Sumbul Ali-Karamali, an Indian American Muslim who grew up in California, offers an engaging, highly readable narrative peppered with personal experience and humor but also packed full of information about Islam. Part I focuses on beliefs and practices: food, prayer, clothing, fasting, holidays. She ties these to everyday concerns of kids and teens (“Can I go to the school dance?”), making it relatable for non-Muslim readers. Ali-Karamali’s tone is friendly, and she emphasizes that Muslims, just like Christians, Jews, and followers of other religions, make many different personal choices about how to live their lives and follow their faith, using decisions that she and members of her family have made as examples. Part I also introduces readers to the five tenets of Islam, foundations of the faith. Part II discusses the history of Islam, looking at the origins of the faith and how it spread. Part III provides an overview of where Muslims live today. Lively and informative, the book concludes with a lengthy bibliography of books, articles, and additional sources for learning more. (Age 11 and older)

Author Sumbul Ali-Karamali offers her personal account, discussing the many and varied questions she fielded from curious friends and schoolmates while growing up in Southern California—from diet, to dress, to prayer and holidays and everything in between. She also provides an academically reliable introduction to Islam, addressing its inception, development and current demographics.

Through this engaging work, readers will gain a better understanding of the everyday aspects of Muslim American life, to dispel many of the misconceptions that still remain and open a dialogue for tolerance and acceptance.