I am Thunder by Muhammad Khan

I am Thunder by Muhammad Khan
Buy I am Thunder by Muhammad Khan at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Teens
Reviewer: Em Richardson
Summary: An important book that provides an extremely balanced portrayal of Islam - we are shown how someone can be radicalised into committing acts of terror, but also how innocent Muslims have to deal with Islamophobia and abuse in their every day lives.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 320	Date: January 2018
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
ISBN: 978-1509874057
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Adhering to the recent trend for politicised YA novels, I am Thunder explores several controversial topics relating to being a Muslim in modern Britain. It tells the story of Muzna, a shy teenager who is flattered when Arif, a fellow Muslim, chooses to ask her out despite interest from several other girls at school. However, her delight wavers when she discovers how Arif, influenced by his manipulative brother Jameel, has become angered by Western culture.

Given this novel focuses on a teen who finds herself in a rare situation, where someone is attempting to radicalise her, it would be easy for Muzna to seem far from relatable. However, Khan actually manages to create a character who will resonate with many teens, making her shy and socially awkward, rather than the kind of angry young lady some might expect to turn to extremism. In fact, if there's any criticism that can be made of Khan's characterisation, it's actually that his character can be a little too much of a teen stereotype in the early passages of the book, as he seems to try to hard to make her sound like a thirteen-year-old, throwing in some toe-curling references to teenage language and culture. Yet, this is made up for later in the book, when sixteen-year-old Muzna develops into a girl with many real insecurities.

It's these insecurities that make Muzna such an obvious target for radicalisation. Not only is she a shy and easily manipulated girl looking for a friend, she comes from a family that has practised Islam very loosely, so she is easily convinced that her past misfortune comes from the fact she is not religious enough. The novel certainly provides a realistic insight into how someone might be radicalised into committing acts of terror and, just as someone looking at a situation from an outside perspective might in real life, readers will soon spot the warning signs that suggest Jameel is turning Muzna against Western culture.

However, it's important to remember that this book was written by a Muslim author, and certainly doesn't aim to demonise Islam or imply all Muslims are terrorists. Muzna eventually realises there is a dark side to Jameel's behaviour, and is ultimately able to find ways of practising Islam that work for her. She actually finds some benefits in becoming more involved in the religion, meeting other young Muslims, and decides to show her faith more openly by wearing the hijab for the first time. Muzna's decision to become a hijabi is followed by a noticeable increase in her confidence, but some of the comments she receives while wearing it also highlight the growing problem of Islamophobia. I'm not a Muslim, but based on what I know of Islam, I'd suggest Khan has written a very balanced portrayal, highlighting both how Islamist extremists can affect others, and how the current political climate means innocent Muslims can be the victim of abuse and hatred.

I am Thunder further shows that not all Muslims who hate the West are inherently evil via Arif. He may play a part in the attempt to radicalise Muzna by telling her his anti-Western views, but he actually does so unknowingly, as he simply repeats the views his brother taught him. It is clear that his mind has been poisoned by living with Jameel since he was a naïve, young child, and taken on his dangerous opinions. Given he is consciously involved in recruiting and radicalising young people, Jameel is definitely the only truly evil, unpleasant character. This book certainly shows how naïve, young people can be led down a very dangerous path.

The novel is yet another upcoming release that deals with issues relating to living in the West while having conservative, immigrant parents. In Muzna's case, she would love to write for a career, and wants to date Arif, while her parents want her to become a doctor and marry one of her Pakistani cousins. It is fascinating to see how, despite having been born and raised in Britain, certain aspects of her culture see her banned from doing things most British teens would see as perfectly normal. Muzna's family life also shows the audience the opposite extreme of Jameel's fanatical Islam, as her parents barely practice the religion, and see the hijab as a sign of extreme piety.

Simply put, I am Thunder is yet another important, and well-needed YA novel. It will inspire Muslim teens who are looking for realistic representation in literature, alert impressionable youngsters about the warning signs of radicalisation and, hopefully, change the perspective of those who claim Islam is a religion of hatred and violence. This is a book for both the billions of Muslims who are not extremists, and Westerners who need to learn to celebrate diversity, rather than being suspicious of anyone 'different'.

If you're interested in this book, I'd suggest you'd also enjoy Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed, another new YA novel that addresses the issue of Islamophobia.

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