WARNING: FLAGS/SCREENING!!!!!!

Fawad is a 15 year old in Regent park who wants to be a famous NBA player. Struggling with his immigrant mother/culture, and a bully out to get him, he works hard to achieve his goals.

For a book marketed as YA for ages 12 and up, the flags are frequent and HUGE:

Islamic Screening: cuss words (numerous), Weed/drugs/being high, music, gun violence, death, allusions to jacking off/giving head/sex/intimacy although no details given, multiple kisses in detail, imagining nudity, condoms, dating, abuse,violence,extreme physical bullying

Islamic Issues: Wudu steps wrong. Ramadan is only time the main character is told to stop kissing his girlfriend, when Islamic gender rules are something always present. The Imam and Muslims all say Mosque- which reads inauthentic- its Masjid in the Muslim community. At 12 percent- Nermin is described as Arabic (really she is a language?) Nermin, the religious character, constantly contradicts herself (only side hugs then hugs then calls sex haram but dates/holds hands)

Internalized Islamaphobia: present throughout the book. At 8%, stern faces attributed to being something religious ppl always have, a mention of them being judgy towards Fawad for not going to Mosque. The Imam is a mean guy, physically abusive to his son- generally the same propoganda about religious ppl being mean. Fawad’s mom is trying to force him into an arranged marriage (at 15!??!) At 89 % Fawad tells her that they aren’t in Pakistan, where girls can’t survive, and are forced into marriages- stereotype. At 64 % a Bangladeshi guy is described as being a cheater/polygamous. Fawad’s mom pushes him into an arranged marriage so a daughter in law can take care of her??

Also, Ashley, the girlfriend is unlikeable and looks down on Fawad, and yet the book glosses over her racism/classism. The bully resolution was also weak.

The sad part is, the book was well written, had a lot of cool basketball references, an interesting bully conundrum, and Fawad was likeable.

This ARC might change before it releases in March 2022, and if the flags, the Islamic issues, internal islamaphobia all taken out, I just might rethink my review.

A tough story to read as the neighborhood is struggling with shootings and trying to make sure the neighborhood does not define you...High Schoolers will love the determination, basketball and the character's change over time!