An epigraph at the beginning of Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali warns that it will be a love story. And it is. At its heart, the book is also a triumphant, feel-good and ultimately hopeful story about two teenagers coming to terms with the marvels and oddities of life and themselves.

Read the rest of my review on The Young Folks!

I really enjoyed this book! The only reason I had to give it 4 stars is because I had some pacing issues, but overall I still really enjoyed it. have already recommended it to some of my regular customers.

The book is told through the alternative perspectives of Zayneb and Adam, both of them writing in "Marvels and Oddities" journals of their own. Both of them are Muslim - Zayneb, a Muslim high-schooler living in middle America, and Adam, a Canadian going to college in London, but who's home visiting his family in Qatar - yes, that's a mouthful. And they couldn't be more different.

Zayneb is fueled by anger. All around she sees of the injustice of the world, amplified because she's a Muslim woman who wears a hijab who has been regularly mistreated simply because of her religion and a headscarf. She wants to fight the injustices around her, but it's not easy to fight with everyone telling you to be quiet and not cause a scene. It's this anger that brings her to Qatar - she's suspended from school after "threatening" her anti-Islamic teacher. *eye roll*

Adam is pretty much the exact opposite. He's not angry, even though he has plenty of reasons to be. He converted to Islam when he was a kid after his mother passed away because he wanted to find peace like his father. He is loving, kind, and caring, but he's also scared of the fact that he's been diagnosed with the same disease that killed his mother: MS. He's scared of confronting the reality of this and thinks he can keep his family safe by keeping it a secret.

Adam and Zayneb meet on a plane, one of them struck by a bright blue hijab and a journal with the same title as their own, the other by a cute boy. What follows is a love story that comes on slowly, and takes on many hurdles. They may share a religion, but they're utterly different. As they struggle to come to terms with their feelings for each other, their Marvels and Oddities remain constant. They catalog the world this way, and in the end that binds them together.

This a sweet story, but it's so much more than that. It's representation for those of Muslim faith and it's an education for those that might not face the same injustices and split-second judgments; the everyday microaggressions that pick away at a person, the big injustices, like a teacher who thinks he can make you a teachable moment and spread his hateful personal opinions and call it "education." It's a heavy book but will leave you feeling light in the end.

Zayeb has been angry all her life, ever since she was born according to her parents. She decided when she got older to get angry for the right reasons, which caused her to get suspended for speaking up and drawing a picture of her racist teacher. Since she got suspended a week before spring break, her parents decide it’s a good a idea for her to get away and go to Doha early to stay with her aunt. After dealing with a hateful passenger on the plane, Zayneb meets Adam. Adam is actually Zayneb’s aunt’s coworker’s son (did you follow that) so they get to spend a lot of time together. Adam also has MS, which his mom passed away from several years before. He’s also Muslim, like Zayneb.
•
I thought this book brought to light information about Muslims, racism, and MS, and the author did a great job of that without making the book “heavy”. This is a YA book I’d recommend to teens and adults.
•
Thank you to @netgalley and @salaamreads for an ARC of this book in return for honest review. This book was published on April 30.

Love From A to Z is such a beautifully told heartfelt story! It’s about Zayneb and Adam, two Muslim teens who randomly meet at the airport. It’s about friendship and love and the blatant racism and injustice that is so prevalent in our world today. It’s about navigating life through all its ups and downs and finding the people that are the marvels amongst the oddities.

Zayneb and Adam are both at critical turning points in their lives when they meet. Zayneb is (unfairly) suspended from school due to a racist teacher incident and she is so angry at not just that but all the Islamophobia she has to face all the time. What does she do about this? How does she deal with it? Adam is struggling with a major life changing diagnosis that he absolutely does not want to reveal to his dad. How does he navigate that? Zayneb and Adam are so good for one another during this time! Adam is calm and measured to Zayneb’s fire and passion and they balance each other. I really liked seeing their interactions as they got to know the other. Their growing relationship was so sweet and cute but also touched on meaningful topics.

They each had a great individual story. I loved Zayneb’s relationship with her aunt and adored Adam’s closeness with his dad and sister. There are so many heartbreaking moments in this book and also ones that made me infuriated at our society but what this story really shows is how to find the marvels in life despite it all. The beauty in what Adam and Zayneb found together: love.

In Short…
I highly recommend reading this for a wonderful story about life, love, friendships and family. It made me smile, it made me cry and I hope that it will do the same for you!

The story on the whole was really cute and somewhat enjoyable. However the argumentative nature of Zayneb was a little tiresome.
It got old really quickly. Adam was also a little too passive. I don’t know. They worked really well together and were genuinely adorable but the whole “must be a warrior at every single hour of the day” mentality that Zayneb was demonstrating for the majority of the book got real old real fast.
The book wasn’t just focused on their relationship, though that was a catalyst for a lot of things, it was also focused on the injustices minorities, and especially Muslims, face everyday and everywhere.
I learned in this story that there is not one type of Muslim just like there isn’t one type of Jew or one type of Catholic. That was really interesting to learn about. I already knew that all Muslims preach peace above all else. Peace with oneself, with God, and with their world. It really shown through here in this book. It became not only a crusade to make their world better but also to better understand their world. The circular(somewhat) story was really cute besides the fights and outbursts.
Zayneb was all kinds of adorably in crush mode with Adam and he returned it wholeheartedly. I really enjoyed that aspect of their relationship. When Adam told Zayneb about his MS, he opens himself up and makes Zayneb open up as well. That’s the best part of their relationship. They make each other better.
Honestly the only thing that I hated was the fact that Zayneb reminded me too much of my sister, taking everything to the chest and making everything personal. But Zayneb experienced character growth.

Love from A to Z is both a marvel and an oddity in the best ways possible. It’s unapologetic in every way and it’s beautiful.


Love from A to Z CoverA marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together.

An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are.

But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn’t bad. She’s angry.

When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break.

Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her.

Then her path crosses with Adam’s.

Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adam’s stopped going to classes, intent, instead, on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister.

Adam’s also intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father.

Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals.

Until a marvel and an oddity occurs…

Marvel: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

Oddity: Adam and Zayneb meeting.
Goodreads

I received an eARC of Love from A to Z from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Love from A to Z was my first book from S. K. Ali, but it certainly won’t be my last. This book deals with so much, from Islamophobia to disability to self care, and it does it all beautifully.

It does need some trigger warnings for Islamophobia, racist micro-aggressions, cultural appropriation, chronic illness, talk of family death by illness, talk of family death in an accident, mentions of rape, discussion of war and war victims.

The relationships in Love from A to Z were amazing. I loved how different every single one of the characters were from each other, from their relationships to Islam to their feelings on social justice to their food preferences. The way that Adam’s DHS friend group works, with people who get along well with others but not with Adam or Zayneb, was incredibly realistic and I loved that it wasn’t a big deal, really. We got to see Zayneb get a little bit jealous of her friends at home when they start making new friends as well, and it was dealt with for the most part.

The way that the romance was handled, with their faith as a huge part of it, was beautiful. I loved that they didn’t even touch until the epilogue. It felt perfect for their relationship.

eARC provided by Simon and Schuster and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

This is officially one of my favorite reads of 2019. I was hooked from the first few pages and it just held on to my heart. I am just so taken by this book, and I can't wait to shout it's praises to everyone who will listen. I am not an own voices reviewer for the representation of this book, but have read reviews of this book from many who are before and after reading! I'll edit in links to some of my favorites at a later date!

Wow. That's it, that's the review.

This book is a powerful story of marvels and oddities in Adam and Zayneb's life as they meet on their ways to Doha. Zayneb is struggling with islamophobia from a teacher, and Adam is struggling with a diagnosis that he fears telling anyone but strangers about. But there's so much more to their stories that I could possible wrap up into a small review. Their story talks about: family, loss, love, islamophobia, water (send HELP), learning to except all of who you are... Y'all this was just good and there's so much to unpack in here.

The characters, even the side characters, were just so well done and felt alive on the page. Their relationships with each other felt genuine and lively. I would die to protect Hanna (Adam's sister). Also, would do anything to protect and lift up Zayneb. I loved them. So so so so much.

This book is powerful. It is so moving and so brilliant. I laughed, I cried. Please, please pick it up!

We’re not even halfway through 2019, but I’ve already chosen Love from A to Z as my favorite YA novel of the year. S.K. Ali has written a beautiful, heartfelt story of two Muslim teens falling in love despite the hardships of their lives. It packs an emotional punch that I didn’t expect and is a deeply contemplative story that discusses important themes like Islamophobia, social justice, Muslim identity, and chronic illness. The light-hearted moments are masterfully balanced with ones of poignant soul-searching. Ali delivers a highly developed plot and fleshed out main characters that elevates this love story into something more profound.

Love from A to Z follows Adam and Zayneb as they learn to overcome unexpected challenges and discover who they are meant to be. Adam is trying to cope with his diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis on his own and make the most of the time he has left. Zayneb is suspended from high school for standing up to an Islamophobic teacher. She struggles between being the social justice warrior she wants to be and the quiet, studious girl her parents expect her to be. Adam and Zayneb’s serendipitous meeting as they both travel to Doha, Qatar changes their lives forever.

S.K. Ali shares Adam and Zayneb’s story through a series of journal entries from their alternating points of view. They are presented in a narrative format that transitions smoothly from Adam’s gentle voice to Zayneb’s passionate one. Coincidentally, Adam and Zayneb both write about their lives in terms of marvels and oddities. This unique way of interpreting the world allows for an intimate look at their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Adam and Zayneb always feel real, authentic, and very much Muslim. It’s rare to read about young adult Muslims who confidently practice their faith and humbly live by its ideals. The mutual respect Adam and Zayneb have for each other and how they approach their burgeoning relationship is admirable. As a Muslim-American myself, this representation meant everything to me. I loved how Ali wrote this novel with her audience in mind and didn’t stop to explain parts of the culture or religion. This is why I felt a strong connection to the story and characters.

I must warn you that Love from A to Z will pull every emotion out of you. You’ll delight in the humor and witty dialgoue, swoon over the blossoming romance, become angry at the prejudice and micro aggressions Zayneb faces for being a visible Muslim, and sob as Adam bravely copes with his illness as he fears the loss of his mobility and senses. But your heart will also burst with all the love and joy for these wonderful characters. It is impossible not to be emotionally invested in Adam and Zayneb and their love story.

Final thoughts: Love from A to Z is an exceptionally written #ownvoices novel that will leave a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of readers long after the final pages.

Thank you to Salaam Reads/Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for sending us an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

This review will be posted on April 30, 2019 on our site Pop-Culturalist and shared on our social media on May 1, 2019.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this arc. This is a very cute and unique love story, it's smart and it's full of substance. I don't know if I am part of this novel's target audience, but I agree that this is a very important book for this day and age. I found myself researching the wearing of hijab, because that's something I don't know anything about, and for a book to want me to take the initiative and to learn something new, then that is a book that has the power to move its readers.

The description for Love from A to Z says, “…an unforgettable romance that is part The Sun Is Also a Star mixed with Anna and the French Kiss…”. I was concerned when I read that. Anna and the French Kiss is my all-time favorite book so those are some really big shoes to fill. However, the book sounded too good to pass up, even if it scared me. Well, thank goodness I did because Love from A to Z was so heartbreakingly beautiful and I didn’t want it to end.

Love from A to Z is a book about Adam and Zayneb, two teens from two different parts of the world. Besides both being Muslim, they have one thing in common, they journal in the same Marvels and Oddity notebooks. When these two randomly meet on their way to Doha, Qatar they end up on a journey they didn’t expect and learning things about themselves and each other that will forever change them.

It is going to be really hard for me to put into words how amazing Love from A to Z is. Simply saying ‘I loved it so much’ doesn’t seem to be enough, but I’m struggling to find the most accurate way to describe it. I can tell you that Adam and Zayneb were magical together and as their own character. I can tell you that each of them had such strong stories that stood completely on their own, but bringing them together was like setting off fireworks. I can tell you that I cried in a place or 30 and peoples actions broke my heart. I can tell you that Adam had a rough road ahead of him but he was dealing with it with grace. And I can tell you that Zayneb should never have dealt with the discrimination she faced on the daily, and she had every right to feel the anger she did.

To simply say that Love from A to Z was fantastic is doing it a disservice. It was a beautifully written story about life, love, and disappointment. It was about two teens that find each other when they needed each other the most. In the end, it is a book that all I can say is…READ IT!

Last year, I was enthralled by a book called, Saints & Misfits, by author S.K. Ali. It was wonderful, showing a YA character practicing her Muslim religion. Ali's newest book, Love From A to Z, continues to give insight on what it is like to be a Muslim in America. It is also really fun, and wildly romantic. I loved it.

What I Liked:

Characters:

Zayneb is a very strong female character. I love that she calls people out when they are being racist. She sometimes gets into trouble as she confronts others. But she also fights in more subtle ways such as turning up the volume on her Arabic music when a woman gives her nasty looks on a plane. I fully connected with Zayneb's anger and frustration.

But Zayneb also struggles balancing her need for working towards social justice with her parents need for her to not rock the boat. Their feelings are understandable. No one wants to see their child get into trouble. But Zayneb must help them understand that she is willing to risk a bit to enact meaningful change.

Romance:

This book is very romantic and swoony. I adored how Adam and Zayneb found ways to get to know each other, while following the rituals of their culture. It wasn't all smooth sailing. But they really did have so much in common that it was lovely when they found those common interests.

Religion On The Page:

Most YA books shy away from any portrayal of a character's religion. I guess it's considered controversial, but the reality is that many teens have a very active religious practice. The main characters in this book, Zayneb and Adam, are both Muslim and it is an important aspect of their daily lives. I appreciated how the author showed daily prayers and customs, and explained them without dragging the story down in exposition.

I think one of the most interesting parts of Islam that the book explores is how dating works for Muslim teens. The rules and expectations are different than what non-Muslim teens know, and I thought the author did an exceptional job of giving insight into this topic. I love how the emphasis is on finding someone who shares your values. If one has any misconceptions about what are expected of Muslim girls (and boys), they will be set straight by this book.

Story:

Although Zayneb and Adam face different challenges, both choose to make sense of their problems by writing in a journal. They each get their writing inspiration from an ancient text called The Marvels of Creation and the Oddities of Existence. Each day they try to write about at least one Marvel and one Oddity. This was a great vehicle to show the character's inner feelings and concerns. It also showed why they were a great match.

Another part of the the story that was important was showing Zayneb's experiences being a Muslim in a post 9/11 America. There is subtle racism as people make snap assumptions about why women wear a hijab, to all out hostility from people who blame Islam for all the violence in the world. Because Zayneb is easily identified as Muslim from what she wears, she notices how people react to her, and she is not shy about calling them out. This lands her in some trouble, but I admire her bravery for standing up for herself.

Adam is dealing with a new illness (the same one that led to his mother's early death). He has always been the rock as his dad kind of fell apart when his mother died. How can he possibly burden his dad with another worry? Adam has to learn to accept help from others. If your family loves you, it is no obligation to care about you.

Music:

This book has many older songs that Adam's mom and Zayneb's aunt both love. Each has a special meaning in the book.

This is a smart, romantic book about two teens and the marvels and oddities of love. I highly recommend this book.

Well, I was intrigued by the cover and the plot and has thus requested the book for review, little did I knew that I was in for a good surprise . The story was such that it had at touched upon so many sensitive issues. This is one of the books which focused on the the theme of #own voices. I had planned to read a bunch of diverse books and I am ticking them off easily . Love from A to Z is a story from POV’s of a muslim-hijab clad girl, Zayneb who in-spite of being a modern girl is discriminated on being a Muslim and Adam , who has recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis , which also took away his mother . People have so many preconceived notions about Muslims and the author tries to erase them through a love story of Adam and Zayneb . The book did touch upon serious issues such as Islamophobia , Muslim-hate but everything was in a subtle manner . Nobody has things easy in their life and people are discriminated on various bases , so are the characters in the book .


This is no doubt a sweet and refreshing Young Adult Contemporary set in Doha , where Adam Chen and Zayneb meet in Summer Break with Adam . It was like a fate that both of them meet and things start happening. I loved Adam and Zayneb, both as individual characters and as a couple. Zayneb is fierce and outspoken while Adam is quiet and kind, and they balance each other so well. The story is unlike our usual romance as it is a one which slowly transpires and that very subtle in nature. Love From A to Z is a love story written by a Muslim author for a Muslim audience, and not even once I had trouble understanding the story as the story was well rounded up and the ending was justified . I think people should read this book to understand the muslim’s better.

Thoughtful, compassionate, and quietly moving. Four stars for a celebration of faith, love, and other marvels.

The book splits perspectives between two very different people who are united by one thing: they’ve been put in painful, impossible situations through no fault of their own, and they’ve had powerful reactions. This is what the book is about–responding to horrible realities. How should we react to awful events, how do people react in reality, and what do we do with the difference?

Ali approaches these essential questions with a deep well of compassion. She isn’t afraid of the messy, unsolvable nature of these problems, and her tolerance for nuance allows the book to hold two truths at the same time:

1 - These reactions are understandable and natural and righteous, but
2 - This is no way to live.

Yes, Zayneb has every right to be angry, and it’d be unreasonable to expect her to not have emotional reactions to the injustices she witnesses daily. At the same time, blind rage is no way to live. It is corrosive to the heart and ultimately unproductive. Zayneb is never going to be “zen” about hate and discrimination–nor should she be–but there has to be another way to respond.

Likewise, it’s impossible to blame Adam for turning inward after the loss of his mother and his diagnosis. He has honest, loving reasons for collapsing in on himself and hiding the truth. But that doesn’t make it the right choice. There must be a way for him to do the right thing, the hard thing, and find a way to live again.

Beautiful book. My full review will be posted today, and will also discuss the romance, Muslim rep, and journal structure of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review. What an interesting premise for a book is two teens who both keep journals documenting the marvels and oddities in their lives. While they share this in order to begin their love story they are opposites in attitude: Zayneb in her pursuit of justice and willing to fight for it no matter the cost, and Adam in his search for peace in life, and for his body who betrays him. What an interesting and new love story. How refreshing to see a Muslim love story that allows the protagonists to follow the rules and be who they truly are.

This book really blew me away. I thought it was just going to be a really fun and light romance, but it was so much more. The main characters are dealing with some really heavy things, and my heart ached for them. They are both so strong, both have their head and heart in the right place, making it moving to read while you root for them to fall in love. Zayneb is fire, while Adam is water, and together they make a perfect match. I loved the structure, how it was mostly their own journal entries with some objective interludes here and there. While I love YA romances that are purely fun and fluffy, this one is sweet yet substantial and provoking.

Love from A to Z is exactly the kind of book we need more of right now (and always) -- real, effortless diverse, romantic and sweet. It alternates between the two perspectives of Zayneb, a hijab-wearing Pakistani and Caribbean girl and Adam, a biracial Chinese-Canadian boy who converted to Islam at a young age. They meet by chance at the airport on their way to Doha, Qatar and immediately notice one another. However, both are dealing with very different reasons for their trip. For Zayneb, she's starting spring break early at her aunt's after she gets suspended for confronting her Islamophobic teacher. For Adam, it's about keeping his recent multiple sclerosis diagnosis a secret from his family and instead focusing on spending time with his father, sister and love of making things. But once they reach Doha, their paths continue to cross and what blossoms between them is the sweetest romance. It's not just a love story though and that's what makes the book so special. It's very much about their religion and how their belief is something they've chosen and continue to choose every day. How it's a part of their family, or how they approach relationships. And in Zayneb's case, it's very much about how other people's misconceptions make her angry and all the injustices she faces on a regular basis. The author really did an incredible job of balancing the more light-hearted moments with the serious ones. But it never once felt preachy or like a PSA. This was just Zayneb's life and we, as readers, were getting a glimpse into it. Likewise we're privy to Adam's struggles with his diagnosis, what that means for him and how to let people in to help him. I just really enjoyed the writing, their individual journeys and especially how their romance came together as well.

When Zayneb gets suspended for supposedly threatening her Islamaphobic teacher, she goes to visit her aunt in Qatar. In the airport in London on a layover, Adam spots the Muslim girl in her bright blue hijab, busily typing away at her phone. When her belongings spill out, he notices that she has a journal titled "Marvels of Creation and Oddities of Existence." This piques his interest because he's had his own Marvels and Oddities journal since he was fourteen. His attempts to approach her about it on the plane fail, and as they part at the airport, Adam is resigned he will never see her again.

Except fate is on his side - Zayneb's aunt is his late mother's best friend, so Zayneb and Adam get to know each other. Adam is hiding a secret - he's been recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis - and isn't sure he should even be trying to start anything with Zayneb.

Told in alternating points of view, interrupted on occasion by an omniscient narrator who has "found" their journals, S.K. Ali's Love from A to Z presents a story that couples love, family relationships, and difficulties in being Muslim in a judgemental world. The story is deliciously told, and definitely a page turner. All around good book!

S.K. Ali’s Love From A to Z is an incredibly moving story that just had so many emotions running through my head the entire time I was reading. Sometimes it made me sad, sometimes it made me angry and frustrated, but at times, it also made me smile. I love that Ali’s storytelling is so powerful and authentic that it can evoke so many emotions. Love From A to Z was such a great read for me because the story just has so many layers, each one equally meaningful and compelling. It features a blossoming friendship between the main characters, Adam and Zayneb, but then it also tackles weighty topics such as Islamophobia. Finally, it features a character who is trying to cope with the life changing diagnosis of multiple sclerosis he has just received.

I became attached to Adam and Zayneb right away. They’re both such great kids, but they each have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Adam has just been diagnosed with MS, the disease that took his mother’s life. Adam remembers how crushed his father was when she died, so now he’s afraid to tell his father that he now has the same disease. I loved that he wanted to protect his father so badly, but my heart just broke for Adam thinking about him trying to keep such a huge thing secret.

Zayneb tugged at my heartstrings too. As the only Muslim student in her class, she is a target of blatant Islamophobia, especially from the supposed authority figures in the school. I hated that it kept happening, but I was in constant admiration of Zayneb because she refused to just sit there and take it. Instead, she is fierce and brave, standing up for herself and speaking out against the hatred that keeps getting thrown in her face. The situation at school is especially frustrating though because every time she stands up for herself, she somehow ends up being the one to get in trouble, while the bigot gets off scot free. When Zayneb actually gets suspended from school for sticking up for herself, her parents send her to stay with her aunt in Qatar for a while to cool off and to try to come up with ways to fight Islamophobia without doing things that could negatively impact her own future.

Adam and Zayneb meet on the plane to Qatar, and the chemistry was instant. I was immediately rooting for them to become friends (and hopefully more than friends) because I loved both characters so much and they just seemed like they would be perfect for each other. I was also rooting for them to deepen their connection because they each just needed someone in their corner so badly.

Aside from these two characters and their moving journeys, I was also a huge fan of the way the story was formatted. Inspired by famous art entitled Marvels and Oddities, both Adam and Zayneb keep journals where they record marvels and oddities they encounter in their lives every day. The story unfolds through these journal entries, which just makes Adam and Zayneb’s journeys all the more intimate and personal as they each battle the demons they’re facing.

S.K. Ali’s Love From A to Z is a book that I’d love to recommend to everyone. It’s a beautiful story about family, friendship, love, and support, as well as a hard-hitting story that strikes a powerful blow against Islamophobia.

The first time Adam and Zayneb notice each other is en route to Doha, Qatar. Their paths diverge upon their arrival at their destination, and that would have been the end of things… until they discover they have a mutual acquaintance. Their friendship blossoms organically from that point, but there are things that they keep hidden from each other, things that they will need to find the strength to face on their own first. Like Zayneb’s anger at hateful people like her teacher, and how a confrontation with him led to her suspension. Like Adam’s diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, the illness his mother died from and accordingly, the secret he is now keeping from his father and younger sister. In a life filled with marvels and oddities of all sorts, will these two teens be able to find their way forward?

Love from A to Z was the best kind of reading surprise! I went in with no expectations and finished feeling utterly satisfied with how things turned out for Zayneb and Adam. You’d think, based on the synopsis, that there is a ton going on in this story, and perhaps you’d worry that there wouldn’t be enough page time to tackle it all. The truth is that S.K. Ali does a commendable job weaving all the moving parts of this tale together: Zayneb’s anger at the unfair treatment of Muslims (especially at the hands of her teacher), Adam’s grief and fear upon learning about his diagnosis, their complicated relationships with their families and friends, their blossoming friendship and the possibility of more. I found it particularly wonderful that Ali chooses to narrate this tale in a journal style that both characters employ, where they record the marvels and oddities of their lives. While it’s treated as a curated version of their story, using this method made things feel just a bit more personal than they would have felt otherwise – and I really liked that! I genuinely feel like S.K. Ali handled this story with a deft hand (though I can’t speak to the MS or racial rep myself) in all aspects, and I’m so glad that this wound up being such an excellent read.