Fight Back

Product Information

Set in the U.K., a middle grade girl (who happens to be Muslim) is celebrating with her diverse circle of friends at a K-pop concert when a bomb goes off. The fallout is tragic: several people are killed, one friend's injuries result in her leg needing amputation, everyone at the concert experiencing some sort of trauma/PTSD, and the community becomes riddled with Islamophobia. Aaliyah becomes a target of hate by classmates, neighbors, and her best friend's older brother. To show her community that all Muslims are not evil, she decides to wear a hijab to remind them (and herself) of the tenets of her faith. As the hate continues to manifest around her, Aaliyah and her friends make plans to confront racism head on at their school. I originally joined for my son however my dr suggested I apply for myself and should have actually done so years ago. I did and was awarded standard for care and high for mobability. Now whilst grateful I was confused because my care needs are more than mobility. I have a neuro condition and have just been diagnosed with Pro-Longed QT waves. Along with many other symptoms I have memory loss which means cooking is dangerous as I often forget I’ve put the oven on or even to turn it off at the end. I set reminders but within mins I forget. However the DWP said I can use a microwave so I’m ok. I argued that a microwave isn’t exactly the healthiest and since nutrition has been linked with healthy living anything less than this is detrimental to our health. With meds having side effects of weight gain I def don’t need to be helping it along. Thirteen-year-old Aaliyah is attending a K-pop concert in Lambert, England, with her friends when an explosion sends the audience stampeding to safety. Internationally acclaimed author A. M. Dassu’s follow up to Boy, Everywhere is an essential read to encourage empathy, challenge stereotypes, explore prejudice, racism, Islamophobia and encourage positive action.

There is a glossary at the end, and the definition of Hijab is a bit odd, highlighting Western and South Asian terminology and not the Middle Eastern or even global use of the Arabic word. I don't know that the glossary is even needed as the book really tries to establish that the characters are a part of their society and don't need footnotes and differential treatment, so the inclusion of a glossary for me, diminished the point a bit.

ISBN

Perfect for readers of Elle McNicoll and Helen Rutter "A major, much needed voice in UK children's fiction." Alex Wheatle, author of Cane Warriors and Crongton Knights "One of the best, most relevant, most important writers we have in the UK today." Liz Kessler, author of When the World was Ours "A. An essential read to encourage empathy, challenging stereotypes, exploring prejudice, racism, Islamophobia and positive action. A.M. Dassu is the award-winning author of the critically acclaimed Boy, Everywhere. A story of hope, speaking up and the power of coming together in the face of hatred. Perfect for readers of Elle McNicoll and Helen Rutter. Islam was very present in the book, with Aaliyah choosing hijab, praying, salaam, nafl shukr, and more!

Good has won every fairy-tale contest with Evil for centuries, but a dark sorcerer’s scheme to turn the tables comes to fruition in this ponderous closer. An empowering story about finding your identity and the courage to fight for it. Aaliyah is an ordinary thirteen-year-old living in the Midlands - she's into her books, shoes, K-pop and she is a Muslim. Loved the literary shout-outs, and the hypocrisy of allowing swim caps and hats but not hijab, but sigh, didn't love the cat thread. I think I just don't like fictional cats, I sound like a broken record. I think the inclusion was to show how much Aaliyah had to keep hidden in her life and how she needed comfort, but I don't know, sigh, I found the contrast of tone jarring to the pacing. Ortiz, Simon (Autumn 1989). "An interview with Simon Ortiz". Journal of the Southwest (Interview). Vol.31, no.3. Interviewed by Kathleen Manley and Paul W. Rea. pp.362–377.

Synopsis

Screening: a bomb goes off in a concert the mc attends, and a scary aftermath. Some islamaphobic altercations (these did read age appropriate) But when a terrorist bomb goes off at the end of the concert, they are thankful that they weren't closer to the front, where people have been killed and maimed.

A. M. Dassu is former Deputy Editor, now Advisory Board member of Words & Pictures magazine for children's writers and illustrators, and a Director of Inclusive Minds, a unique organisation for people who are passionate about inclusion, diversity, equality, and accessibility in children’s literature. A. M. Dassu is patron of The Other Side of Hope, a new literary magazine edited by immigrants and refugees, which serves to celebrate the refugee and immigrant communities worldwide. She is also one of The National Literacy Trust‘s Connecting Stories campaign authors, aiming to help inspire a love of reading and writing in children and young people.A truly empowering story with a Muslim girl at its heart, who has had enough of the world’s preconceptions of Muslims. Author Anna Kemp introduces The Hollow Hills, the sequel to her dark magical tale, Into Goblyn Wood. M. Dassu serves up an important, necessary book about racism and identity." Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant "Unflinchingly honest, heartbreaking, powerful, important and hopeful." Sophie Wills, author of The Orphans of St Halibuts "Tense, terrifying, transformative. Dapo Adeola, Tracy Darnton, Joseph Coelho and Chitra Soundar are among the 19 authors and illustrators longlisted for the Inclusive Books for Child... I will like to add that all the people I’ve spoken to at the DWP and even the interviewer were lovely. All polite and helpful. I just truly do think that they underestimated my needs but it’s now been corrected and I get high on both.