Published: 2019
Author: S.K. Ali
Genre: YA Romance / Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Audience: Grades 7–12 (Middle & High School)
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: Love from A to Z
Content Warnings: Islamophobia/racism, physical confrontation, and coping with a chronic terminal illness (Multiple Sclerosis).
Review by: Heather Kent
Publisher’s Summary
Full Review
This book provides an enriching, vital exploration of Muslim culture, offering deeply valuable insights into the systemic experiences and day-to-day challenges faced by Muslim students within our contemporary educational systems. Through the masterfully written characters of Zayneb and Adam, readers are afforded a poignant, intimate glimpse into lives marked by profound personal struggles and the fierce resilience borne of their individual convictions.
Zayneb’s unwavering commitment to her principles and her immense courage in directly confronting societal prejudices and Islamophobia resonate deeply throughout the narrative. The dual-perspective layout, elegantly facilitated through alternating journal entries tracking “marvels and oddities,” effectively deepens the reader’s understanding of the characters’ internal journeys and the complex realities of their intersecting identities. I firmly believe that this book holds immense educational value for today’s teenagers, offering students a powerful narrative platform to cultivate authentic empathy and foster a greater appreciation for diverse cultures. It stands as a highly commendable resource for promoting cross-cultural understanding on middle and high school bookshelves.
📓 The Dualism of Identity: Marvels vs. Oddities
S.K. Ali structures the entire emotional architecture of the novel around a traditional Islamic journaling concept—tracking the Aja’ib (marvels) and Ghara’ib (oddities) of the world.
- Zayneb’s Lens: Her “oddities” stem from the systemic racism and profiling she experiences from an authority figure at school. Her processing journey involves learning how to convert her righteous fury into strategic activism without letting the toxicity of bigotry consume her inner peace.
- Adam’s Lens: His “oddities” are internal and biological, dealing with the terrifying isolation of a fresh Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis while carrying the ghost of his mother’s own battle with the same illness. His path focuses on discovering that vulnerability is not a weakness.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Social Studies & Media Literacy (Confronting Islamophobia):
- Activity Idea: “Analyzing the Microaggression.” Zayneb faces a teacher who uses his platform to spread bias. Have students research the real-world impact of Islamophobia in western school systems. Discuss standard, constructive channels available to students for reporting institutional bias and protecting student civil rights.
- English Language Arts (The Dual-Journal Format):
- Activity Idea: “Marvels and Oddities Log.” Challenge students to keep a running journal for one week modeled after Adam and Zayneb’s style. Each day, they must record one “marvel” (something unexpectedly beautiful or kind) and one “oddity” (something confusing, frustrating, or unjust in the world), focusing on utilizing precise, reflective diction.
- Health & Science (Understanding Multiple Sclerosis):
- Activity Idea: Adam keeps his MS diagnosis hidden. Use his perspective to introduce an introductory biological look at autoimmune conditions, detailing how MS affects the nervous system. Discuss the psychological weight of chronic illness and how social support systems aid in patient wellness.
- Global Geography & Culture (The Doha Setting):
- Activity Idea: “Sovereign Spaces.” Most of the novel takes place in Doha, Qatar. Have students map the setting, exploring how shifting the characters away from the West to a Muslim-majority country changes the atmospheric pressure for Zayneb—allowing her to breathe safely without the burden of being the visible minority.
