This graphic novel explored the relationship of two twins who are completely different. I really loved the way the book really explored just how unique all of us are and how sometimes life is hard even with our own siblings. This middle grade novel is about friendship, compromise, religion, and relationships.

It's such a beautiful graphic novel about siblings. The story was so so good that I immediatly got addicted. I loved it an i would recommend it.

Saving Sunshine is a graphic novel about Pakistani American twins Zara and Zeeshan. Zara loves all things animals and is a big supporter of endangered animals. Zeeshan loves space and NASA. And they do NOT get along. They are always fighting, yelling, and being mean to one another. When their family is getting ready to go on a trip to Florida, Zara & Zeeshan's parents get so mad, they take away their phones. Zara wanted to take pictures of all the wildlife she saw for her Save the Animals Club. Zeeshan was going to watch the live NASA vidoes he loves so much. Of course, they blame each other for the phone being taken away. While their parents are at a conference, Zeeshan rents a kayak for them, but Zara doesn't want to go. She would rather look for shells on the beach. When she runs off from Zeeshan, Zara comes across a sick sea turtle. One night when a storm is coming, Zeeshan runs off by himself and Zara has to find him. They end up working together to help Zeeshan and the turtle. They find out that maybe they can have fun together and have more in common than they thought. This is a fun graphic novel with great characters. The illustrations are beautiful and really help tell the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this graphic novel. The pictures of the Florida Keys were gorgeous- the plus of the graphic novel format. We've spent many lovely vacations there, and it was spot on. And let's talk about the story- Zara and Zeesh have a typical sibling relationship. I thought the plot line, which included local wildlife and NASA, was inspired. I know lots of kids who will adore this story.

Zara and her twin brother Zeeshan just can't seem to get along. Their constant bickering drives their parents batty, so much so that on a trip to the Florida Keys, the siblings have their phones confiscated as punishment. While their parents attend a conference, the kids are left alone in the sun and sand to work out their differences. There they discover they might have more in common than they ever dreamed.

This is a great graphic for middle schoolers to learn about science, nature, and above all, empathy.

Thank you NetGalley and First Second Books for access to this lovely arc!

5/5 stars!

This was a great graphic novel about twins that, in the beginning, can't stop fighting learning to share their interests and to stand up for each other. The art was beautiful, and the story touching! I loved it!

Absolutely loved this story about two siblings with different interests who learn to appreciate one another. I really liked how they went from arguing over everything to realizing how the other's passions were just as important as their own. Super sweet and cute story <3

The first thing that drew me to this book was the stunning illustrations. I loved the style and color palette. The story was good as well. I'm an only child, so I might be wrong here, but the sibling interactions seemed pretty spot on to me. I also liked how the author showed the many small and not-so-small challenges, comments, biases and microaggressions a muslim, Pakistani-American might face within a typical day. I think she did a good job of illustrating the emotions that someone facing these experiences might go through. These types of books are excellent for empathy building and also helping those facing similar situations as the characters feel seen. I liked the way the author and illustrator added facts within the story. I also really enjoyed how the twins came together to help Sunshine. Readers that enjoy realistic fiction graphic novels, especially those about family or nature, would likely enjoy this one.

as a moslem, the blurb intrigued me.

I love book that talk about siblings. I have several personal issues related to the conflict in this book so sometimes it is hard for me to read it. But, as a middle grade graphic book, this book is a success.

Twins Zara and Zeeshan have been having problems arguing for ages. This time, though, they might have taken things too far. On the plane to a weeklong vacation, their parents confiscate their phones and tell the kids that they are to spend the vacation TOGETHER, and have to GET ALONG.

There’s no way this is going to work. They have NOTHING in common…right?

This book deals not only with sibling animosity, but also racial discrimination. The parents were born in Pakistan, their children born in America, and Zeeshan ESPECIALLY hates it when he is asked where he’s “from.” Zara, as a hijabi, faces her own challenges, made all the worse because she feels her brother doesn’t stand up for her.

The action between these two conflicts is in counterpoint to the titular problem, that of a beached sea turtle, whom Zara names Sunshine. The kids bond over the creature, allowing Zeeshan to appreciate Zara’s love of nature (and prompting Zara to embrace her brother’s special interest of space).

Overall, a cute story, not too high-stakes, but covering some very tough issues. The racial profiling and discrimination–both outright aggression and microaggressions–isn’t waved away. It’s acknowledged, and worked upon, and we get the impression that most of the repeating characters outside the family have improved by the end of the book. But, more importantly, we can see that the twins have regained one-another as allies, and will be stronger together in the future.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

Thanks to NetGalley & First Second Books for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Very cute and wholesome story with strong development between two bickering twins.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this! It was educational on several different levels, super sweet, and had absolutely beautiful art!!
The sibling relationship was so sweet to see and I was so happy to see how it progressed throughout the story. The book also did a great job of having fleshed out character development in a fairly short book. The discussions about racism, xenophobia, and islamaphobia throughout the book were well integrated and helped demonstrate character relationships and plot points
Loved this!! Would highly recommend

Students will relate to Zara and Zeeshan's sibling relationship -- the arguing and competition, but also the teamwork and camaraderie. Together, Zara and Zeeshan work to save an endangered sea turtle (during a storm, no less!) and learn to appreciate their differences along the way.

Saving Sunshine is a graphic novel following a Muslim family. ☪️ Zara and Zeeshan are twins who continuously bicker. During a family trip to celebrate their Mom receiving a prestiged medical pediatric award, the twins are forced to put aside their differences while beginning to truly understand their other half's interest.

Zara is battling her change in attire at school as she chooses to wear a hijab. She also loves and devotes her life to the protection, preservation and care of all animals. 🦩🦋

Zeeshan tries to fit in, but the boys at school make fun of his name. He though, loves anything space related and hopes to be an astronaut one day. His spare time is spent watching any and all NASA's videos. 🌌🚀

Together, Zara and Zeeshan fight to nurse Sunshine, a loggerhead turtle back to life so he can move from their hotel's shore to the ocean as intended.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. The detail that went into the graphics, the quick yet developed storylines and many representations is one you should not miss out on. I also loved how easy it was to move back and forth in timelines and their visual distinctiveness. The integration of small and not overly detailed information boxes to educate readers were well thought out! 💯

You should read this one if you enjoy:

☪️ Muslim and Own Voices Reps
🦐 Animal Rights
👨‍🚀 Space and Astronomy
🩺 Medicine and Breaking Stereotypes

Many many immense thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review. 😀

Saadia Faruqi is a great author. Everything she writes nails childhood really well. Saving Sunshine is no exception. It's a well written story with excellent illustrations about twins who share zero interests, fight constantly, and are forced to spend an electronics free vacation with each other. Add in the fact that they can't escape constant racial microaggressions and you've got a really important story. Kids who are fans of slice of life realistic friction graphic novels like Raina Telgemeier's books, Stepping Stones, New Kid, etc. will absolutely love this. Plus, sea turtles! Faruqi's books fly off the shelves at our library and this will have the same appeal. Many of our local kids will resonate with the character's sibling rivalry, as well as the message about acceptance and inclusion. Overall, a perfect book to booktalk at upcoming school visits!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a digital ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

A beautiful graphic novel about siblings and their own interests and similarities and that it can be beautiful to work together!

From the first page, I was caught up in the story and almost flew through it. The drawing style is very nice and the colors fit the story very well. It gave me a really cozy vibe.

Before starting the book I knew almost nothing about space nor animal activism and found it very exciting to learn a little bit more about both topics. I really liked that there were little information boxes throughout the book that contained information about either animals and nature or outer space.

I also liked the throwback scenes and they fit very well into the story. It was exciting to learn more about the family's backstories without it taking up the whole story.

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second books for this EARC!

Muslim American twins Zara and Zeeshan each have their own passions—animal activism for Zara and space for Zeesh. They don’t see eye to eye and often bicker with each other. After a disagreement at the start of a family trip to a convention where their physician mother will be receiving an award, their parents confiscate their phones. Will this force the pair to put aside their differences and learn to better understand and support each other—and save an animal in need?

Author Saadia Faruqi creates a very relatable and authentic sibling dynamic in the book. The story goes farther than just exploring sibling relationships as it realistically represents the microaggressions faced by many Muslim people living in America. There is also a STEM theme that comes from the twins’ interests that will capture the attention of many readers. The artwork in the graphic novel is beautiful, with the style and colors evoking the feel of the story’s Key West setting. Shazleen Khan does a fabulous job of altering the color palette to show when the action has switched to a flashback sequence. With its beautifully addressed social issues along with the realistic portrayal of the relationship between siblings and the Muslim representation that will serve as a mirror for some readers and a window for others, this is a must have for my school’s collection!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.

This is a great graphic novel that is not only about twins Zara and Zeeshan learning how to stop fighting each other every step away and instead support each other. It shows the prejudice a lot of Muslim Americans face on a day to day basis and the impact it has. Their mother is a pediatrician about to receive an award, but at every stage of their trip their existence is questioned because of the prejudice people have.

The art of this grahic novel is absolutely gorgeous and this is a must read for everyone.

Another must-have graphic novel to add to your school library shelves. With themes of racism and environmental conservation, this middle-grade graphic novel is relatable and inspiring and something animal-mad young teen readers will love.

Zara and Zeeshan are siblings but they couldn’t be more different. Zara loves everything to do with animals. Zeeshan has his head firmly in outer space. They argue constantly and drive their parents mad. But they both understand what it’s like to be a Muslim American kid in a world where wearing a hijab or having a name that people struggle to pronounce makes you different. On a trip to Florida recognising their mother’s achievements as a doctor, Zara and Zeeshan have to work together if they are going to have any fun at all. And when things get tough, they might finally realise that they work pretty well together.

Zara’s love of animals take centre stage in the story when she finds a turtle stranded on the beach. She uses all her animal conservation knowledge to help care for it and return it to the wild. She drags a reluctant Zeeshan along with her and they have to work together to help save it, raising important discussions about conservation and looking after the environment and the animals who call it home. Zara and Zeeshan also face micro-aggressions from the people they meet and have to work out what is natural curiosity, what is a harmful comment and how to deal with it, and how to embrace and share their love for their believes and cultures with others.

A sweet and easy-to-love graphic novel.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Saving Sunshine is a wonderful graphic novel that tells the story of twins who come together to save a precious turtle from extinction. Despite their differences, the twins work together and show that anything is possible when we put our minds to it. The artwork is also really cute and adds to the whole experience.