Call Me Adnan -- Reem Faruqi, Hardcover

"An emotional tale of a family's grief and healing, full of courage and hope" --Kirkus

"Faruqi renders this tender story of loss with a deft hand, employing vivid details surrounding Adnan's Pakistani Muslim identity... and nuanced characterizations to present a tear-jerking ode to family."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

For fans of Planet Omar and The Ethan I Was Before, award-winning Pakistani author Reem Faruqi of Unsettled delivers a middle grade novel in verse about table tennis player Adnan, who dreams of the championship and a fun-filled family trip to Florida. But when tragedy strikes, he and his family must cope with a terrible loss and come together as one again. This poignant story about a Muslim family learning to heal is hope-filled and moving.

Adnan Zakir loves table tennis. He's also colorblind, left-handed, and has a fondness for the aviation alphabet. He's super close with his sister, Aaliyah, who is a great dancer and memorizer of Quran, and he loves his little toddler brother Rizwan, who only wants to grow up and play table tennis like his big brother.

All Adnan dreams of is making it to the Ultimate Table Tennis Championship in Florida, and if he qualifies for the tournament, he knows he will get to spend the Eid holiday with his cousins! But when the family travels there, unthinkable tragedy strikes, and Adnan swears he'll never play table tennis ever again. Slowly, he and his family must learn to make peace and move forward, as a family.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

Author: Reem Faruqi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 06/13/2023
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.90w x 1.05d
ISBN: 9780063284944
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2023
Publishers Weekly 05/15/2023
Booklist 06/01/2023 pg. 80