The Disability Book Archive

[ID: A book cover. The title “Love from A to Z” is written in white at the top. “Love”, “A” and “Z” are capitalised. “From” and “to” are written in lowercase cursive. Text at the bottom reads “A novel by S. K. Ali”. “A Novel By” is written in black caps. The author’s name is written in white caps. Below this, in smaller writing, text reads “Author of Saints and Misfits”. “Author of” is written in black caps. The book title is written in white caps. The background is light blue. In the bottom half of the cover, a young man and woman sat on a row of fold out seats. The man has short black hair and is wearing a white t-shirt, blue overshirt, grey jeans and white shoes. A duffel bag is between his feet. The girl is wearing a dark blue hijab, a white long sleeved shirt, beige pants and white and beige sandals. An orange suitcase is to her left. /end]

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Content Warning:

• Islamophobia
• Death
• Death of A Parent
• War
• Medical Content
• Cultural Appropriation

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Summary:

A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together.

An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are.

But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn’t bad. She’s angry.

When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break.

Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her.

Then her path crosses with Adam’s.

Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adam’s stopped going to classes, intent, instead, on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister.

Adam’s also intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father.

Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals.

Until a marvel and an oddity occurs…

Marvel: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

Oddity: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

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Notes:

This is the first book in the Love From A to Z series.

It was nominated for the 2019 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction.

There is an audiobook.

There is an ebook. There is a kindle edition.

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Archivist Comments:

Originally I made a note of how much I loved the way the summary for this one was written. Looking over it again, I still do. I don’t know why but it’s just very pleasing.

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