Sadia by Colleen Nelson

 (This book was sent to me by Dundurn Press)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Publishing Company: Dundurn Press

Publication date: Feb. 3, 2018 in Canada

                                Feb. 27, 2018 is USA

Genre: Teen Fiction

 

It would be easy to look like everyone else.

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Being born a Canadian citizen, I never have to think about not fitting in or about standing out. I never worry about not understanding someone when they speak because their language is foreign to me. I never feel uncomfortable when someone gives me a scrutinizing glare for my skin colour, because no one ever passes a glance for that reason. I never have to worry about getting judged for wearing a garment around my head.

No one should.

Muslims should not have to worry about this.

In Colleen Nelson’s Sadia, the title character faces the collision of her pop culture passions and her traditional values of religion.

When making the high school basketball team, she and her team advance to the finals in a tournament. There is a rule which states that her hijab cannot be worn in a game due to safety reasons.

In this book the reader is exposed to real world issues such as culture shock and racism.

Through clear and definitive writing, Nelson was able to provide me further insight into Muslim lifestyle and also into the life of a Syrian refugee. This will be a book I take with me for as long as I live — a global eye opener that all should read.

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I recommend this book for young teenagers who love to read. This genre is pretty versatile for anyone’s preference. I also encourage adults and young adults to read this book to get a better cultural education and insight.