Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana. Pub Date: February 27, 2024. Rating: 5 stars. All the stars for this wonderfully executed novel focused on topics of racism, immigration and family through the power of voice. The young girl in this novel is a niece to an uncle who was wrongfully incarcerated during a time of war. She is a young poet who unfortunately was frisked at a Democratic rally which inspired her to write about the politician. What happens afterwards is a whirlwind in which her words go viral. She has to balance being a young woman, her Muslim faith/community, her familial obligations and her own personal thoughts and feelings about what it means to be a Muslim in America. I found this novel really well done, eye opening and full of heart and truth. Such an important novel for everyone to read. Thanks to #netgalley and #wednesdaybooks for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

All My Rage meets The Poet X in this electric debut that explores a Muslim teen finding her voice in a post-9/11 America.


Thank you Wednesday Books & Netgalley for sending me a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I read the first 75 pages of this book and I decided to DNF it. It’s an interesting story but I don’t like the writing style.

“I never saw myself in books, shows, nor movies. If I saw a Muslim on TV, it was a villainous stereotype or worse, a girl being coerced to take off her hijab for the sake of the show’s romantic plot. If I saw brown characters, I saw a caricature of a monolith representing South and Central Asia.

I was set on writing a book that gave readers a glimpse into a story of one girl as she navigates a world so set against her. Through touches of speculative magic, I wanted to write about the diversity and beauty of Pakistan without idealizing its flaws, mistakes, and tragic history.” - Authors Note

HOPE ABLAZE by Sarah Mughal Rana is such a beautiful, YA novel. A teenage girl wearing a hijab is wrongly detained and frisked and she begins to fight back through sharing her story and her poetry.

I loved the poetry woven through; I think really helped solidify our main character’s voice and gave us her internal dialogue in such a beautiful and raw way. It’s spoken word - so listening to the audiobook was especially fantastic for these sections.

While it felt slightly long for me at almost 400 pages, it tackled so many issues like: women’s rights; the attacks (physically and otherwise) on women who wear hijabs; ethnocentrism and Islamophobia; and so much more.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Hope Ablaze

Author: Sarah Mughal Rana

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Muslim Pakistani MC, Muslim Pakistani characters, Syrian characters, Christian Syrian character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, poetry

Publication Date: February 27, 2024

Genre: YA Contemporary

Age Relevance: 14+ (religion, racism, islamaphobia, terrorism, police brutality, animal death, violence, gun violence, death)

Explanation of Above: The Islamic religion is shown proudly throughout the book. There are scenes of racism and islamaphobia. Terrorism is mentioned and police brutality is shown and mentioned. There is an animal death mentioned (slaughter of a goat). There are scenes of violence and a shooting is mentioned. There is some death discussed in the book.

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 384

Synopsis: Nida has always been known as Mamou Abdul-Hafeedh’s niece - the poet that will fill her uncle’s shoes after he was wrongfully incarcerated during the war on terror. But for Nida, her poetry letters are her heart and sharing so much of herself with a world that stereotypes her faith and her hijab is not an option. When Nida is illegally frisked at a Democratic Senatorial candidate’s political rally, she writes a scathing poem about the politician, never expecting the letter to go viral weeks before Election Day. Nida discovers her poem has won first place in a national contest, a contest she never entered, and her quiet life is toppled. But worst of all, Nida loses her ability to write poetry. In the aftermath of her win, Nida struggles to balance the expectations of her mother, her uncle, and her vibrant Muslim community with the person she truly wants to be. With a touch of magic and poetry sprinkled throughout, Sarah Mughal Rana's Hope Ablaze is heartbreaking, often funny, and ultimately uplifting, not only celebrating the Islamic faith and Pakistani culture, but simultaneously confronting racism and Islamophobia with unflinching bravery.

Review: This was such a good read. The book revolves around Nida who is following in her uncle’s footsteps of becoming a poet. Following a racist incident led by a political figure, Nida writes a poem about the incident which gets leaked. The book follows Nida as she navigates the insane racism and terrorism following the incident as well as discovering how the poem got leaked. The book was very impactful and honest in showing how the USA treats Muslim citizens. The book features some good poetry as well, so it’s great for people who like slam poetry in books. The book had great world building and character development as well.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book was that it was a bit repetitive in places and there were some spots where I was like “eh… is that necessary?”. But overall I did think that the book was good.

Verdict: It was thought provoking. Highly recommend.

Sarah Mughal Rana is an amazing author and I want to meet her someday! She inspired me to study abroad and Hope Ablaze is incredible. I hope to see more readers read it and her future books!

Wow, this book was amazing! First of all, the fantastic Muslim representation was, well, fantastic! I loved the characters and getting to know them, and the poetic elements were so cool. The only thing that didn't work for me was the magical realism bit, but other than that, I very much enjoyed this book and I think everyone should read it at some point!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Hope Ablaze is a powerful debut that expertly weaves the personal and political, capturing the struggles of a young Muslim woman in a post-9/11 America. Nida’s journey of self-discovery and the weight of her family's legacy create a compelling narrative that resonates deeply. The exploration of her voice through poetry is beautifully portrayed, and the impact of her viral poem serves as a pivotal moment that challenges her identity and expectations. The infusion of humor and magic adds a unique flair, making the story both poignant and uplifting. While the pacing occasionally feels uneven, the themes of resilience and courage shine through, making it a memorable read that bravely confronts stereotypes and celebrates cultural identity.

Hope Ablaze is ideal for fans of All My Rage. It’s a touching book that readers will adore. I genuinely loved it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review previously withheld in solidarity with the St. Martin Press reviewer boycott. All opinions are my own. 

Hope Ablaze was another of those books that I requested while glancing briefly at the premise and thinking it sounded great, but not being aware of how hard it would end up hitting, even knowing the book would tackle Islamophobia. But given the state of the world as I write this (even if the world will hopefully look at least marginally different when this review sees the light of day?), I felt a lot of feelings while reading this. 

The book follows Nida, who is an incredibly relatable protagonist.. She lives with a single mother and her sister, and I felt for her as she struggled with the feeling that her mother preferred her sister to her. There’s also the additional factor that her uncle is a poet who was wrongfully incarcerated and deemed a “terrorist.” She too is a poet, and while it’s a form of expression she uses in her activism, it’s also one she uses to explore her internal and familial issues too. 

I appreciate the way the book explored the myriad ways, beyond the obvious, that Islamophobia pervades our society. While there are some very obvious and large-scale incidents, there are the more subtle, yet equally insidious. 

And one of the most intriguing for me was the wider political focus, with Nida’s initial form of protest being a poem dedicated to a Democratic Senatorial candidate after an illegal frisking. This is in line with the broader themes, and comes full-circle by the end of the book, with the arrival of the election that was anticipated throughout. The bittersweet truth about having to choose between the lesser of two evils when neither has your best interests at heart rings particularly true in this election year, when our two primary choices for President are a former President who, among other issues, attempted to ban immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, and an incumbent President who has largely been supportive of Israel. 

And while, if this review has gone up, the issues that have led to the boycott will have been resolved, but it’s ludicrous to me how little regard SMP had for authors like Rana with their actions. 

This is a fabulous book, and I’d recommend it to readers who are interested in hard-hitting contemporaries, especially those centering Pakistani-Muslims.

Although a difficult read, especially during this climate of rising islamophobia, this was an empowering story of a young muslim woman finding the power of her voice. I was rooting so hard for Nida, and I'm definitely excited to read what Sarah Mughal Rana writes next.

This was a beautifully written book. I feel like this should be required reading especially now when Islamophobia is running so rampant in this world. I was so moved by all the poetry in this book, that they will stay with me for a very long time.

This. Now that the boycott is over, THIS is the first book from SMP that I want you to read. Hear my words: this one is important. I consider it an honor to have been sent an ARC of this on @netgalley back in January.

If you wanted to scream and burn the world down reading All My Rage, or The Poet X, this one is for you.

What absolutely blew me away:

🔥The way Hope Ablaze addresses the systematic oppression of the Muslim people, and especially hijab wearing women was heartbreakingly poignant. Every moment of police violence or moment with a slimeball politician made me want to put my fist through a wall. The way this violence splits both familial relationships and friendships as people desperately try to find their own balance of keeping themselves safe while still trying to raise their voices, was devastating.
🔥 The poetry and prose in this is spellbounding. There is a rhythm and choice in the words that digs deep under your skin. It's been months and I still regularly think about specific sections of this book.
🔥 Rana's use of magic to embody Nida's trauma after her experience with police brutality was simply brilliant. The idea of one mentally or metaphorically being "trapped" and unable to continue with the things they love after a traumatic event (either due to fear of the consequences or feeling like they literally are paused in time) being turned into a literal spool of yarn that binds Nida's mouth from speaking her poetry, physically stopping her hands from writing a single word, was an amazing way to help someone visualize trauma that hasn't experienced it. The magic also really added to the story's "this is bigger than us, and our time here" feeling throughout. I was so pleased with how her curse ended up healing some relationships she thought were truly broken forever.

I could go on about this book being a MUST read forever. Move it up your TBR immediately and continue to squash Islamophobia in every corner you see it rear it's ugly head.

Hope Ablaze is out NOW!

Sarah Mughal Rana's *Hope Ablaze* is a powerful and poignant coming-of-age story that delves into the complexities of identity, faith, and the pursuit of one's dreams. Nida Siddiqui, a young Pakistani-American poet, finds herself at a crossroads as she grapples with the expectations of her traditional family and her own aspirations for a life beyond their cultural boundaries.

Rana skillfully weaves together themes of Islamophobia, family dynamics, and the transformative power of poetry. Nida's journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring as she navigates the challenges of being a Muslim woman in America while striving to find her own voice. The novel's exploration of cultural identity and the search for belonging is both timely and relevant.

While the novel tackles heavy themes, Rana infuses the story with moments of humor and hope. The supporting characters, particularly Nida's supportive grandmother and her rebellious cousin, add depth and complexity to the narrative.

*Hope Ablaze* is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary young adult literature. It is a powerful and uplifting story that celebrates the human spirit and the resilience of the human heart.

An interesting diaspora work exploring the home life and external struggles of a young woman on the cusp of adulthood dealing with racism, religious persecution, and betrayal. This book was eye opening, but also thoroughly confusing. I followed the basic plot easily enough, felt the righteous indignation and empathy flow from the pages, but then the magical realism sneaked up and I went right past it.
Overall, I think this is a great debut novel that offers a lot to the discussion about the mixed cultures that truly make up America.

Hope Ablaze is Sarah Mughal Rana's debut YA novel. Written in the vein of I Am Poet, Hope Ablaze is a must-read book for young adults. Set in a post-911 America, Hope Ablaze follows Nida as she navigates the political landscape of Islamaphobia and the Pakistani diaspora. It is an important perspective and a critical view of the world Nida has found. The storytelling is broken by poetry which I thought was a unique narrative choice and added to the autonomy and power of Nida: a way for Nida to use her voice. Nida's relationships between her parents, her friends, and those in her community were also interesting and added value into Nida's character growth.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc and a chance to review this book.

4.5/5 ☆

I have never read a book that made me feel so seen as a Muslim or as a South Asian. So many things about this book, from the characters blaming evil eye on everything to the littlest things like stuffing sewing kit into biscuit tins, was so familiar that it made me think about how I’ve had to downsize my expectations with representation, having to hyper-fixate on scarce words and lines, but this book was so effortlessly Muslim that I didn’t have a single worry about being misrepresented.

I still can’t get over how this book made me laugh even during sad scenes. It was an interesting reading experience, one that I enjoyed a lot, especially because it’s a reminder that our joy exists along with our sorrow. Also I’m never going to forget the goat scenes, or Nida’s mom’s WhatsApp statuses, or the aunty feeding the raccoon.

The writing was almost magnetic. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. One of the biggest reasons for that is the way the author wrote the Muslim community. It captured everything about our community as a whole: our diversity, our brotherhood, our unity. I never thought I’d see it in a book, but I did and I’m so glad.

Rana tackled heavy themes, from how Islam was, in her words, ‘bastardized’ to conversations on the hijab that emphasised that we wear our hijab to show our submission to God brilliantly. The usage of poetry letters was so clever, especially because this book covers so much—from Islamophobia to art to colonisation. There were some poems that I didn’t connect with, but that’s okay because poetry is subjective and I loved most of them. Also, the poetry letters paced the book out, allowing the heavy themes to be explored in an even pace.

Another aspect of the book that is noteworthy is that the author managed to keep true to the character’s age. Oftentimes, when characters are pushed into hard situations, they completely grow up. But not here. Even through her suffering, even though she learnt a lot, Nida was still a teenager figuring things out.

At first I wished that Nida’s relationship with her sister had been explored a bit more, because Nida mentioned that Zaynab kept coming in between her and their mom, but at the same time this makes it more realistic. Especially in the South Asian context, sit-downs rarely happen. We learn as we go.

A reviewer pointed out that despite being upset about her privacy being invaded, Nida does the same thing. I wish that there was a part where she would’ve been corrected and made to understand that her mother is her own person and deserved the right to privacy.

Overall, Hope Ablaze is an amazing book that shouldn’t be missed! I highly recommend this to everyone, especially Muslim and South Asians (especially Pakistanis).

I have been withholding my review in support of the boycott on St. Martin’s Press and it’s imprints and I will continue to do so until all the concerns are addressed. Readers and influencers demand accountability and action.

St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books need to be held accountable for their silence, in relation to their treatment of BIPOC creators and their staff. While I am excited to read this book, I will be withholding my review.

"Hope Ablaze" by Sarah Mughal Rana is a powerful and timely young adult novel that tackles themes of Islamophobia, wrongful incarceration, and finding one's voice in the face of systemic oppression. The story follows Nida, a Muslim teen whose poem about being illegally frisked at a political rally accidentally wins a national competition, thrusting her into the center of a scandal.

Rana's writing is raw and unflinching as she explores the overwhelming racism and bigotry facing Muslim Americans, especially in the wake of 9/11. The novel blends free verse poetry and prose to give voice to Nida's experiences and interior life. The poems are often poignant and impactful, capturing Nida's feelings of anger, fear, and desire for change.

The characterization is strong, with Nida's relationships with her family and community feeling authentic and well-developed. Rana does an excellent job balancing the pain of bigotry with the love and support that pours in from Nida's community. The Muslim community's rallying together to support Nida's family financially is a particularly moving example of solidarity in the face of adversity.

While the pacing can be uneven at times, with some poems feeling more like scene transitions than explorations of Nida's interiority, this is a minor quibble. Overall, "Hope Ablaze" is a powerful and necessary read that gives voice to the experiences of Muslim teens in America today. Rana's unflinching critique of the bipartisan system's failure to support Muslim Americans is a bold statement.

Fans of socially conscious young adult fiction will find much to appreciate in "Hope Ablaze." Rana's debut novel is a promising start, and readers will eagerly await her next work. This is a story that will stay with you long after the final page.

Hope Ablaze follows Nida as she is unfairly frisked by security at a political rally. Nida loves to write and chose to put her feelings into her poetry. When her poem goes viral after being submitted into a poetry contest, Nida’s life is flipped upside down. Nida didn’t submit the poem and she is emotionally destroyed to see her work out in the open for all to see. Not only this but the backlash she begins to receive because of the content brings her down further.

This book was powerful and impactful. It covers many topics that are still important today. The poetry was a great added touch and the overarching story was amazing. Overall I give this 4/5 stars.