This was a nice little graphic novel! Perfect for middle grade readers, with a neat art style and compelling message. Loved the inclusion of the conservation and space themes, from their impact to the story to the little snippets of information we would get from time to time. I haven't read many stories for this demographic that encapsulate how frustrating a sibling relationship can be, so I think this adds great value to the middle grade genre :)

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pros: loved the color palette and the use of color to signify past/present; the way the experiences of discrimination/Islamophobia are shown and the way it causes the characters to be on guard for that; the sibling relationship; the relationship to technology. The illustrations of the night sky were particularly beautiful.

Cons: The way the facts about animals were dropped in felt a little clunky. I’m not sure how engaging the kids in my life would find this. And I don’t love the messaging of kids doing an animal rescue without assistance from adults without any discussion of risks.

Rating: 3.5

Themes:
Family
Siblings
Animal Rights
NASA / Space
Own Voices

TW:
Islamophobia
Racism

A great own voices graphic novel about Muslim American siblings, learning how to enjoy each others company on a family holiday.
The artwork was beautiful and it was nice to learn about both siblings hobbies; space and animals.
I didn’t quite believe that in the end, all the issues between the siblings were resolved, it was frustrating as a lot of the bulling / picking on seemed to come from one sibling more than the other. It was helpful for the reader to see each characters struggles and why they act the way they did. I still don’t feel like it excuses some of the behaviour (of mostly Zeeshan) shown towards the other sibling.
The setting was wonderful and I loved the sub-storyline of the turtle “Sunshine” in this story.
Overall, I’m glad to see this representation shown on shelves in the future.

Zara and Zeeshan are siblings on a trip to Florida where their mother will be receiving an award. We are shown through both kids how they experience xenophobia and discrimination in their everyday lives and how they eventually come to be there for one another.

I feel like this depicted one of the most accurate sibling relationships I've seen portrayed in media. Both in how the siblings tormented each other and how they came together to defend each other. The graphic novel also did a great job juxtaposing the microaggressions directed towards their family while also showing how they are a family like any other one.

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

I received this as a NetGalley arc and appreciate the opportunity to read the book in exchange for my honest review.

As an adult reader, I feel the author didn’t expand on the issues mentioned regarding wearing a hijab, how the teasing affects the twins, and animal activism. So much more could have been provided and explained.

As a younger reader, this could be a great own voice introduction to being Pakistani, the choice to wear a beautiful hijab, and discuss animal activism through saving Sunshine, the Loggerhead turtle.

I appreciated the book and the stories expressed through all of the characters, but wish for more to be shared through their lenses.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Saadia Faruqi and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

It's hard enough being a kid. It's hard being teased at school for your name or for wearing a hajib. It's even harder having a twin that you constantly fight with. That's exactly where Zara and Zeeshan find themselves. There parents have had enough of their fighting and decide to take their phones from them just as they are starting their vacation in Florida. While on vacation the twins find a sick turtle. Will the twins be able to put their differences aside to make a difference?

I love all of Saadia Faruqi's books and this one was no different! It's hard having a sibling and I like how Ms. Faruqi showed a story with what real siblings are like. I look forward to buying a copy of this book for my classroom!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced readers copy ahead of publication date.

Excellent graphic novel with timely issues that will be a great add to classroom libraries. Twins Zara and Zeesh fight constantly and have grown apart in recent years. They end up getting their phones taken away during a family trip to Florida. Will they get their phones back from their parents? Only if they spend time together.

While at its heart this graphic novel is about family, there are so many other themes woven in. Racism against the twins and their parents, due to their Muslim identity and particularly hijab wearing Zara and her mom, are prevalent. In flashbacks we see both of the twins experiencing racism at school and during their after school activities. Zara is passionate about animal activism and environmental issues, so when she finds an ailing turtle at the beach, she sets about trying to save it. Zeesh is passionate about space and NASA, but ultimately learns to appreciate his sister's passions too.

Very realistic portrayal of sibling bickering and a wonderful read for middle grade ages!

A gold-standard of a middle grade graphic novel that's art matches the dialogue in terms of the strengths that both bring to the table for the story being told. It's a visual story and it works so well and the watercolor design and coloring was phenomenally done and is a breath of fresh air to the other digitized graphic novels that exist for this age group.

The elements of the story focus on twin siblings and their doctor parents who travel to a conference where their mother is receiving an award. Intertwined is sibling connection, for better or worse. They bicker often but they have individual interests and strengths- Zara likes protecting and saving animals and Zeeshan is enamored with the space program. But they get their phones taken away for most of the trip because of their fighting. In typical fashion, they both have an opportunity to bond with one another over their interests (including Sunshine the loggerhead turtle that needs saving and a trip to an observatory to see the planets and stars). Interspersed is social commentary and flashbacks about wearing hijab, bullying by kids, and the requisite "where are you from like really, really from" that gives their parents and opportunity to educate their kids.

My only complaint is that there are several stories happening in a "problem solving" way that don't connect well with one another, they're disparate stories that are jammed together. They are equally important on their own but didn't fit seamlessly into one larger story. However, the separate elements each shined.

Thanks to Netgalley and First Second Books for the ARC of this cute graphic novel!

I absolutely loved the art style and story of this! Seeing siblings go from always fighting to understanding and supporting each other was very heartwarming. It was hard to see them deal with the racism in their lives, and it was nice to see diverse characters getting their stories told in realistic fiction. Definitely recommend!

This is the most adorable middlegrade graphic novels about twins who are always fighting and who have to figure out how to get along. They mainly grew apart because of their different struggles with racism and xenophobia in school, and because they don't understand each other's interests. Over the course of the book, they start opening up to each other's interests and are starting to understand each other better. This is such a sweet, heartfelt story, and I absolutely adored the art work.

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for providing me with the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This graphic novel is about two Muslim American twins, Zara and Zeeshan and their relationship during a family trip to Florida where their mom will be receiving a medicine award. During this trip they must learn to behave and be kind to one another, specially as they need to spend time together since their parents confiscated their phones. One day at the beach they find a sick turtle that will be what brings them to connect and work together to keep it safe while developing a stronger bond between them.

First of all, the art style was beautiful, I loved the drawings and the color palette. I really enjoyed seeing the progress of the siblings' dynamic and how they learn from the other, their interests and knowledge. They have very distinct personalities which makes them bicker all the time but through the course of the story they learn that their relationship is the most important thing they have and how having each other's backs will help them face a world in which their differences will become a thing to be proud of.

Fun graphic novel about family and siblings growing up and learning to appreciate their differences. Watercolor style art fits the environmental theme and beach setting well.

I’ve been a huge fan of Shazleen Khan’s art since reading the Buuza!! series, so I was stoked they were doing the art for a middle grade GN! They did not disappoint; I loved everything about this, art and story. For me, it was perfection. It’s about a loggerhead turtle!!! And siblings, and sacrifices. The story is so wholesome and I definitely cried. The racism and microaggressions were handled with care. The watercolor art fit the story so well and I loved the palette shift for the flashbacks.

Such an adorable read!
The characters are so cute and the twins dynamic is so realistic. Books about sibling dynamics feel so rare :")
I loved the little flashbacks at the end of each chapter which added so many layers to their relationship and showed how little things from both of them made them resent each other despite loving each other.
Also the art was STUNNING. Every panel is so beautifully drawn and flows so well!!

I really enjoyed this book. I love how Faruqi tackles difficult topics in a way that is relatable and accessible for kids. I can see many kids relating to Zara and Zeeshan's experiences, both as quarreling siblings and as outsiders facing discrimination. The art in the book perfectly complements the text, and I like how the flashback scenes were colored in more subdued tones with a pale yellow background, to set them apart from the present-day action. I would definitely recommend this book and will be purchasing several copies for my library.

I absolutely loved this book. I can't imagine the stress and frustration that comes from so many people feeling like they are entitled to your time and energy, when you are a Muslim in America, but this book describes that struggle perfectly. I love that both characters have their own, unique experiences while also maintaining their own interests. I think it's great that their family trip happens during a phone-free week as it allows the two main characters to get even closer to one another. I definitely recommend this book as a creative, helpful tool in teaching respect and kindness in promoting diversity.

In the middle grade graphic novel Saving Sunshine by Saadia Faruqi, we meet Zara and Zeeshan, middle school age twin siblings whose different interests and passions have drawn a line between them. The two are constantly bickering with each other and when the bickering spills over into a family trip, their parents take their phones away as a consequence. The twins have to figure out how to navigate the trip without the phones, while balancing their different interests and how they intersect. Add in that they are young Muslims and navigating Islamophobia and how it impacts their daily lives is another added layer.

The artwork was lovely in the story and the book flowed nicely through the storyline. I enjoyed the two main characters - Zara and Zeeshan can easily be related to by today's middle schoolers who share common experiences and interests with them. They both topics they are passionate about (saving the wildlife and space) and they both are learning to navigate a world that isn't fair in so many ways, while continuing to grow in their relationships with each other and their parents.

Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel and absolutely think it will be a hit with the middle grade audience, including my own 11 year old.

Through two teenagers I have seen the world and it has saddened me, but at the same time it has given me hope for a better future or that there are people with empathy who are able to look at people, beyond a headscarf or the way they dress.
A book that shows us rawness and kindness in equal parts.

This read was eye opening & absolutely inspiring. I loved the beautiful illustrations & the authors ability to book readers easily.

I read in about 3 days off & on & loved getting to know each character. Saadia Faruqi, I will forever recommend this one who need an inspiring story

Saving Sunshine is a middle grade graphic novel exploring the relationship of two twin siblings constantly fighting in an American Muslim family.
My reading experience was really great. I don't read many graphic books and I don't know why because it's nice. The pace was good, it read quickly and the illustrations are so gorgeous. I absolutely love this style and the colour scheme!

The story offers Muslim representation (including a hijabi main character) and a judgement-free representation of teenagers being teenagers.
Are the kids insufferable the more they fight and the more they keep being negative about each other's hobby? Yes, definitely. Well, they're kids, they have yet to talk about what drew them away from one another, they have to deal with micro-aggressions and islamophobia on a daily basis. They have to learn to communicate, to support each other. They have to learn to respect their hobbies without constantly criticising. So they're a bit immature and it's normal. They'll come to understand and learn.

The parents are naturally the figures with wisdom. It was hinted that the kids didn't spend that much time with their mother due to her working a lot as a doctor and I wish the authors would've explored that and its impact on the family a bit more.
I found the twins' hobbies really cool! Space, as I used to (still do though) be obsessed with it; and animal rights and care. That led the book to also give a slightly subtle criticism of human activities and how it is harmful for animals and their environment. Saving an animal as well as being forced to spend time together is ultimately what draws the teens to see things from the other's point of view.

I think this is a really nice middle grade book in which Muslim kids can see their representation, the importance of communicating and being respectful, and sibling dynamics. I think I would love to buy a physical copy.

Thank you First Second and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4,5/5.