Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog! Today, I am recommending a super awesome graphic novel I just finished reading. If you are looking for a great new book, you need to check out We Are Big Time by Hena Khan! It is written by Hena Khan and illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui.
If you like sports, cool drawings, and stories about making new friends, this book is totally for you. Here is what it’s about and why I give it five million stars!
What is the story about?
The main character is a teenage girl named Aliya. She just moved all the way from sunny Florida to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wisconsin is super cold, and Aliya doesn’t know anybody at her new Islamic school, the Peace Academy.
But Aliya loves basketball, so she joins the school’s all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team. The only problem? At first, the team completely stinks! They lose a lot and have to practice really, really hard. Plus, the team captain, Noura, isn’t very nice to Aliya at the start. But they get a new coach, Coach Jess, who helps them learn to play like a real team.
Soon, they start winning games, and the news reporters even come to talk to them! The media gets kind of annoying because they only want to ask about their hijabs, but the girls tell them, “This is a basketball story!” I thought that part was so cool because they just wanted to show everyone how good they are at the game.
My Favorite Parts!
The Artwork: The colors are so bright, and the basketball action looks like it’s moving right off the page!
It’s Real! I read that this book is inspired by the true story of a school team called the Salam School.
The Message: It taught me that you don’t just need talent to be great. You need teamwork and self-confidence.
I believe We Are Big Time by Hena Khan is one of the best graphic novels of the year. It demonstrates that girls can achieve anything when they support each other and work hard. The story immerses you in the action, making you feel like you’re right there on the court, cheering for them!
Have you read any other books by Hena Khan, like Amina’s Voice? Let me know in the contact form below! Dara out!