Relatable, funny, and heart-wrenchingly honest, Saving Sunshine is the poignant story of Muslim American siblings learning how to build each other up in a world that is too often unkind.
It’s hard enough being a kid without being teased for a funny sounding name or wearing a hijab.
It’s even harder when you’re constantly fighting your sibling—and Zara and Zeeshan really can’t stand each other. During a family trip to Florida, when the bickering, shoving, and insults reach new heights of chaos, their parents sentence them to the worst possible fate—each other’s company! But when the twins find an ailing turtle, it presents a rare opportunity for teamwork—if the two can put their differences aside at last.
My Review
This is a wonderful story about siblings and family. About finding your place in the world as a child still growing into their own person, with their own passions.
Navigating the world as a Muslim is already hard as it is, and for children to understand that sometimes your actions mean more than your appearances is a real struggle.
I loved the artwork, the story and the message it conveyed. And I hope that many young people get a chance to read Saving Sunshine, as it is a wonderful graphic novel. There is so much representation, and I’m glad I got a chance to read it. My 8-year-old forced me to read it when she got it from the library. She really wanted me to review it too!
