She Wore Red Trainers: A Muslim Love Story

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Soon, their father’s business got into trouble which made them move from a country in south England to London temporarily, and rent out their house till their father’s business picks up again.

I think it makes the story a on-dimensional tale, and makes it simpler than it actually is in reality. After Ali's mother dies unexpectedly and his father's business falters, the family moves from Hertfordshire in the British countryside to a council flat in South London. Until then, she is happy to be a mum to her four children and keep reading and writing books that take her to a different world each time.Robert, was able to highlight in the relationships between Ali and his friends, and Amirah and her friends. When Ali first meets Amirah, he notices everything about her—her hijab, her long eyelashes and her red trainers—in the time it takes to have one look, before lowering his gaze. When sixteen-year-old Amal decides to wear the hijab full-time, her entire world changes, all because of a piece of cloth. After finishing the book, I was wondering about one thing: what if those two people were in another city, other than London, would the story be different? I believe Roberts was able to build up a love story between Amirah and Ali in a realistic manner, within what the characters consider to be “halal limitations.

Amirah feels, ‘If there is one thing I’ve learnt in my short time on earth, it is you don’t have to look, behave or think like everyone else to achieve. Ali, Amirah, and their communities look like they are living on an island away from their surroundings. In this novel, we see Amirah and Ali flying together to Mexico after “getting married in an airport,” to start a new life where Ali could pursue his dream, while Amirah has left all her dreams of studying arts behind. So the challenge that the author faces here is to try and present such a love a story in a context that is challenging for both Amirah and Ali, in which they have to hold on their desires and needs, but at the same time, to create a story that is both appealing and exciting for the reader. This inspirational collection of prayers and reminders is the perfect companion for anyone who wishes to connect to the Divine.Then out of the blue, Amira announces that she's dating someone and might move cross-country with him.

For Amirah and Ali, it is not easy to fall in love while still being loyal to their own values related to spirituality and religion. For me, the best part of the book was not actually the romance between Ali and Amirah; it was rather the little details that the author, Nai’ma B. And, although Ali is still coming to terms with the loss of his mother and exploring his identity as a Muslim, and although Amirah has sworn never to get married, they can’t stop thinking about each other. Her work explores themes of identity, belonging, faith, respect for difference and, ultimately, pride in all that makes each of us unique.

Robert: Na'ima B Robert is descended from Scottish Highlanders on her father's side and the Zulu people on her mother's side. A very timely and topical story about a Muslim girl struggling to balance both cultures while staying true to her family and faith. Na'ima divides her time between London and Cairo, Egypt, and dreams of living on a farm with her own horses. Still grieving, Ali turns to Islam for comfort and guidance; he feels lost and concerned about taking a "gap year" instead of studying law. My thoughts on this book is as follows: I love love it, it’s a totally Islamic and real book, and even though it’s Islamic, it covered various aspects of human life and nature, sins, trials,turning back to Allah and pleasing Him.

And, although Ali is still coming to terms with the loss of his mother and exploring his identity as a Muslim, and although Amirah has sworn never to get married, they can't stop thinking about each other. By observing the daily details of the relationships between Ali and his family, and Amirah and her family, readers are able to dissect their lives and understand how such relationships caused them to take certain decisions. Just be sincere, work hard…’ Through the course of the novel the youngsters, in the tradition of Young Adult fiction, journey to a discovery – in this case, ‘halal’ (or accepted) practices of Islam suit them the most. While the story takes some melodramatic turns, it speaks vividly to conflicts of freedom, temptation, and faith. All in all, I love this book and everyone should definitely read it, non-muslims too… it’s eyeopening and beautiful.

For example, Amirah proves to be one of the best art students in class, and she works with children with special needs to help them through works of art. She Wore Red Trainers was a good easy read, during which we follow part of the lives of two young people falling in love. For me, and looking at different reviews by MMW contributors, I can see that Robert has only version of “good Muslim girls,” and they are the ones that wear hijab, and maintain a high level of physical purity. Why do we see nothing wrong with 13-year-olds having sex — which they do — but have such a problem with the idea of an 18 or 19 year old getting married?