2023 REREAD: Just as good the second time round. It is so, so much better than the author's previous book, 'The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali'.
'Zara Hossain Is Here' is still oh so relevant and important. It is about belonging, home and family, as well as its vital social justice and political issues that need to be talked about and acted upon immediately. It is about life.
It needs to be read. Enough said.
Final Score: 4.5/5
Original Review:
I love this small, precious YA book that can be kept in your pocket and read in a day.
It is about the truths of America. It is about the exhaustive, frustrating, corrupt and broken immigration process in the US, and the devastating impact of the many, many kinds and layers of racism - passive, ignorant, microaggressions, and overt hatred and violence - and how it's all linked to systematic racism in western society.
'Zara Hossain Is Here' is told through the eyes of Zara Hossain, a seventeen-year-old Pakistani American Muslim, whose immigrant parents are still awaiting their green cards after fourteen years of living in a Texas town, Corpus Christi. Her father is a skilled paediatrician. Zara is smart, strong willed, a green belt in tae kwon do, and she loves sour and gummy bear/worm froyos, and her dog Zorro. Her ambition is to work in law.
She is also bisexual and, along with everything else that's going on in her hard life that's taking a tragic turn, she is getting into a relationship with a white Catholic girl, Chloe.
In a refreshing take, author Sabina Khan made Zara's parents more liberal, progressive, and supportive than Muslim adults are typically depicted in every media there is. They know about Zara's sexuality, and they accept her and love her. They even encourage her to be openminded and make her own choices when it comes to their religion. Basically, Zara is agnostic, and doesn't follow many Islamic traditions, routines and practices. She is aware of how lucky and "free" she is when compared to others in her position, and when living in America; it's mainly racist school bullies (her school is predominantly white), other, more conservative Muslim relatives, and the backwards US immigration laws that make her life hellish and oppressive...and a racist attack involving a shooting that will change everything.
While 'Zara Hossain Is Here' is decidedly "laidback" in its representation of the Muslim religion and culture, like in Sabina Khan's previous book, 'The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali', so much food from the Middle East is lovingly and deliciously described - and eaten - constantly! It's fantastic. The Bollywood references are especially affectionate. There is a lot to learn here in terms of modern Muslim, Pakistani and Middle Eastern culture, as well as the myriad of ways in which racism and Islamophobia (and sexism and homophobia) still plague our society to this day.
It's a never ending war, but we must never stop fighting for freedom and equality. For love and peace.
One particularly progressive and original thing about 'Zara Hossain Is Here' is: in this story, when Zara's main hideous, racist white school bully (who doesn't deserve to be named here) might be feeling guilty and like a human being after an incident goes too far ('cause who knew that guns and attempted murder might result from racist rhetoric, right?), and after he gives his half-arsed apologies that are only made to make himself feel better and free from blame, guess what happens? Nothing. Neither Zara nor the book forgive him, no matter what any character says about "moving on" from anger; about "overreacting"; and about "refusing to see his side" when the poor fragile racist baby "couldn't see what's right and what's wrong". He was only following his privileged parents' example, you see, and he "doesn't know any better"!
No. Fuck no. As Zara points out, he's not a child, and that excuse doesn't hold water. Not when, literally, lives are at stake.
Near the end of the book, the bully is pushed aside, never to be seen again. He is not given the time of day. Because he doesn't deserve any acknowledgement.
It is Zara's story, and the story of millions of other Muslims, immigrants and dark-skinned people. Fuck white guilt and rich white privilege.
Hurting people because of your deep-seated prejudices and insecurities - killing people because of your deep-seated prejudices and insecurities - is wrong. It's evil. Don't do it. Don't be a bigot. Don't be horrible to people. It's as simple as that, living that way.
(An additional PSA: gun control and restrictions are vital, as is saving lives.)
Other diversity representation includes Zara's family lawyer, Shireen Khala, and Zara's two best friends: Nick Garcia, who is Mexican American, and Priya, who is a Keralan. And there's Ms. Talbot, a social studies teacher and Social Justice Club founder, who is a married lesbian and practically a superhuman. I am so glad that there are in fact people like Ms. Talbot and Zara and the other great characters in 'Zara Hossain Is Here' who exist in reality. There's also a female POC liberal senator who will be running for president!
This is the real world, and it is still full of hope.
No matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like, and who you love, you deserve to exist. You are human. You matter. You have value and validation.
You are welcome. You are wanted. You are loved.
Final Score: 4.5/5
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