JUNE 2019 - AudioFile
This sweet Muslim teen romance with dual narrators begins with the author's voice vowing faithfulness to her characters' (fictional) journals, pieced together for the audiobook. Priya Ayyar gives American Zayneb an upbeat, strident tone that is distinctly teenaged. Her anger sparks at the Islamophobia she faces everywhere. Tim Chiou voices Canadian expat Adam in a calm, melancholy voice that contrasts with Zayneb’s. As they get to know each other during their spring break in Doha, Qatar, both narrators move deftly between young love and shocked angst when private dramas flare up. An argument brings back the author's voice when their accounts diverge. The writing and performances will charm listeners, leaving them with more understanding of Islam, chronic illness, love, and war. S.T.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
05/27/2019
This charming romance features two devout Muslim teens with a shared passion for a 13th-century Islamic text and a shared conundrum: “How do you meet that one exact person who’s right for you?” On a plane to Doha, Qatar, outspoken Indiana high-school senior Zayneb feels an instant, mutual connection with Adam, an artist who has just dropped out of university in London after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the same illness that caused his mother’s death. When Zayneb’s aunt turns out to be Adam’s former teacher, the teens find themselves thrown together socially. Alternating journal entries relay their different methods for dealing with challenges. Prone to anger and action, Zayneb plans to expose the teacher who accused her of being a militant Islamophobia propagandist and got her suspended from school. Quiet and patient, Adam waits until after the anniversary of his mother’s death before revealing his diagnosis to his grieving father. Ali (Saints and Misfits) deftly addresses challenging subjects such as chronic illness and cultural appropriation; her sensitive portrayal of the teens’ determination to honor their faith’s courtship guidelines as their attraction grows makes this love story stand out. Ages 14–up. (May)
Shelf Awareness
In Love from A to Z, S.K. Ali once again takes an unflinching and moving look at the intricacies of life as a Muslim teen in an imperfect, multi-cultural world. Beautiful.
starred review Shelf Awareness
"In Love from A to Z, S.K. Ali once again takes an unflinching and moving look at the intricacies of life as a Muslim teen in an imperfect, multi-cultural world. Beautiful."
Booklist
Ali skillfully fashions a love story sensitive to the rules of Muslim courtship that's equally achy and enigmatic.
EW.com
Love From A to Z ends up being a compulsively readable, beautifully romantic look at how fate can intervene when we might just need it the most.
SLJ Teen Librarian Toolbox
This is a beautiful, complex, and important book. I hope that all libraries will get this on their shelves and on display. A wonderful story that centers the Muslim experience and shows the power of anger, peace, and connection.
BCCB
"Both [main] characters are exceptionally appealing as their well-integrated faith leads them in different ways to seek peace, justice, and each other."
Horn Book Magazine
"Told through alternating perspectives, this compelling love story brings together a wide variety of cultures, political issues, and personality types. Readers are immersed in the teens’ world, feeling the frustrations of facing prejudice, the sadness of losing loved ones, the hope that comes from mutual understanding. Ali has created an unforgettable couple in a deftly drawn setting."
Becky Albertalli
This book gave me butterflies. Love From A to Z is the bighearted, wildly charming, painfully real love story I’ve been waiting for."
Booklist
Ali skillfully fashions a love story sensitive to the rules of Muslim courtship that's equally achy and enigmatic.
May 14, 2019 - Shelf Awareness *STARRED*
In Love from A to Z, S.K. Ali once again takes an unflinching and moving look at the intricacies of life as a Muslim teen in an imperfect, multi-cultural world. Beautiful.
School Library Journal
★ 05/01/2019
Gr 8 Up—Morris Award finalist Ali has written a classic romance that's also a story of love for family and friends, Muslim identity, oneself, and the city of Doha, Qatar. Zayneb Malik is a high school senior, hijabi, and Gryffindor/Slytherin mix. When she gets suspended over an incident with an Islamophobic teacher, she starts her spring break early, leaving her town in Indiana to visit her aunt in Doha. Also on the way to Doha, via London, is Adam Chen, returning to his dad and sister. He stopped attending his college classes two months earlier after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the same illness his mother had. Instead, he's been making various things. As Adam and Zayneb spend time together, their feelings intensify. But with numerous obstacles in their lives, they'll have to decide if pursuing a relationship is a possibility. The story is told in alternating viewpoints through the characters' journal entries, each divided into sections of Marvels and Oddities (the good and the bad). Muslim identity and culture are authentically and unapologetically infused throughout without overexplanation but are still accessible for a wide audience. Cultural appropriation, racism, the effects of war, and the impact of everyday Islamophobia are all explored with nuance. An author's note lends further context. VERDICT Heartfelt, honest, and featuring characters readers will fall in love with, this is sure to become a beloved book for many.—Jenna Friebel, Oak Park Public Library, IL
JUNE 2019 - AudioFile
This sweet Muslim teen romance with dual narrators begins with the author's voice vowing faithfulness to her characters' (fictional) journals, pieced together for the audiobook. Priya Ayyar gives American Zayneb an upbeat, strident tone that is distinctly teenaged. Her anger sparks at the Islamophobia she faces everywhere. Tim Chiou voices Canadian expat Adam in a calm, melancholy voice that contrasts with Zayneb’s. As they get to know each other during their spring break in Doha, Qatar, both narrators move deftly between young love and shocked angst when private dramas flare up. An argument brings back the author's voice when their accounts diverge. The writing and performances will charm listeners, leaving them with more understanding of Islam, chronic illness, love, and war. S.T.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2019-03-13
Zayneb is an 18-year-old hijabi from Indiana—and she was just suspended for standing up to her Islamophobic teacher.
Now she's on her way to Doha to spend two weeks with her cool aunt Nandy and forget about her troubles at school. On the flight, Zayneb meets Adam, who converted to Islam at age 11 after his mom—Auntie Nandy's best friend—died from multiple sclerosis. Enamored with each other, Adam and Zayneb begin to share their life stories: Adam is keeping a huge secret from his father and sister, Zayneb hasn't shared with her aunt why she's been suspended, and both are mourning loved ones. Slowly, they fall in love, but their different experiences of dealing with racism and pain threaten to drive them apart. The novel's dual narrative structure uses raw, earnest journal entries to guide readers through the painful realities of the Islamophobia and racism that permeate all levels of society. Zayneb's story shows how the smallest incidents have trickle-down effects that dehumanize Muslims and devalue Muslim lives in some people's eyes. This is a refreshing depiction of religiosity and spirituality coexisting with so-called "normal" young adult relationships and experiences: What makes Zayneb and Adam different is not their faith but their ability to learn from and love one another in a world hurling obstacles their way. Zayneb is half Pakistani and half West Indian; Adam is Canadian of Chinese and Finnish descent.
Heartfelt and powerful. (Fiction. 13-18)
