No True Believers by Rabiah York Lumbard, Crown Books, 9780525644255, 2020
Format: First Edition Hardcover
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5
Genre: Realistic Fiction
What did you like about the book? This book had me hooked from the very first page. Salma Bakkioui is your average teenage girl; comes from a loving Muslim family, does well in school, has an active social life and an adorable boyfriend. That is until Islamophobia heightens in her Virginia neighborhood, causing her to not only experience a horrific accident at school but also an unexpected new family in the neighborhood. What seems like odd behavior from the family at first turns into a Salma becoming a target for a crime that she never committed.
This book has many wonderful elements but the character development is top notch. Salma is incredibly self-aware, exuding confidence with her strengths and recognizing her weaknesses. This makes the story relatable and strongly connects you to the character. Salma is a strong female character that girls can look up, too.
Anything you didn’t like about it? No.
To whom would you recommend this book? I would recommend this book to any readers interested in a thriller that will grip you to the end. I also would recommend this book to readers who are looking for a strong, female character to follow through a journey.
Who should buy this book? public libraries, high schools
Where would you shelve it? Fiction
Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Marisa Marion, Locke Middle School, Billerica MA
Date of review: 4/6/2020
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