This exciting young adult mystery novel tells the story of Aaleyah Ahmed, a brave and unique character who stands up against hate and fights to uncover a dangerous secret.

Synopsis:

.Aaleyah had big plans for her senior year, but her father's job forces her to move to a small town she's never heard of. There, she and her friends discover a dark history that threatens their safety. Determined to uncover the truth, they dig deeper, but they find more than they bargained for. Everyone in town seems to be hiding something, and Aaleyah and her friends are in over their heads. But they refuse to back down. As they get closer to the truth, Aaleyah shows incredible courage and determination.
This book is a thrilling page-turner that explores important themes like bravery, loyalty, and the importance of seeking the truth.
My thoughts:

I love how Aaleyah's character challenges social norms and stereotypes, making her a relatable and inspiring protagonist. Aisha Yusuf’s vivid descriptions of the small town and its secrets kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling and meaningful read that will keep them guessing until the very end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

Wow, just wow. I enjoyed reading every page of Race to the Finish Line. I would love to be able to say how far-fetched it was, but it is sadly easy to think you are reading a nonfictional true crime story.

The only connections I have with the story are that I'm Canadian, have heard so many stories about the southern US and some parts of Canada and I am human. The human part should be enough to not want anyone else to feel this much hatred due to the color of their skin, place of birth, or religion.

I recommend everyone read this book with their children and discuss how they feel and if they have seen or experienced anything like our young heroes have.

This young adult mystery novel features an extraordinary character never seen before in contemporary literature that is hellbent on confronting hate and uncovering a dangerous secret.

Very well-written and deals with heavy themes in a great way. Highly recommended!

I was a little bit scared of this book because you can tell immediately from the cover that it is trying to tackle some heavy, important, and complex themes. However, I think it did a good job. The story was accessible to young readers which is always a plus. I appreciate books that educate people on what it's like to experience racism but don't have a textbook feel (so I can actually get my kids to read them).

An awesome read that thoroughly compelled me from beginning until the end.
This book is certainly different but it's what I liked about it.
I must admit it was the cover that drew me in.
I felt all kinds of emotions throughout this novel but mostly pure hate, racism and fear.
Fear of being different is what I felt most of all. But, I also liked the determination to right a wrong and that's why I admired Aaleyah. It's her spirit that I appreciated.
I think what made me the saddest of all was the bookshop owner. I won't say more
I thought the author did well with this book. I hope that we get to see more of her in the future.
5 stars for a job well done. I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own

This book begins with a really interesting premise, and it has an interesting background story. The author was 22 years old when she wrote it, and is of Somali Canadian extraction. Determined to get her story out, after initial rejections she choose to self publish. Her achievement is commendable.

So, first to the contents of the book. Aaleyah is a strong willed girl who moves with her family from Canada to a small town in the US for a one year period, for her father's job. In the last year of High School, she nevertheless adapts as well as can be expected to the move.

But what is unexpected is the degree of racism that she experiences at her new school. It is not only the students but also the teachers who could not care less about the toxic environment.

Only two students there - who are both themselves from POC backgrounds - are friendly to the MC. And to make matters worse, there is a history of black people disappearing from the town, which does not seem to be given much attention.

We have here the makings of a riveting plot, but the execution leaves something to be desired. It is partly the age of the writer that is likely to be responsible for the degree of telling versus showing on display. The character development is also somewhat uneven, with the female MC not just taking centre stage, but almost taking up the entire stage, at the expense of other characters.

On the other hand, it is great to see a story like this, featuring such an unusual idea and storyline. Even better when the spunky and wilful MC also happens to wear a hijab! I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next, because despite some shortcomings, this is certainly a promising start to her writing career. I give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for effort and originality.