DHAHRAN: “All-American Muslim Girl” opens with the news of a shooting in the United States. The protagonist, 16-year old Alia (Allie) Abraham is boarding a flight when the news breaks and she is immediately plagued with sadness, frustration, and a series of anxious thoughts: “Please God, don’t let there have been a Muslim involved” and “Not that facts matter. Chances are good we’ll bear the blame one way or another.”
Author Nadine Jolie Courtney’s second Young Adult novel sheds light on harsh realities that young Muslims face today in the West — the ever-growing Islamophobia, hate rhetoric, and amidst it all, the struggles of finding their identity and fitting in.
In such tumultuous times, her family discourages her from drawing any unwanted attention to their Syrian-Circassian and Muslim identity. With her blue eyes, blonde hair, and sweet disposition, Allie never had any problems fitting in as a second-generation, all-American teenager. On the other hand, she is tired of “fitting in” and being accepted as a white girl. She feels a deep desire to bond with her teita (grandmother), but has never learned enough Arabic to converse with her properly. She is curious to learn about fasting during Ramadan, but doesn’t ask too many questions, afraid that it might upset her atheist father.
When the Abraham family settles into a small town north of Atlanta, Allie befriends the cool crowd at school and starts dating popular Wells Henderson. Soon, she finds out that Wells is the son of Jack Henderson, host of America’s most popular television show, “The Jack Attack” — a show that propagates hate rhetoric against minorities.
As her relationship with Wells deepens, Allie finds herself living a dual life. In the privacy of her bedroom, she learns how to pray and read the Qur’an. She joins the school’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) and, in discourse with other young Muslim women, tries to reconcile Islamic beliefs with her Western upbringing. Through this journey of self-discovery, Allie learns to embrace her identity.
Inspired by the author’s life, “All-American Muslim Girl” is a timely and relevant read on what it means to be a young Muslim in today’s world — you don’t have to be defined by other people’s expectations. Stay true to yourself, even if that means making some people uncomfortable.
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