Overview

Amina's Voice meets A Good Kind of Trouble in this story about 13-year-old Aaliyah, who feels alone after putting on a hijab for the first time, but finds friends and allies through organizing a protest at her school. Thirteen-year-old Aaliyah can't wait for a concert by her favorite K-pop boy band, 3W. She isn't too concerned with stories on the news about the rise of the far right--after all, it doesn't affect her--until a terrorist attack at the concert changes everything. Local racists are emboldened and anti-Muslim rhetoric starts cropping up at school and on the street. When Aaliyah starts getting bullied, she knows she has to do something to stand up to the hate. She decides that, instead of hiding who she is, she will begin wearing a hijab for the first time, to challenge how people in her community see Muslims. But when her school bans the hijab and she is attacked and intimidated for making her choice, Aaliyah feels alone. Can she find allies--friends to stand beside her and help her find ways to fight back? Acclaimed author A. M. Dassu's follow-up to Boy, Everywhere is an essential read to encourage empathy, challenge stereotypes, and foster positive action.

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9781643795881

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This book--with its celebration of girl power, a main character who forces readers to question religious stereotypes, and a timely message about the importance of coming together as a community to Fight Back against prejudice--deserves a place on every library shelf. -- Padma Venkatraman, Walter Award Winning Author of The Bridge Home Powerful. . . will show readers they are not alone when facing racism and hate and that standing together in support of one another provides hope for the future. -- Booklist The attention-grabbing writing style and intensifying pace suit the storyline, and characters develop in plausible ways. Hope is interjected into the serious tone as Black, Jewish, and Chinese classmates, among others, share their experiences and help Aaliyah and her friends take action against racism and xenophobia. This group of committed friends will win readers' hearts. -- Kirkus Reviews This fearless, compelling story of trauma, solidarity and testing which rules are made to be broken is perfect for fans of Patrice Lawrence and Muhammad Khan. -- The Guardian Jane Addams Book Award finalist, Jane Addams Peace Association

This book--with its celebration of girl power, a main character who forces readers to question religious stereotypes, and a timely message about the importance of coming together as a community to FIGHT BACK against prejudice--deserves a place on every library shelf. -- Padma Venkatraman, Walter Award Winning Author of THE BRIDGE HOME A compelling read... BOY, EVERYWHERE was a stunning debut and FIGHT BACK, her brilliant sophomore novel, firmly establishes A. M. Dassu as a major, much needed voice in UK children's fiction. -- Alex Wheatle, author of Cane Warriors and Crongton Knights A nuanced treatment of a difficult subject, FIGHT BACK emphasises our common humanity in the face of divisive hate and does so with an exciting plot and engaging characters. A. M. Dassu does that rare and generous thing of exploring the particular and then panning out to show how many others have the same experience. And her message is one of hope and energy; together we can fight back. -- Joanna De Guia, school librarian and former bookseller A wonderful novel that unscarfs the everyday fears of Muslim people caused by those who choose to not understand. -- Alexandros Plasatis, author, founder and editor of Other Side of Hope, a literary magazine edited by refugees and immigrants A. M. Dassu is a fearless writer tackling themes of racism in the lives of contemporary teens. -- Liz Flanagan, award-winning author A. M. Dassu serves up an important, necessary book about racism and identity... Aaliyah is a well-rounded, likable and spirited protagonist, who, together with her friends and allies, learns how to bring about change in her school and community. Readers will feel empowered by her journey. -- Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant FIGHT BACK deals with issues affecting young people in Britain today with characters that challenge stereotypes, relatable situations and conversations that invite debate... A great example of really good storytelling and should be in classrooms everywhere. -- Kaye Tew, director of Manchester Children's Book Festival at Manchester Metropolitan University FIGHT BACK firmly establishes A. M. Dassu as one of the best, most relevant, most important writers we have in the UK today. If FIGHT BACK were to be read and discussed in every school, there is no doubt we would live in a better world as a result. -- Liz Kessler, author of When the World was Ours FIGHT BACK is a compelling fiction, written with a lightness of touch that resonates deeply with empathy, insight, and courage to tell a story about Islamophobia, racism and serious threats to freedom of expression; desperately needed in these reactionary times. -- Sita Brahmachari, author of Where the River Runs Gold FIGHT BACK is a hard hitting and poignant story that needs to be heard. The writing is brave and tackles issues that many are not willing to talk about. I particularly resonated with Aaliyah. Her worries and struggles are all so familiar to so many Muslims, young and old. -- Rumena Aktar, primary school librarian and Teacher Hug Book Club Radio presenter FIGHT BACK will help children empower themselves to safely question decisions adults make on their behalf, at home and in school, as well as challenging hateful views and recognising the difference individuals can make as part of a community. Our protagonist Aaliyah's voice is real and honest, I love her view of the world, her place in it, and the difference she wants to make. -- Caroline Fielding, chartered school librarian and former Carnegie Medal judge Tense, terrifying, transformative. The power of this book punched me right in the chest. Read it, share it, shout about it. The world needs this book. -- Kathryn Evans, author of More of Me This book is brilliant and relevant. Hearing the voice of our young people and seeing how they deal with trauma is integral to our understanding of them. The support that Aaliyah gets from Jonah and co is heartening to see. This type of solidarity is important to see and speaks very much to how school children will often come together in times of adversity. -- Sajeda Amir, secondary school teacher in Manchester Unflinchingly honest, heartbreaking, powerful, important, and hopeful. -- Sophie Wills, author of The Orphans of St. Halibut's This group of committed friends will win readers' hearts. -- Kirkus Reviews This group of committed friends will win readers' hearts. -- Kirkus Reviews

This book--with its celebration of girl power, a main character who forces readers to question religious stereotypes, and a timely message about the importance of coming together as a community to FIGHT BACK against prejudice--deserves a place on every library shelf. -- Padma Venkatraman, Walter Award Winning Author of THE BRIDGE HOME A compelling read... BOY, EVERYWHERE was a stunning debut and FIGHT BACK, her brilliant sophomore novel, firmly establishes A. M. Dassu as a major, much needed voice in UK children's fiction. -- Alex Wheatle, author of Cane Warriors and Crongton Knights A nuanced treatment of a difficult subject, FIGHT BACK emphasises our common humanity in the face of divisive hate and does so with an exciting plot and engaging characters. A. M. Dassu does that rare and generous thing of exploring the particular and then panning out to show how many others have the same experience. And her message is one of hope and energy; together we can fight back. -- Joanna De Guia, school librarian and former bookseller A wonderful novel that unscarfs the everyday fears of Muslim people caused by those who choose to not understand. -- Alexandros Plasatis, author, founder and editor of Other Side of Hope, a literary magazine edited by refugees and immigrants A. M. Dassu is a fearless writer tackling themes of racism in the lives of contemporary teens. -- Liz Flanagan, award-winning author A. M. Dassu serves up an important, necessary book about racism and identity... Aaliyah is a well-rounded, likable and spirited protagonist, who, together with her friends and allies, learns how to bring about change in her school and community. Readers will feel empowered by her journey. -- Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant FIGHT BACK deals with issues affecting young people in Britain today with characters that challenge stereotypes, relatable situations and conversations that invite debate... A great example of really good storytelling and should be in classrooms everywhere. -- Kaye Tew, director of Manchester Children's Book Festival at Manchester Metropolitan University FIGHT BACK firmly establishes A. M. Dassu as one of the best, most relevant, most important writers we have in the UK today. If FIGHT BACK were to be read and discussed in every school, there is no doubt we would live in a better world as a result. -- Liz Kessler, author of When the World was Ours FIGHT BACK is a compelling fiction, written with a lightness of touch that resonates deeply with empathy, insight, and courage to tell a story about Islamophobia, racism and serious threats to freedom of expression; desperately needed in these reactionary times. -- Sita Brahmachari, author of Where the River Runs Gold FIGHT BACK is a hard hitting and poignant story that needs to be heard. The writing is brave and tackles issues that many are not willing to talk about. I particularly resonated with Aaliyah. Her worries and struggles are all so familiar to so many Muslims, young and old. -- Rumena Aktar, primary school librarian and Teacher Hug Book Club Radio presenter FIGHT BACK will help children empower themselves to safely question decisions adults make on their behalf, at home and in school, as well as challenging hateful views and recognising the difference individuals can make as part of a community. Our protagonist Aaliyah's voice is real and honest, I love her view of the world, her place in it, and the difference she wants to make. -- Caroline Fielding, chartered school librarian and former Carnegie Medal judge Tense, terrifying, transformative. The power of this book punched me right in the chest. Read it, share it, shout about it. The world needs this book. -- Kathryn Evans, author of More of Me This book is brilliant and relevant. Hearing the voice of our young people and seeing how they deal with trauma is integral to our understanding of them. The support that Aaliyah gets from Jonah and co is heartening to see. This type of solidarity is important to see and speaks very much to how school children will often come together in times of adversity. -- Sajeda Amir, secondary school teacher in Manchester Unflinchingly honest, heartbreaking, powerful, important, and hopeful. -- Sophie Wills, author of The Orphans of St. Halibut's

Author Information

A. M. Dassu is the internationally acclaimed author of Boy, Everywhere, an ALA Notable Book which was also nominated for the Carnegie Medal and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. She won the We Need Diverse Books mentorship award in 2017 and serves on the Advisory Board of SCBWI-British Isles' Words & Pictures magazine. She is a director at Inclusive Minds, an organization for people who are passionate about inclusion, diversity, equality, and accessibility in children's literature. She lives in the heart of England, and you can find her on Twitter as @a_reflective, on Instagram as @a.m.dassu, or at amdassu.com. Daby Zainab Faidhi is a versatile artist and illustrator acclaimed for her impactful work in animation, illustration, art direction, and painting. Her portfolio features contributions to award-winning film projects, including The Breadwinner, and most recently, co-art directing Merry Little Batman for WarnerBros. Explore her dynamic creations at zainabfaidhi.com.

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