SELF-CONFIDENCE
FRIENDSHIP
COMMUNITY
ANTI-MUSLIM BIGOTRY
FAMILY
At the beginning of the story, Amina is very afraid of speaking up for herself and sharing her feelings. She is also terrified of singing in front of others or public speaking. Throughout the novel, Amina overcomes many challenges and gains in self-confidence.
Amina has always been best friends with Soojin, which has helped her face the bigotry and teasing of some of their classmates. In middle school her relationship with Soojin begins to change when Emily becomes part of their friend circle. The novel centers around the importance of friendship and the difficulty many middle schoolers face navigating social relationships.
The greater community of Milwaukee comes together to show their support of the Muslim community demonstrating the importance of allyship and taking a stand against hate.
There are many instances of anti-Muslim bigotry, or Islamophobia, throughout the novel. Islamophobiais the fear of, hatred of, or prejudice against the religion ofIslamorMuslims.Amina is teased by her classmates for her culture. Her mosque is horribly vandalized in a hate crime.
Family is a central theme of the novel. Amina is very close with her parents and brother and comes to bond with her uncle Thaya Jaan throughout his visit. Her friends share their relationships with their families as well.
AMINA'S VOICE THEMES