My Thoughts:

I loved this novel in verse. The visual formatting and illustrations added depth and interest to an already beautifully written and well-rounded story. I was not prepared for how emotionally invested I would become in Ava and Phoenix's story or how much I would cry (a lot) as they moved through a summer of growth, hardship, beauty, and loss. In far fewer words that most novels, Farid manages to tackle adolescence, family dynamics, illness and grief, realizing one's dreams, prejudice, the Muslim American experience, love, and hope with remarkable clarity and impact. 

I also loved Ava's growth as a person, her strength in surfing and facing discrimination, her creativity, and her capacity for healing.

Programming ideas:

• Invite students to create poetry or stories using magnetic words.

• Provide the supplies to make care or encouragement bags for students and staff going through difficult times. The items could be gathered through donations from participants or the community. Have students write their own poetry or select poems from an anthology to include.

• Invite students to create a playlist for a friend or family member or that expresses their own feelings or experiences.

• Play the music on Ava and Phoenix's playlists.

• Feature a collection of books about Muslim American adolescents.