You Think You Know Me

Product Information

The writing itself was okay and it was fast paced enough and had enough happening in the plot that it did keep me engaged and wanting to read more. I was a little confused on the writing style though, it felt a bit like it couldn’t decide who its audience was. I’d say given the themes and the age of the characters this would’ve typically been aimed at older teens, but the writing style and mannerisms of the characters didn’t really reflect a slightly more mature teen book at all. The writing did feel a bit juvenile. I loved reading about the Somali culture as I knew very little about it before starting the book, and we get to see a great deal about family dynamics within a Somalian household and about how the Muslim faith is woven into every day life for them.

You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud - Ebook | Scribd You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud - Ebook | Scribd

The novel also touches the multicultural side. Hanan is actually from Mogadishu, Somalia. So you’ll see Somalian culture and phrases a lot. I haven’t read and heard much about Somalia apart from CNN and BBC headlines. But it was great to read the Somalian language and family dynamics. On a personal note, it's incredibly irritating when adults in an educational setting burden minority students with the responsibility of educating the ignorant and providing solutions to issues that shouldn’t be there in the first place. In the book, I mention this very well-known ayah that says, ‘Verily, with hardship comes ease.’ Every Muslim will tell you about it, but I genuinely think it’s true and with all that Hanan goes through, her story doesn’t end on a bad note. I think if you give life long enough, you will get there insha Allah . It may take some time, but you will get there insha Allah .

Every character is well-developed and unique, but Hanan stands out as being particularly so. She’s truly the heroine of this story, with her twin Hussein being a noble hero too. Their sibling dynamic (complete with their teasing and tender moments) is as engaging as their individual character arcs and several moments between the two of them had me tearing up. The two deeply care for each other, and Ayaan Mohamud did a brilliant job of ensuring that was always evident. There are so many different Muslim experiences, but that’s something I don’t see enough of and have never seen in children or young adult books. It’s really important for teens as growing up, life is crazy and you’re being told so many different things about who you’re supposed to be, your identity and your faith, from the world and society. It becomes very difficult to be proud of who you are. So, I wanted someone reading the book to see themselves and feel proud about being visible as a Muslim. The two of us went our separate ways after that. Me, to Grafton Grammar, and Hussein, to Northwell High. We became different people with different dreams, but we were always still two halves of the same whole – Hanan and Hussein. Thankfully, that’s never changed; we’re both still there for each other when it matters.

You Think You Know Me - ReadingZone You Think You Know Me - ReadingZone

People like me are devils before we are angels. Hanan has always been good and quiet. She accepts her role as her school's perfect Muslim poster girl. She ignores the racist bullies. A closed mouth is gold - it helps you get home in one piece. Then her friend is murdered and every Muslim is to blame. The world is angry at us again. How can she stay silent while her family is ripped apart? It's time for Hanan to stop being the quiet, good girl. It's time for her to stand up and shout. For fans of The Hate U Give, this is a powerful debut YA novel which confronts the issues of discrimination and Islamophobia within a school setting. I loved the fact that she was a practicing Muslim which I think isn’t seen enough in books. She and her family are Somalis. I loved reading about their culture and seeing their family dynamics. A beautiful part of the book. But wow! how well this is told. The author has grabbed Hanan’s point of view and made it your own, whatever colour, creed or leaning you are. It’s the most beautiful, warm, fierce, family-friendly (maybe not under tens) encounter you could ask for. And that’s with a schoolgirl who may have little in common with you. But that’s only on the surface. Underneath you discover that there’s no difference in our basic values and ambitions. Work hard, make friends, work towards the exams, make your family proud of you.Isha and I leave school together at the end of the day and walk towards my sisters’ primary school, which Isha lives right next to. I’m grateful for the company but my mind’s wandering. Suddenly Hanan isn’t just an out-of-place schoolgirl, she’s a potential terrorist. As her classmates, community and even her friends start to turn on her, Hanan realises that she must find her voice to speak her own truth, to protect herself and her family, whatever the cost. I snake through the lunchtime crowd to find my friends, keeping an eye out for Jessica and her co-Braids. They’re the other two girls in that toxic trio; three cut-throat girls with the hair of angels. All living, breathing, walking contradictions. Sumaya’s finally composed herself, holding Hafsa’s hand and letting it swing between them. I hold their bookbags, trailing slightly behind, wanting to let them comfort each other for a little while longer. You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud is the story of Hanan. Hanan is Muslim. Hanan has been the unfortunate recipient of racist bullying since she started at her school. A recent tragedy, one that directly affects the school, vamps up racism towards Hanan and other Muslims. Hanan has always been told ‘silence is gold’ but she starts to question this when things become life threatening.