I'm so excited to buy a physical copy of SAVING SUNSHINE when it comes out next month! It's the perfect pairing for TWINS by Varian Johnson, THE DEEP AND DARK BLUE by Niki Smith, TWIN CITIES by Jose Pimienta, or HUDA F CARES by Huda Fahmy - all wonderful middle grade graphic novels about twins/sibling dynamics. I could also see it pairing with CLOSER TO NOWHERE by and BLACK BROTHER BLACK BROTHER by Jewell Parker Rhodes. So many possibilities!
Read if you like:
- tricky family relationships that develop into a deeper love
- vacation stories (Key West, Florida!)
- animal rights issues
- teamwork!
- or if you DON'T like constantly being asked where you're from.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. Publishes Sep 5/23!

A cute middle grade graphic novel that tackles family, racism, and animal rights activism. Twins Zara and Zeeshan have their phones taken away by their parents because they keep fighting. On vacation, they must learn how to get along to get their phones back. They learn to stand up for themselves and help out a sick turtle in the process of learning again to get along and appreciate each other.

Saving Sunshine is such a wholesome story! Zara and Zeeshan are siblings who don't really see eye to eye which often leads to arguments between them with one trying to provoke the other. When their phones are taken away during a trip with their parents, both Zara and Zeeshan slowly begin to realize how much they have hurt their sibling and how important family and support is.
I absolutely adored this. From Zara's obsession with saving animals to Zeeshan's obsession with space (and the things that led them both to pursue the respective fields so fiercely), these two were such a fun bunch to follow. All the little arguments and the way Muslim faith was portrayed felt so visceral that you couldn't help but feel attached to the characters and their values and beliefs immediately.
I love how, beyond the strained sibling relationship, this also spoke about racism and how hard it can be to stand up for the things you believe in when people are casually cruel without even noticing it.
A wonderful, gorgeous graphic novel that is all about family, overcoming differences in the face of adversity and belonging.

Thank you to First Second Books and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Saving Sunshine is a graphic novel by Saadia Faruqi and illustrated by Shazleen Khan about twins who are grounded for fighting and are punished by having their phones taken away and forcing them to spend time together. The illustrations were beautiful, and I liked that the coloring of the drawings changed for flashbacks. (Muted for the past) All of the characters feel distinct and I liked that the story explored culture, beliefs, bias, family, and finding a place and a passion. I understand the need for the bickering between siblings (it was believable, but not fun to read), but I thought it resolved too quickly. The message and resolution were beautiful and I'll definitely be picking up a copy and recommending it. Overall a great book so I'm giving it a 4.5 or 5 ⭐

The themes, messaging and Islamic and cultural representation in this upper MG/lower middle school graphic novel are wonderfully unapologetically present.  Yet somehow, I never connected with the characters, and the plotting seemed stiff.  I don't regret reading the book, and I'm sure most readers will be delighted with the main story of sibling annoyance, a sick turtle, and independent kids with reflective flashbacks and OWN voice threads of Islamophobia, immigration, starting to wear hijab, identity and othering.  I just felt the tropes were predictable, stereotypical even, and when the dad takes a stethoscope to a medical conference and the TSA agent doesn't know what it is, I cringed.  Seriously, who takes a stethoscope on vacation? Who doesn't know what one is? I normally love the author's characters and wish for more Islam, this book gave me the Islam, but I really disliked the siblings, they were mean, angry, and annoying.  I own that reading a book about bickering kids a few days before my own five children returned to school may have jaded me, and I do think I found the religious touchstones predictable because I do read a lot of kid lit and I'm older, so while I'm not gushing in my praise for this book, I will be preordering a copy for myself and the school library. How is that for having an opinion and then completely walking it back? Yeah, it happens.

SYNOPSIS:

Twins Zara and Zeeshan bicker, a lot.  Zara loves animals and nature, Zeeshan space exploration, and both love their phones.  When the family heads to a medical conference in Key West where their mom is getting an award, the kids get their phones taken away by their parents when the two won't stop fighting. The parents stick to their policy and the two are forced to stick together and entertain themselves while their parents attend lectures.  At one point they find a turtle and Zara takes the lead to try and help Sunshine, but will need her brother along the way.

WHY I LIKE IT:
I love that the characters identifying as Muslim was central and unapologetic.  I liked the flashbacks that provided a little bit of depth to the parents coming to America and their life in Pakistan, along with the personal reflections about starting to wearing hijab and when the kids started to go their own way.  But the airport scene, the identity issues, and the Islamophobia seemed a little superficial and over done.  The heart to hearts with the dad and his son and mom and Zara were sweet and insightful about belonging and where you come from, and not being so angry, but they also seemed very natural and in-character for the parents which is a disconnect from the anger the kids seem to carry.  If the parents are talking to them and modeling all this, it is a bit of a stretch that they are reacting as they are in the book. 

I have a brother, it is just the two of us, we aren't twins, but growing up in the 80s as the only Muslims in the area with a convert mom and immigrant dad, we came together a lot because only each other could understand the stresses we faced in and outside our home.  I thought this book would draw on that universal theme, and I was surprised that the point of the book felt a little underdeveloped.  I know MG can handle more than we give them credit for, but I felt like this book built up to have more of a warm hug, than I felt.  I wanted more of them plotting together, I didn't feel like Zara really needed her brother to stick up for her, she wanted it sure, but that was a foot in the door that I think was missed.  She is strong, yet was being vulnerable with her brother, and he was able to step up for her, but it needed a few more beats to be appreciated.  I also wanted more connection to the turtle, his name is in the title, I thought he'd have a bigger role.

FLAGS:

Disrespect, lying, anger, yelling, bullying, teasing, Islamophobia, stereotypes, prejudice

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

The book would allow for discussion for middle grade readers who might see themselves in the family dynamic or be able to relate to some of the Islamophobia.  It could also cause some worry for some children that being visibly Muslim or having cultural names, and wearing cultural clothes will bring negative differential treatment to them.

Saadia Faruqi is a youth librarian's dream author: early readers, middle grade novels, and now a graphic novel? I really enjoyed this beautifully-illustrated story with its themes of family and care for the earth, and I'm putting it on the short list of graphic novels to acquire this school year! Though my nine-year-old hasn't gotten to it yet, I know she'll be a fan.

Many thanks to the creators, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

This is a cute middle grade graphic novel with lots of important themes running through it. Perfect book for discussions about family, culture, racism and activism. Beautifully illustrated. Recommended for all middle grade graphic novel collections.

A beautiful middle school graphic novel that has amazing meaning and it perfect for middle schoolers

I loved the art style a lot and related a lot with the main characters about a lot of things including the micro aggressions faced by Asian Americans/ other diaspora as well as the siblings relationship. The fights between the twins reminded me a lot about my own experience growing up with my brother so they made me laugh thinking back on those memories.

The interesting thing about this book is that it manages to make its messages come together as one. On one side we have brotherhood, on the other racism and on the last how children deal with all of this.

Sometimes you don't need long deep paragraphs on a subject to show that it matters, sometimes a dialogue is enough, the wink of an action and that is exactly what is done in this graphic novel.

Saving Sunshine is a story of two Muslim twins who don't get along very well because their interests and personalities differ. On a small vacation, for a prize that their mother will win, they manage to exceed their parents' patience limit and are punished: no cell phones. Zara is an environmental activist so she needs her phone to photograph and keep notes on flora and fauna, Zeeshan loves space and NASA (who are just doing a lot of lives these days about discoveries or Q & A's). So they both urgently need to get their phones back.

The truth is that I was enchanted by the story. The growth in the relationship of the brothers, the secondary characters, the adventure and its message.

My only observation is that on page 178 (print - page 184 ebook) I think I noticed a design error in Zeeshan's hair. It seems that he is missing a part, he is half bald.

Saving Sunshine by Saadia Faruqi is a beautiful story that delivers a thoughtful message. The graphics in the story are a great effort by Shazleen Khan and keep the reader involved in the smooth flow of the narration.
The book highlights one of the vital issues that the Muslim community faces living abroad while following a certain dress code, especially the headscarf. The story opens up with Doctor Aziz’s family, who are Pakistani by roots and are living in the US for some time.

The first chapter takes the reader to their home where their two kids Zeeshan and Zara are arguing over their hobbies and packing up for a conference where their mother, a Pediatrician is to be awarded for her services. The casual routine of a household, the family having dinner and discussing their trip makes the reader more comfortable, as if it’s one’s own daily life being narrated.

Throughout the story, the author brilliantly delivers a very peaceful message of how the Muslim community and the obligations of being a Muslim should be respected, as they deserve equal respect and place, in the society they live in.

The book also highlights the psychological effect on Muslim children that these differences create with the behaviour of the society toward a certain community. It’s a thoughtful approach by Saadia to narrate such differences through a simple, sweet yet powerful narration.

The title of the book “Saving Sunshine” clearly portrays the care of animals like Zara and Zeeshan helped the turtle to cure and return to the sea. It is in depth and inspires the reader with the act of kindness for all living beings, no matter what species they belong to, what sect they are from, or what faith they hold. The message is of humanity, love, peace, and care.

The author beautifully highlights the dilemma faced by Muslim women wearing a headscarf. The humiliation they have to face due to their attire really makes one think and question why that is not acceptable in developed countries and civilised societies. It also sketches a family bond that helps a family to stay put with their values together.

I really appreciate Saadia for choosing her writing to deliver this serious matter with the kindness and goodness of her heart. Shazleen’s beautiful art gives the story a gentle rhythm and helps the author to convey her thoughts with a smooth flow. “Saving Sunshine” is recommended for a wide audience, for young readers, children and parents to help communities gain respect in society for a peaceful future. Ultimately, peace and love are the only way to a bright future for generations to come. Highly appreciate Saadia for the lovely and brave initiative. A good read.

At first, the siblings bickering with each other really annoyed me. Which is good as it was intended; the author describes this in the back cover. Then I found myself gasping at the art and illustrations as they got prettier by the page. Overall, loved the resolution, and held my hand to my heart as the story wrapped up.

Would recommend this book to kids, teens and adults alike.

Received the ARC from the publisher/Netgalley.

Beautiful watercolor art and a heartfelt story make for a lovely graphic novel.

Twins Zara and Zeeshan used to be close, but somewhere along the way they grew into adversaries. Their constant bickering finally goes too far and their parents insist they spend an entire family trip in one another's company.

As the vacation progresses, Zara and Zeesh slowly begin to find common ground. Instead of mocking their sibling's passion, each twin learns to appreciate the other's interests. Chapter endings flashback to significant events in the last few years to show where their relationship began to unravel. Will they choose to set aside past hurts and support one another?

The feelings and relationships in this story are wonderfully genuine and come through so clearly. From the petty sibling squabbles to the daily experiences of life as a Muslim in modern America, the entire book sparkles with life and realism.

Two small adjustments that I think could make this lovely book even better:

-Small educational facts appear throughout the book in boxes on the side. I imagine younger kids reading the book will enjoy them, though I personally found the asides disruptive. There aren't enough facts to satisfy the educational style story those boxes usually indicate. Incorporating the facts in the characters' dialogue instead would keep the story's flow and retain the focus on narrative and emotion.

-There are several unfamiliar words sprinkled among these pages. As an adult, I simply used the internet to learn the meanings of the words I didn't recognize. But I don't expect a kid to be both capable and willing to do the same. A short glossary at the beginning or end defining a few of the new words would be fantastic to aid young readers' comprehension.

Such a beautiful and meaningful graphic novel, that I feel like every kid needs to read. The art style was beautiful, but the storytelling even more so, and it addressed some serious topics that are definitely not talked about enough.

In middle grade graphic novel Saving Sunshine by Saadia Faruqi (First Second, September 2023), twin teenagers must face the ultimate punishment this vacation: no cell phones. It’s not a permanent punishment, but it sure feels like it. They can only get them back when they can get along without fighting. While their parents attend a work conference, Zara and Zeeshan eventually learn to get along when they bond in helping a sick sea turtle return to the sea.

Zara has always been an environmental activist, and her brother has teased her for her passion. Zeeshan has always been obsessed with NASA events. But now, the two try to figure out how to help Sunshine the sea turtle. The two seek out ways to help the sea turtle, all the while experiencing new opportunities they may not have noticed is they were still glued to their phones. Zara comes to understand and support Zeeshan’s interest in space, and Zeeshan finds a cause of his own. He finds that he wants to stand up against racism because of the unfair judgements against them as Muslims in America. This multicultural perspective provides a new insight for the middle grade reader.

Although I struggled the constant arguing in the first half of the book (too close to home!), it was nice to see the kids come together by the end of their vacation. The punishment was certainly one the young readers can relate to. The art was very nice: flashbacks to times they got along with each other are shown in a sepia tone in contrast to the multi-colored modern day illustrations. The characters’ heritage and religion also provides an important and unique voice that is often missing from the middle grade bookshelf.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5/5 stars

saving sunshine is a contemporary tale about a Muslim American family with twin children interested in space and animal rights. the twins both struggle in their own ways with feeling othered in their identities and interests by both their peers and each other. when their family ends up on a trip together, they go through a transformative journey of understanding one another- with the help of an unexpected friend!

i would like to preface this by saying i am not Muslim nor an immigrant. as such, i cannot speak to the identity specifics in this book. so, generally speaking, i think having representation of how experiencing prejudice or hatred for who you are can be different between siblings and act as a point of contention for your relation to each other (and your navigating the world together) is something i don’t see as often as i’d expect. i think recognizing that there can be differences that come from a point of similarity (and that you can always reconnect) was a powerful part of the story. i have definitely had similar experiences with my sibling because of the identities we share.

the art style and coloration were beautiful and felt very in tune thematically with the story. i also loved the little inserts made to look like computer pop-ups that included animal or space facts relevant to our twin main characters. it was such an enjoyable and unique addition!

as an adult, i found the amount of unresolved sibling squabbling seriously annoying- which is how i know it will likely be spot on for its target audience. any kid with a sibling is going to eat up the relatability of these arguments. it definitely brought me back.

i will try to be as nonspecific as i can with my wording to avoid spoilers here. if i were to have any qualms, it would be things that middle graders probably wouldn’t notice. it seemed somewhat improbable to me that a resort area with lots of parents and children would have such low buzz about the animal-related conflict. like...what about salmonella girl??? i don’t think this would be as much of an issue for my brain if the author hadn’t put in the efforts to add actual space and animal facts to set a more realistic tone! but, like i said, a vast majority of middle graders probably won’t be focused on those yellow flags that adult me saw. and, honestly, it contributed to the plot and specific character introductions to have less adults involved in the animal conflict.

altogether, this was simply a lovely read that i would recommend to anyone who loves a good graphic novel!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5706107920
Thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for the ebook in exchange of an honest review.

Una historia muy tierna y bonita. Quienes tenemos hermanos sabemos lo fácil que es enojarnos con ellos y ponernos a discutir por cualquier cosa, pero también sabemos que eventualmente nos vamos a perdonar y haremos las pases.

Un poco de eso es lo que se aprecia en esta novela gráfica, el amor fraternal. Zara y Zeesh son neoyorquinos, pero las personas no les creen, pues lucen y visten diferente. Toda su vida se han sentido discriminados por ser descendientes pakistaníes. Esto trae repercusiones en la escuela y entre ellos mismos.

Sin embargo, el amor y la sabiduría de sus padres, además de unas cuantas buenas personas que siempre aparecen en las vidas de cada uno, logran que esos hermanos puedan estar en paz con ellos mismos y con el mundo. Entendiendo quiénes son y quienes quieren ser.

Una muy linda historia para los primeros lectores. Si les encantan los animales o el espacio exterior, aun mejor, pues algo de datos freaks al respecto se ven en la historia.

No se pierdan la oportunidad de leer este libro ❤️

Zeesh is obsessed with space while his sister loves animal rescue. This makes it easy for them to tease each other. When, during a trip to Florida, the twins go too far and lose their phone privileges, they have to find other ways to express their passions. Zara finds an unwell turtle stranded on the beach and names him Sunshine. While dealing with ignorant and racist comments, the twins have to find a way to save Sunshine without getting on each others' nerves.

This story, while delivering quite a few snippets of fact and adventure, is primarily focused on sibling dynamics and the strain that can come from dealing with prejudice. It's rather slow paced at times, and the sibling arguing is a constant annoying thrum throughout the story. Yet I love the way that it clues readers in on the ways that other peoples' actions can affect you without you realizing it. It's easy to feel alone when you can't turn to the people most like you for support. The ending was powerful, and the story believable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I swear everything Saadia Faruqi puts out is pure gold and this is no exception. In this story about siblings trying to get along, there are so many well-done layers. The microaggressions that they face for being Muslim, Zara's decision to wear the hijab, Zeesh's struggle with being bullied at school, the family's airport journey taking longer than if they were white... the details were so well woven with the story. Zeesh's love of space and Zara's love of animals both serve to add more depth and interest to their characters, and the plot moves quickly and interestingly. I will definitely be recommending this one.

probably one of the most beautiful graphic novel i’ve ever read (haven’t read many tbh😭), i absolutely adored the illustration style, kinda like watercolor. it was a quick story with themes of family, religion, identity and belonging. now i’m not really the target audience (not a kid, not a POC and not Muslim) but for those kids, it’s really cool, you get to see zeesh and zara’s experience (both good and bad). i enjoyed it a lot, recommend especially if you have a younger family member. 4⭐️