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You're Not Proper
Winner
of the Francis Lincoln Diverse
Voices Chidlren's Book Award
Tariq Mehmood
Overview
Karen thinks she's not proper white.
Her dad is Pakistani and her mother is white Christian, and somehow she feels as if she doesn't quite fit in... anywhere. So she's made a choice: she's switching sides.
Karen's going to convert to Islam to find her true identity.
But Shamshad, her Hijab-wearing school mate, isn’t making things easy for her. What's her deal, anyway? Is Shamshad really any more proper than her?
Trouble and turmoil await in the old textile mill town of Boardhead East, as school battles are replaced by family troubles, name calling turns to physical confrontation and cataclysmic secrets are unveiled.
Set against a backdrop of seething Islamaphobia, You're Not Proper
is the first in the Striker series, written by Tariq Mahmood, to shine a light on issues of identity, religion, politics and class affecting young people today – a unique new series in young adult fiction.
Tariq Mehmood
Tariq Mehmood
is an award winning writer and film-maker. His books include Hand On The Sun
(Penguin) and While There Is Light,
. He co-directed the award-winning documentary Injustice. Tariq currently teaches at the American University of Beirut, in Lebanon and lives in Beirut and Manchester.
Tariq in the media
Tariq Mehmood
is an award winning writer and film-maker. His books include Hand On The Sun
(Penguin) and While There Is Light,
. He co-directed the award-winning documentary Injustice. Tariq currently teaches at the American University of Beirut, in Lebanon and lives in Beirut and Manchester.
Reviews
'You're Not Proper, Mehmood's first YA novel, is partly a conversion story and partly aimed at girls who are on the receiving end of Islamophobia. Unsurprisingly, though, given the author's history, it is political through and through. As another reviewer of the book points out, this is a welcome angle, since there aren't 'many books on the same subject' of young Muslim girls in Britain.'
Claire Chambers, Lecturer in Global Literature at the University of York >
Claire Chambers, Lecturer in Global Literature at the University of York >
‘I love it when a writer takes me to a world that I didn't know and make it feel familar. Reading is like travelling. In Tariq Mehmood I am travelling with a wise, knowledgeable, witty companion who is fully aware of all the danger and excitement of the adventure we are embarking on. That's what it's like to read a cracking book! He's ready to take you too!!
Lemn Sissay MBE
Lemn Sissay MBE
‘Contemporary and hard-hitting, You're Not Proper
is the story of two girls with one religion and two very different lifestyles. It offers powerful insight into young people's lives and the challenges they face around identity and cultural heritage. High on impact and highly engaging, it truly is a story of our age’
Jake Hope, critic, librarian and coordinator of the Lancashire Children’s Book of the Year Award>
Jake Hope, critic, librarian and coordinator of the Lancashire Children’s Book of the Year Award>
‘You’re Not Proper
is a really thought-provoking read and I enjoyed it! I definitely recommend it for those who want a brilliant, relatable insight into what it’s like to be a teenager and Muslim in a place where it’s often frowned upon.
Georgia, independent blogger for Blibliomaniac>
Georgia, independent blogger for Blibliomaniac>
‘This bold and brisk novel includes lots of issues, and manages to spring a surprising twist in its tale. Filled with brightly drawn characters and fast-paced banter, this is a real insight into lives that are often seen but not heard.
Excerpt taken from The Book Trust's 'Books we like>
Excerpt taken from The Book Trust's 'Books we like>
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