Five of five stars. I loved the diverse as of characters. Allie and Wells were great, realistic teenagers. Allie was passionate about her beliefs and followed her heart. I also loved how this book showed that faith is our own, as Allie explores her beliefs. I read this whole book in one day, I couldn’t put it down. This tackles a lot of stereotypes and does it carefully and well. This definitely taught me a few things about Muslims as well, though it didn’t feel like an info dump. Overall, I really loved this!

First off, I really enjoyed this book. I liked reading Allie's journey throughout the whole book not just about her religious journey but also with the people she interacted with. All of her moments she with had with certain people had their own special meaning. Her dad, mom, teta, study group, and Wells made reading this book even more great.
This book does talk about how it is to be Muslim in America and how it's not great. All the problems that they're faced with. Allie does see her privilege as being white-passing and how it is easier for her than her friends in thier Qur'an.
The only thing I really had some complaints with are the blank text messages between Allie and some characters beucase, I don't know if that was on purpose or was forgetten about. And jumping into different flash backs that I felt didn't add much to the story.