No True Believers

By: Rabiah York Lumbard

Narrated by: Mozhan Marnò

Fans of the riveting mystery in Courtney Summers's Sadie and the themes of race and religion in Samira Ahmed's Internment will be captivated by this exploration of the intersection of Islamaphobia and white supremacy as an American Muslim teen is forced to confront hatred and hidden danger when she is framed for a terrorist act she did not commit.

Salma Bakkioui has always loved living in her suburban cul-de-sac, with her best friend Mariam next door, and her boyfriend Amir nearby. Then things start to change. Friends start to distance themselves. Mariam's family moves when her father's patients no longer want a Muslim chiropractor. Even trusted teachers look the other way when hostile students threaten Salma at school.

After a terrorist bombing nearby, Islamaphobia tightens its grip around Salma and her family. Shockingly, she and Amir find themselves with few allies as they come under suspicion for the bombing. As Salma starts to investigate who is framing them, she uncovers a deadly secret conspiracy with suspicious ties to her new neighbors--but no one believes her. Salma must use her coding talent, wits, and faith to expose the truth and protect the only home she's ever known--before it's too late.

Critic reviews

"A thriller with a Muslim American teen girl as the hero will give readers a unique character to root for and a reminder that anyone can be patriotic.” —Bulletin

“A page-turner that carries a message of radical love, regardless of faith.” — Booklist

"Recommended for readers who want a relatable and realistic portrayal of a Muslim teen with the twists and action of a suspenseful thriller" --School Library Journal

"Lumbard’s novel succeeds in illuminating fundamental similarities across religions and portraying a harrowing situation that feels contemporary and plausible. --Publishers Weekly

Great for modern teens.

I have to admit I am not a teenage girl so I have to say off the bat I am not the intended audience for this book. But for what it is,, its a tale of a struggling teenage half Arab, half white Muslim girl with a chronic condition who lives in a time of a terrorist plot.

Sounds interesting but the interesting part is not the terrorist stuff but the reflection of being a teenage White American girls upbringing but also rooted in the immigrant story of a past back ground. Rabiah's diverse cultural experiences really reflects well on this book. Its intelligent and filled with pop culture references. I think young Muslim woman will find lots to cherish in this book. But I also feel it will give non Muslims a glimpse of an immigrant story not unlike Jewish or Irish American stories of the past.

The Arabic pronunciation in this audio book are done well. My only complaint is her male voices don't sound well. It's not too bad since the male roles are not as abundant as the main characters dialogues.