Gr 9 Up--Changes are underway in Janna's life: She is preparing for college, her mother appears to have a love interest, and Nuah returns but his coolness startles Janna. As Janna's brother Muhammad's nikah, or marriage, draws nearer, a startling conversation with her dad about racism strains their relationship. Whether it will be resolved depends on how much Janna is willing to push back using an antiracist perspective. While there are dozens of characters to keep track of, this chaotic convergence works to amplify Janna's situation and heighten anxieties. Similar to Darius in Adib Khorram's Darius the Great Is Not Okay, Janna's internal life is on full display and provides a sympathetic character to relate to in love, fashion, and family bonds. As an Arab and Indian American of Islamic faith, her thoughts are driven by her culture but ebb and flow as she matures and solidifies her own beliefs. The roadblocks she faces along the way are realistic and may parallel readers' lives, making Janna an endearing main character. This second book in a series that could certainly lead to a third continues to broach topics of social justice, making this relevant reading with a strong female lead. VERDICT Make sure this one is available for teens interested in a realistic story of faith, family, and friendships.--Alicia Abdul, Albany H.S., NY

While helping with her brother Muhammad's wedding, Egyptian and Indian American Janna Yusuf prepares her heart to confess to her crush in this sequel to Saints and Misfits (2017). Though originally planned as a small, intimate nikah ceremony, Janna's Indian father has turned Muhammad and Syrian American Sarah's katb el-kitab into an elaborate affair. Also attending is Janna's friend Nuah, with whom she recently realized she is in love. But while trying to find a moment to confess, she discovers that her father doesn't approve of Nuah because he is Black. Disturbed and angered by her father's racist views, Janna becomes increasingly aware of other instances of anti-Black discrimination and racism among Muslims in her family and community. This complicates her feelings about her relationships as her realization grows of how these views have affected other Muslims as well as her own budding romance. Ali's narrative of a Muslim teen navigating life, heartbreak, and romance also explores larger issues with depth and texture. Janna works through cognitive dissonance as she examines principles of justice, equity, and committing to everyday anti-racist action while also considering the degree to which boys have been at the center of her attention. The cast of the first book returns, and Zayneb and Adam from Love From A to Z (2019) make a cameo appearance, but new readers will find the story accessible. A timely and necessary read for all communities to reflect upon. (Fiction. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In this follow-up to Saints and Misfits (2017), wry protagonist Janna is hoping to ignite her love life during her brother Muhammad's wedding weekend. But while she's finally ready to profess the feelings she was previously unable to reciprocate for kind and attentive Nuah, the trickster universe has different plans, throwing picture-perfect Haythem and radical Layth into the mix. Toss in trying to prevent the wedding from turning into a sports-themed circus, dealing with a dad growing more intuitive by the hour, and a mom with a possible love interest, and Janna barely has time to notice Nuah's distance or consider what that means for her and her plans. Fans of Ali's work will be ecstatic to see some familiar faces--including Adam and Zayneb (Love from A to Z, 2019)--and the same authentic personality that made Janna so compelling in the first book. What really shines in this story is Ali's ability to let readers know what's going awry in Janna's plans while simultaneously leading her as a character astray. Revisiting an older, more mature Janna is also refreshing as she navigates her conflicting desires and struggles to keep her emotions in check while staying true to Islamic courtship rules. The energetic and often hilarious cast of characters bring this short and sweet series to a satisfying end.