We Are Big Time
(A Graphic Novel)
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
SWISH! Cheer courtside for a Muslim teen in this graphic novel—inspired by a true story—as she joins an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team and learns that she’s much more than a score.
Aliya is new to Wisconsin, and everything feels different than Florida. The Islamic school is bigger, the city is colder, and her new basketball team is… well, they stink.
Aliya’s still excited to have teammates (although Noura's not really Aliya's biggest fan) and their new coach really understands basketball (even if she doesn't know much about being Muslim.) This season should be a blast...if they could just start to win.
Join Aliya and the Peace Academy on a headline-making season where they strengthen their skills and their Muslim identities--all while discovering that it takes more than talent to be great, and that teamwork and self-confidence can define true success.
For fans of The Crossover and Roller Girl, this graphic novel goes big with humor and heart as it explores culture and perceptions, fitting in and standing out, and finding yourself, both on and off the court.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Kahn (Drawing Deena) and Zerrougui team up to deliver a distinguished attestation to the power of sport. Upon moving from Tampa to Milwaukee, Pakistani and Indian American high school freshman Aliya Javaid enrolls in Peace Academy, an Islamic school, and joins the basketball team, hoping to make friends while playing a game she loves. Initial losses spur intensive training before the team begins to triumph. Local media soon take notice, but reporters' interests lie less in the team's performance and more in their hijab uniforms. The girls endeavor to take control of the narrative: "If they ask random things, bring it back to basketball. This is a basketball story." Kahn provides contextualizing information for non-Muslims via the girls' interactions with Puerto Rican coach Jess, as Jess in turn educates opposing coaches about the team's uniforms, and prioritizes religious practices, allowing a break during practice for Maghrib; vividly saturated artwork invites readers into the evening prayer in a wordless spread that transitions to diagonal panels indicating movement and connection in the following gametime action. It's an uplifting graphic novel that celebrates female Muslim athletes and highlights how the teens' faith, sport, and relationships intersect. Ages 8–12. Author's agent: Matthew Elblonk, DiFiore & Co. Illustrator's agent: Paloma Hernando, Einstein Literary Management.
