“Saving sunshine" is a beautiful story about two siblings who lost connection with each other over the years. They each have their own interests and have forgotten how to get along. During a holiday, their parents are tired of the constant bickering and they take away their phones. It was beautiful to see how the twins reconnect after the temptations of a smartphone are taken away. They see each other again, understand each other better, stand up for each other. They have a common goal and it was just beautiful to see the evolution in the characters. The story also dwells on big and small struggles of racism here and there, which was heartbreaking to see at times. The drawings and use of colour are very fitting for the story. All in all, a graphic novel I would definitely recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book!

"Saving Sunshine" by Saadia Faruqi and illustrated by Shazleen Khan is a heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel that tells the story of a Muslim American family. The parents, who originally came from Pakistan, are now recognized doctors in America. Their twin children, Zara and Zeeshan, have differing opinions and are constantly at odds. Zara chooses to wear a hijab, while Zeeshan becomes upset when asked about his heritage.
The book's narrative unfolds during a summer trip to Florida, where the twins are confronted with the need to understand and listen to each other, putting an end to their constant fighting. One of the strengths of the book is how the author and illustrator capture the feelings of these kids when faced with teasing and being treated as outsiders in their own country. As a white European and migrant reader, I found the Muslim representation in the book to be both genuine and impactful.
The artwork by Shazleen Khan is truly stunning, emanating summery vibes that perfectly complement the story. The cover, in particular, stands out as one of the best I've ever seen. I would highly recommend "Saving Sunshine" not only to children but also to readers of all ages. The novel touches on important themes such as the experiences of migrants, the Muslim community, feelings of being an outsider and activism.
Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for the E-ARC! All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings: discrimination and bullying.
4.5 stars

Four stars ⭐️
I read this book with my 10 and 12 year old daughters, and we all really enjoyed it. As a the despairing parent of children who have been squabbling and are glued to their devices over the summer holidays this also chimed a chord.

It’s a fun story of twins Zara and Zeesh whose strained relationship causes them to have their phones confiscated whilst they are on a summer trip to Florida. Cut off from their respective interests - Zeesh his NASA feed and Zara her animal protection app - they are forced to get on, cooperate and find things that will entertain them both. It ends with them having a new understanding for each other.

There were some really interesting discussion points, that we found as a family, some that went over my kids heads, for example why the hijab wearing, Pakistani originating family needed to spend extra time at the airport, but there were also more tangible ideas like why everyone kept asking Zeesh “where he was from?”, how he might feel about that and why people might ask about that. We also really enjoyed the positive way Zara’s decision to wear the hijab was covered.

The artwork was beautiful. Really summery. It felt like a photo album full of memories. I also thought it was really effective the way their past memories switched to the sepia tones to show flashbacks. Overall it had a beautiful look and feel. A delight to read.

I also applaud the fact both my kids enjoyed this, without it even containing a single dragon or elf!

Saving Sunshine is such a wholesome story that bonds twin siblings who find every chance to fight. Pairing it off with breathtaking illustrations makes it such an enjoyable read. I wanted to slowly savour the book but had no choice but to devour it in one sitting. I really am such a huge fan of this book I highly recommend you to read it as soon as it's out!

For twins Zara and Zeeshan, having different hobbies from each other is exhausting. When their mother is awarded for being an amazing doctor, their family travels to Florida for the event. But as Muslim Americans, the family is hit with resentment and bitterness from the locals for being foreigners. With their parents at the conference during the week and their phones confiscated (for being unruly children), the twins venture onto the beach. When Zara finds an unlikely ally in a turtle, she notices that the animal is sick. Can both put aside their differences and come together to save Sunshine the turtle?
Beautifully written and deeply honest. "Saving Sunshine" tells a story of twins, an ailing turtle, and the raw openness of people who call them names. As kids, their classmates have a hard time with their religion, their names, and outright hatred. Zara and Zeeshan, through thick and thin, stick together throughout the story despite their differences in hobbies. From saving animals to seeing other planets in their galaxy, these two bicker and fight, yet still love each other despite being twins. A fun and quick read, I highly recommend it!

Every single MG reader and beyond must read this book. I'll say it again: EVERY single MG reader and beyond MUST read this book! An important story about siblings who struggle to get along, a family who is treated unfairly because of their faith (but readers learn A LOT about tolerance, understanding, and acceptance), the power of disconnecting from technology, and the importance of taking care of the world, its creatures, and each other. Beautifully written, stunning illustrations, and a fantastic read!

The muslim representation in this book is wonderful!! as a muslim, i found this story relatable and realistic. i loved the animal and space facts the book presented. i LOVED the art style, it was truly beautiful. and lastly, i love the character development both siblings had. i found their little journey to getting closer together super wholesome.

As a Florida native and a twin, I absolutely loved the setting of this book. Saving Sunshine follows twins Zara and Zeeshan as they adventure through Key West on a vacation to celebrate their mother's success as a doctor. However, when the two get into trouble because of their constant bickering, their phones are taken away from their parents and they are forced to work together to enjoy their vacation. Zara, who is obsessed with animal preservation, finds a sick turtle and she and her brother must get over their petty arguments to save it. I thought that the graphics in this beautifully designed graphic novel were stunning and truly transported me down to Key West. I especially loved the inclusion of small science fun facts which could educate middle-grade readers. This book also tackles themes of identity and Islamophobic microaggressions in a very digestible way for younger readers. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer so that we could see more of Zeeshan's story, as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for the E-ARC! All opinions are my own.

First and foremost, the art in this book is incredible. It has a really beautiful watercolor style that leaves a lasting impression. So gorgeous.

This middle grade book is packed with important themes and lessons for kids, including:

* The impact that bullying/discrimination has on people
* Every day microagressions that POC have to face
* Sibling relationships and how difficult they can be to navigate sometimes
* The value of unplugging haha

In particular, I loved how the book tackled relationships and how our experiences shape our interactions. Zeesh and Zara are twins, and have a bit of a fraught relationship. But underneath the ways they lash out at each other are memories that have deeply impacted and/or wounded them, which influences how they perceive their future interactions and colors their reactions. The author uses well-placed flashbacks to show this with great impact.

I really enjoyed this story, and think it’ll be an impactful read for the middle grade crowd.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Saving Sunshine is a middle-grade graphic novel about twins who do not get along. Zara is obsessed with animals and conservation, while Zeeshan loves everything space and NASA related. Their family takes a trip to Florida for an award ceremony where, due to their own actions, the twins are punished to go without their phones. They find a sick turtle on the beach which becomes the goal they bond over.

The artwork is beautiful line work and watercolor. The story's central conflict is Zara and Zeeshan's relationship, but it also includes segments on bullying, racism, and micro-aggressions Muslims face in the United States today. I wish there had been more information on Muslim culture with a glossary or afterward of some kind addressing the issues. I would definitely recommend this book for 5th-8th graders, especially if you have a student who just started wearing a hijab.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this advanced copy.

As a muslim, this book was meaningful to me, and I hoped some muslim kids read this.
It was enjoyable read with beautiful art. The story also relate for adult. A solid 5 stars for this graphic novel.

Thank you to Saadia Faruqi, Shazleen Khan, First Second Books and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A graphic novel that pleasantly surprised me. I enjoyed the graphics immensely, even though I'm very hard to win over in this respect.

When I read the synopsis, I was a little worried that the story wouldn't be suitable for an adult audience : two children fighting could have become childish very quickly. But it wasn't. The plot deals with mature issues, and the children are fun to follow.

I wasn't surprised to read about the difficulties faced by American Muslims. We've all heard ignorant people ask such questions before, about origins and headscarves. But what really made an impact on me were the children's reactions.

In short, a graphic novel that deserves to be read, for the social issues it tackles, the beautiful illustrations and the plot, which I believe is very enjoyable.

4 stars

Faruqi has another hit on her hands with this latest middle grade effort, and as an added bonus, this time readers get to experience her magic in the form of a graphic novel! Having read several books by this author, I was expecting to enjoy the storyline, but the combination of illustrations and characterization exceeded my already high expectations.

Zara and Zeeshan, "Zeesh," are middle school age twins who are participating in some intense sibling quarreling. Their parents, both doctors, are not having this behavior, and so when both kids cross the line, they lose their phones right at the start of their parents' conference turned family vacation in Florida. Zeesh loves all things space and is mildly obsessed with NASA videos. With similar fervor, Zara loves animals, including her cat at home, those on her social media and connected to her volunteer efforts, and more recently a loggerhead turtle in need, Sunshine. Without their phones, both siblings feel they'll be disconnected from the true joys of life, but as any slightly older reader might guess, it's the loss of those phones that helps them connect with each other.

This is a nicely paced plot helmed by intriguing characters who get both an engaging storyline and one that introduces some tougher topics, too, in an age-appropriate manner (think microaggressions and the like). I loved the illustrations, sense of place, and messaging, and I'll be recommending this to students.

Here, Faruqi offers a few rays of sunshine even in the darkness of the preteen hormonal storm.

I am a huge fan of the Yasmin series by Saadia Faruqi and this middle grade graphic by her is a wonderful step up for fans of Yasmin. I also think fans of Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui would enjoy this title!
The plot follows twins who don’t get along very well and have very different interests, one interested in environmentalism and animals and the other in NASA and outer space. They are part of a Pakistani and Muslim American family and Zara and her mother both wear a hijab.
The book has important messages about the value of family, disconnecting from digital devices, and sticking up for your beliefs when people are bullies.
Non-fiction fans will love the small fact boxes about different animals and outer space.

An easy to read graphic novel for the middle grades. The protagonists, Zara and Zeesh, are twins and the story is centered around their relationship. The instances of anti-Muslim bigotry in the story allow for some more meaningful dialogue between the twins and their parents. The illustrations are lovely and pair well with the story.

Zara and Zeeshan are twins. They are also fighting. Zeeshan is interested in outer space, and Zara is interested in savings wildlife. They do not get along. They are muslims in the US. I bring up this last fact, because, although they shouldn’t have problems, there are microaggressions all around, from their friends not saying their names right, to the TSA pulling their father aside each time they try to fly, to people asking where are they really from from.

They have gone on a trip to Florida because their mother, who is a doctor, is being honored, and they get in such a big fight that their parents take their phones away, and they have to, gasp, find things to do without them.

And that is where Sunshine comes in. Zara find a turtle, who is not feeling well, and tries to help it get back to good health, and in the ocean again. And Zeeshan decides to help her, even if it has nothing to do with outer space.

Such a good story about cooperation. Great pictures, and honest look at how microaggressions can wear you down.

Thanks to Netgalley and First Second Books for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 5th of September, 2023.

This was such a beautiful story! It touches on some important themes like family, as well as prejudices and negative stereotypes and how these affect the main characters at such a young age. It's a powerful story, I loved the sibling dynamic we see and the growth their relationship had. The illustrations were really beautiful and I really enjoyed that aspect too. I highly recommend this graphic novel.

CW: racism, xenophobia, bullying.

What a fantastic story of siblings learning to appreciate one another! When Zara and Zeesh can't stop bickering during a family vacation, their phones are confiscated, cutting them off from their separate interests: Zara's animal activism, and Zeesh's NASA videos.
I loved the way their personal struggles were woven into the story, and how they were able to learn from their parents as well as one another.
This is a sensitively written, beautifully illustrated story, an empathy builder, and a fantastic window/mirror book for young readers!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

I loved this graphic novel! The illustrations are beautiful and I learned fun facts about animals and space. I did feel like I was listening to my own children fight, which tells me my students are definitely going to relate! My son has already asked me to buy a copy of it!

I got this as an ARC from NetGalley and I really enjoyed it! Such a sweet story about these two Muslim American twins who always fight with each other learning to get along and set their differences aside and their passions together on a trip to Florida for their mom's award as an outstanding doctor. As a Muslim I really loved this it was a great Muslim rep and Zara was such an adorable hijabi. I love both space and animals so I enjoyed that a lot. The illustrations are mind-bogglingly pretty, I loved it! I also liked the incorporation of micro aggressions and racist and Islamophobic comments that the family unfortunately get just for being brown Muslims... America and the world have to do better... Anyways beautiful graphic novel, I definitely recommend it for all!