‘Yusuf Azeem is not a Hero’ Book Review
“What’s your name?” Came the dreaded question. For a split second, Usuf thought about using an American version of his name. Joseph? Joe? How hard could it be? After all, Kamran had managed the transformation into Cameron in fifth grade without any trouble. It was the first day of middle school. He could do this if he wanted. No. Abba always said, “Be proud of who you are. Be proud of the name and everything that comes with it.” He took a deep breath and said, enunciating each syllable clearly, “Yusuf Azeem, sir.”
Published in 2021, ‘Yusuf Azeem is not a Hero’ is a perfect example of what many Muslims faced and still face in many parts of the world: Islamophobia, racism, and terrible treatment. Yusuf Azeem, however, is excited about middle school, and more importantly, the TRC, or the Texas Robotics Competition. For as long as Yusuf has been alive, he has loved robotics, and this year he has his first chance to take part in the competition. However, before he takes part in the competition, he has to face the “consequences” of being a Muslim. As the 20th anniversary of the terrible 9/11 attacks is coming up, Frey (Yusuf’s town) is planning to have an all-out parade. Yusuf’s Uncle also visits and gives him his journal, while 9/11 was going on, hoping that it would soothe Yusuf. And it did. However, at the parade, Yusuf finds out about the Patriot Suns. This group’s life mission is to kick Muslims like him and his best friend Danial out of Frey. The leader of the group is none other than Ethan’s (a bully at school) grandfather. Not only do they make Muslim’s daily life hell, but now they want to remove the new mosque that is currently being built, as they say, ‘it’s an imminent danger to everyone’s life.’ Luckily, the request to remove the mosque was revoked, and the Muslim community thinks everything is now normal. However, when a series of terrible events occur, including Yusuf Azeem’s father’s store being vandalized, and Yusuf being arrested at his school for carrying a so-called “bomb” can Yusuf make up with his enemies, and stay in his hometown of Frey, let alone win the TRC?
The primary character in this book is Yusuf Azeem. Yusuf affects this story because he has a tendency to stand up when people do wrong things, while his other friends tend to stay back and not get into trouble. He also is a very kind-hearted person, always listening to his family members, especially his sister. Whenever he does something wrong, he always has the guts to go up to them and apologise. Yusuf first starts middle school as a shy, vulnerable person, but by the end of this journey, he is a leader, a hero in his school and a person to be admired. He goes through frequent changes in this book, for example, when he finds out his friend has been backstabbing him, or when he is caught with a bomb. In these situations, he has to decide how to react which shapes him at the end of the book. Saadia Faruqi’s writing style is one of suspense. She leaves lots of the chapters on cliffhangers, so it is really impossible to put down this book. Also, her writing style helps other people who are in Yusuf’s situation understand what to do. The motive of this book is to tell other people how much hate Muslims are getting and wants people to change that.
I highly recommend this book for people who want to know about the Muslim culture and the challenges they face. Also, I would recommend this book for people who are about to enter middle school, and also to people who are Muslim, as this book ties in perfectly. I would give this book a complete 5/5. So what are you waiting for? Order the book now!