JULY 2018 - AudioFile
Ibtihaj Muhammad narrates her story of growing up as a black Muslim woman in the United States and becoming the first hijab-wearing American athlete. She is unflinching in her descriptions of a childhood without many role models—particularly in her chosen field of fencing. As narrator, Muhammad sounds like the young, optimistic woman she is; her choice to deliver her memoir makes us even more empathetic when we hear the ups and downs of her coming-of-age. We feel the sting of substitute teachers refusing to learn how to say her name, of missing out on slumber parties as a child, and of being told to find another sport besides fencing. M.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"What a clear-eyed and amazing memoir.... I plowed through it.... Ibtihaj's story is at once so deeply personal and amazingly universal."—Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award winner and New York Times bestselling author of Brown Girl Dreaming and Another Brooklyn
"Her story is inspiring and illuminating."—The Christian Science Monitor
"A tumultuous, unforgettable tale of perseverance and faith."—The Chicago Tribune
"A must-read."—PopSugar
"[Ibtihaj's] stories of fighting racism and xenophobia are inspiring... but Muhammad's battles with her own demons are equally brave and 100 percent relatable."—Glamour.com
"Ibtihaj Muhammad is as sharp with her words as she is with a sabre."—The National (United Arab Emirates)
"Fencing made her who she is today, but fencing isn't her only narrative. Her journey is one of authenticity at all costs and being unapologetically herself."
—ESPNw
"A powerful sentiment that sums up not only her own struggles, but those of so many minorities in America."
—The Daily Beast
"It's clear that Muhammad has become an icon beyond the realm of sports.... Ibtihaj Muhammad's journey is uniquely her own, and yet, it is one that many people will find relatable, comforting, and inspiring."
—Bustle
JULY 2018 - AudioFile
Ibtihaj Muhammad narrates her story of growing up as a black Muslim woman in the United States and becoming the first hijab-wearing American athlete. She is unflinching in her descriptions of a childhood without many role models—particularly in her chosen field of fencing. As narrator, Muhammad sounds like the young, optimistic woman she is; her choice to deliver her memoir makes us even more empathetic when we hear the ups and downs of her coming-of-age. We feel the sting of substitute teachers refusing to learn how to say her name, of missing out on slumber parties as a child, and of being told to find another sport besides fencing. M.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
