Published: 2023
Series: N/A (Standalone)
Author: Reem Faruqi
Illustrator: N/A
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Poetry, Family, Sports
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 7-9
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
Goodreads Link: Call Me Adnan
Triggers: Death, Loss
Review By: Heather Kent
Publisher’s Summary:
For fans of Planet Omar and The Ethan I Was Before, award-winning Pakistani author Reem Faruqi of Unsettled delivers a middle grade novel in verse about table tennis player Adnan, who dreams of the championship and a fun-filled family trip to Florida. But when tragedy strikes, he and his family must cope with a terrible loss and come together as one again. This poignant story about a Muslim family learning to heal is hope-filled and moving.
Adnan Zakir loves table tennis. He’s also colorblind, left-handed, and has a fondness for the aviation alphabet. He’s super close with his sister, Aaliyah, who is a great dancer and memorizer of Quran, and he loves his little toddler brother Rizwan, who only wants to grow up and play table tennis like his big brother.
All Adnan dreams of is making it to the Ultimate Table Tennis Championship in Florida, and if he qualifies for the tournament, he knows he will get to spend the Eid holiday with his cousins! But when the family travels there, unthinkable tragedy strikes, and Adnan swears he’ll never play table tennis ever again. Slowly, he and his family must learn to make peace and move forward, as a family.
Review:
I loved this book although it broke my heart. Call Me Adnan is a novel that follows Adnan, a character torn between two cultures, as he navigates the intricate web of societal expectations and personal identity. I laughed and cried as I followed Adnan’s journey through grief as he loses his younger brother Rizwan in a tragic accident. I never imagined a book about table top tennis could make me reflect on my own life and cause me to feel so much emotions. It was my first time reading a book written in verse and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a book that I enthusiastically recommend to readers of all backgrounds, offering both entertainment and profound insight into the complexities of our shared humanity.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- English Language Arts (Novel in Verse Analysis): Use this text to introduce students to contemporary poetry and verse novels. Have students analyze how line breaks, white space on the page, and sparse word choices amplify Adnan’s emotional state, particularly during the chapters dealing with sudden shock and intense grief.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Grief Counseling: Pair this book with a school counselor or SEL curriculum to discuss navigating the stages of grief, family trauma, and finding a path forward after an unthinkable loss. Students can journal or discuss the significance of Adnan’s vow to give up table tennis and what eventually helps him heal.
- Social Studies & Cultural Studies (Muslim Heritage): Explore how the text weaves in authentic elements of Pakistani-American culture and Muslim identity, including the memorization of the Quran and the celebration of the Eid holiday. Have students study how Adnan beautifully balances his personal passions (like sports and the aviation alphabet) with his cultural and religious traditions.
- Creative Writing Extension Activity: Task students with writing a short narrative or personal reflection entirely in verse. Encourage them to focus on a niche personal hobby or interest—similar to Adnan’s love for table tennis or being left-handed—and use poetic structure to express the deep emotions tied to that interest.
