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Bestest. Ramadan. Ever.
No pizza. No boyfriend. (No life.) Okay, so during Ramadan, we're not allowed to eat from sunrise to sunset. For one whole month. My family does this every year, even though I've been to a mosque exactly twice in my life. And it's true, I could stand to lose a few pounds. (Sadly, my mom's hotness skipped a generation.) But is starvation really an acceptable method? I think not.
Even worse, my oppressive parents forbid me to date. This is just cruel and wrong. Especially since Peter, a cute and crushable artist, might be my soul mate. Figures my bestest friend Lisa likes him, too. To top it off, there's a new Muslim girl in school who struts around in super-short skirts, commanding every boy's attention―including Peter's. How can I get him to notice me? And will I ever figure out how to be Muslim and American?
"A humorous, hip look at the ups and downs of fasting for Ramadan within the context of intergenerational and cultural challenges."―KIRKUS REVIEWS
"I love Almira Abdul―the honest, tell-it-like-it-is, funny, and very real main character of Medeia Sharif's wonderful, eye-opening debut."―Melissa Senate, author of SEE JANE DATE " Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. deftly combines humor and poignancy with an authentic teen voice set against the multicultural background of vibrant Miami and Almira's loving yet strict Muslim family."―Paula Yoo, author of SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS and GOOD ENOUGH "I laughed out loud as Almira struggled to fit in with her traditional family as well as the rest of the world."―Sydney Salter, author of MY BIG NOSE AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS
Even worse, my oppressive parents forbid me to date. This is just cruel and wrong. Especially since Peter, a cute and crushable artist, might be my soul mate. Figures my bestest friend Lisa likes him, too. To top it off, there's a new Muslim girl in school who struts around in super-short skirts, commanding every boy's attention―including Peter's. How can I get him to notice me? And will I ever figure out how to be Muslim and American?
"A humorous, hip look at the ups and downs of fasting for Ramadan within the context of intergenerational and cultural challenges."―KIRKUS REVIEWS
"I love Almira Abdul―the honest, tell-it-like-it-is, funny, and very real main character of Medeia Sharif's wonderful, eye-opening debut."―Melissa Senate, author of SEE JANE DATE " Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. deftly combines humor and poignancy with an authentic teen voice set against the multicultural background of vibrant Miami and Almira's loving yet strict Muslim family."―Paula Yoo, author of SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS and GOOD ENOUGH "I laughed out loud as Almira struggled to fit in with her traditional family as well as the rest of the world."―Sydney Salter, author of MY BIG NOSE AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS
299 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
978 people want to read
About the author
Medeia Sharif
19 books458 followersI was born in New York City and I presently call Miami my home. I received my master’s degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. After becoming a voracious reader in high school and a relentless writer dabbling in many genres in college, I found my niche writing for young people. Today I'm a writer for all age levels published through various presses. In addition to being a writer, I'm a public school teacher. My memberships include Mensa and SCBWI.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
April 13, 2017
0.01 stars.
Hi, I'm going to be swearing a lot, so if you don't want to see the word "fuck" and a bunch of other beautiful language, scroll past this lmao. Also, spoilers ahead and i'll probably be editing this review later on.
I knew this book was so fucking stupid, but I didn't expect it to be this fucking annoying, petty and absolutely fucking ridiculous. This was one of the most cliched, inaccurate, and stupidest fucking books I've ever fucking read in my entire life. It's such a fucking stereotypical book and an absolutely inaccurate view on the holiday of Ramadan and a majority of Muslims living in this book. Honestly, fuck this piece of garbage.
※Lol, the fuck is this garbage cover? It looks like somebody cut out fucking magazine pictures, glued them fucking together on a piece of paper and turned it into a cover for a book that actually somehow fucking got published. It's the most ugliest fucking cover I've ever fucking seen in my entire fucking life. My 10 year old sister can draw up some better fucking cover than this shit.
※Somebody. Tell. Me. What. The. Fuck. Is. This. Fucking. Title. Who the fuck in their right minds would let a book with a title like this fucking get published. What in the name of everything fucking holy, is "Bestest"? That's not even a fucking word. Who the fuck let a five year old come up with the title of this book? What the fuck is wrong with publishers these days, letting five year olds come up with such a fucking horrible title and then letting them draw such hideous fucking covers? Wait, I'm sorry, thats an insult to five year olds. I bet they can come up with better covers and titles. My apologies.
-The writing was so fucking bad, like I'm not even fucking lying when I say bad. The character is a fucking whinefest of losing weight and getting a damn fucking boyfriend because apparently you're a fucking loser if you're fat and boyfriend-less. This bitch wouldn't shut the fuck about her losing weight and winning Peter's love (ew barf). What the fuck is wrong with being fat? This book sends the meaning, that if you're fat, you're ugly and you can never get a boyfriend and you can't have a life. Lmao, what fucking shitty message is that. This entire book is the MC (dont even know her fucking name) whining about her weight and Peter and being a dumb fucking immature cuntbag.
-This book is really fucking stereotypical and inaccurate. The MC's parents are represented as "oppressive parents" and her grandpa is characterized as hateful towards anyone who isn't Muslim. Also, Ramadan isn't about complaining and whining about losing fucking weight. Ramadan isn't about "not having a fucking life." This book sends such an inaccurate message about the holiday of Ramadan and it's just plain fucking offensive to me and other Muslims.
-It's full of fucking cliches, unnessecary drama, bullshit, and did i mention bull fucking shit.
-The romance is fucking cringe worthy and made me want to fucking jump off a cliff. There is 0 fucking chemistry and development and the romance is so badly written. The romance isnt even fucking romance! The MC is a fucking stalkerish bitch who is desperate for Peter's handsomeness. (Barf again). Ugh im srsly going to puke thinking about that shit of a romance.
-Alos it is completely unrealistic how the shit of a dumb fuck MC lost so much weight by the end of Ramadan, like??? you actually GAIN weight instead of losing a shitload of weight????
Overall. FUCK THIS
FUCK THAT.
FUCK THIS BOOK.
I'M FUCKING BURNING THIS GARBAGE TODAY.
Hi, I'm going to be swearing a lot, so if you don't want to see the word "fuck" and a bunch of other beautiful language, scroll past this lmao. Also, spoilers ahead and i'll probably be editing this review later on.
I knew this book was so fucking stupid, but I didn't expect it to be this fucking annoying, petty and absolutely fucking ridiculous. This was one of the most cliched, inaccurate, and stupidest fucking books I've ever fucking read in my entire life. It's such a fucking stereotypical book and an absolutely inaccurate view on the holiday of Ramadan and a majority of Muslims living in this book. Honestly, fuck this piece of garbage.
※Lol, the fuck is this garbage cover? It looks like somebody cut out fucking magazine pictures, glued them fucking together on a piece of paper and turned it into a cover for a book that actually somehow fucking got published. It's the most ugliest fucking cover I've ever fucking seen in my entire fucking life. My 10 year old sister can draw up some better fucking cover than this shit.
※Somebody. Tell. Me. What. The. Fuck. Is. This. Fucking. Title. Who the fuck in their right minds would let a book with a title like this fucking get published. What in the name of everything fucking holy, is "Bestest"? That's not even a fucking word. Who the fuck let a five year old come up with the title of this book? What the fuck is wrong with publishers these days, letting five year olds come up with such a fucking horrible title and then letting them draw such hideous fucking covers? Wait, I'm sorry, thats an insult to five year olds. I bet they can come up with better covers and titles. My apologies.
-The writing was so fucking bad, like I'm not even fucking lying when I say bad. The character is a fucking whinefest of losing weight and getting a damn fucking boyfriend because apparently you're a fucking loser if you're fat and boyfriend-less. This bitch wouldn't shut the fuck about her losing weight and winning Peter's love (ew barf). What the fuck is wrong with being fat? This book sends the meaning, that if you're fat, you're ugly and you can never get a boyfriend and you can't have a life. Lmao, what fucking shitty message is that. This entire book is the MC (dont even know her fucking name) whining about her weight and Peter and being a dumb fucking immature cuntbag.
-This book is really fucking stereotypical and inaccurate. The MC's parents are represented as "oppressive parents" and her grandpa is characterized as hateful towards anyone who isn't Muslim. Also, Ramadan isn't about complaining and whining about losing fucking weight. Ramadan isn't about "not having a fucking life." This book sends such an inaccurate message about the holiday of Ramadan and it's just plain fucking offensive to me and other Muslims.
-It's full of fucking cliches, unnessecary drama, bullshit, and did i mention bull fucking shit.
-The romance is fucking cringe worthy and made me want to fucking jump off a cliff. There is 0 fucking chemistry and development and the romance is so badly written. The romance isnt even fucking romance! The MC is a fucking stalkerish bitch who is desperate for Peter's handsomeness. (Barf again). Ugh im srsly going to puke thinking about that shit of a romance.
-Alos it is completely unrealistic how the shit of a dumb fuck MC lost so much weight by the end of Ramadan, like??? you actually GAIN weight instead of losing a shitload of weight????
Overall. FUCK THIS
FUCK THAT.
FUCK THIS BOOK.
I'M FUCKING BURNING THIS GARBAGE TODAY.
June 10, 2016
-50 Stars.
A failure in every possible way. Would not recommend (unless you're into horrible writing, annoying protagonists, and Muslim stereotypes).
A failure in every possible way. Would not recommend (unless you're into horrible writing, annoying protagonists, and Muslim stereotypes).
August 4, 2013
This is one of the few books that I have ever truly disliked.
The main character I found to be much too whiny, and she labeled herself a Muslim even though the majority of the things she did throughout the book were not so Islamic. I'll admit that some Muslims are like this, but the majority was greatly misrepresented. If you're looking for a good read about Muslims, check out Does My Head Look Big In This it's way better!
The main character I found to be much too whiny, and she labeled herself a Muslim even though the majority of the things she did throughout the book were not so Islamic. I'll admit that some Muslims are like this, but the majority was greatly misrepresented. If you're looking for a good read about Muslims, check out Does My Head Look Big In This it's way better!
April 13, 2016
This is one of those books where you're allowed to judge by the cover.
The cover looks like some idiot slapped together a few stockphotos, added a few pink swirls, and put a title on it. Who in their right mind thinks this a good cover? I understand not having a budget, but really, now? A minimalist pink background with white text would've looked better, kind of like the cover for Perfect.) Also, the font on the inside wasn't that readable. Design team, you get an F all around.
But all right, I said. You shouldn't judge a book by a cover, I said. I tried to give this book a chance, I really did. But it's bad.
**I'm sorry if this review comes off as rude and sarcastic**
Characters:
Almira is the most disgusting, ungrateful, whiny, selfish, judgemental brat I've had to read about in a long time. Her characterization is inconsistent and she alternately speaks like a 5-year-old ( Yum, yum, yummy. ) and an intelligent person. ("With his accent--Asiatic but less choppy than an Indian one--he is one eccentric grandpa.")
She's so creepy and melodramatic when it comes to boys. I think Sharif was going for your average hormonal heterosexual teenage girl, but does Sharif even know what that is?
"When I go to bed at night I leave the television on mute, like an animated night-light, and it's great looking at Eric Bana or Jake Gyllenhaal while I doze off. There's no need for themto speak. Look handsome for me. Thanks." pg.16-17
"Maybe I'll take a picture of Peter with my cell phone so that I can have a new desktop image to adore." pg. 29
"Peter is my cookie chunk. I want to bite into him and have hm for myself."
"I want to cry every minute of every day that I can't have Peter."
If you think this is okay, I'm judging you.
She thinks she understands Peter so much more than everyone else, but she's really just as shallow as everyone else. She spends 80% of the book drooling over his "Greek" body and green eyes tinged with a little brown.
And she justifies it by saying "Maybe everyone's a little shallow...We don't notice someone's brains across a room. We don't place someone's eloquent words into a picture frame."
I. Beg. To. Differ. Sometimes you're in class and someone says something thought-provoking, and then yes, you notice their brains across the room. And there's plenty of inspirational quote prints on Etsy, are you going to tell me the people who buy those don't hang them on their walls? What even.
The love interest, Peter, is also insufferable. He's too perfect. He's an artist, he's gorgeous, he's all deep...yeah, no, I can't see why anyone would want to read about him.
The friends and family weren't that interesting either. Almira's best friend, Lisa, is almost as melodramatic as she is (she starts crying when Peter kisses Almira.) The parents are just meh, and the grandfather is supposed to be like the opposing force in this story but it just didn't feel realistic at all.
Plot/conflict:
Nothing happens in this book. The main character spends the whole time lusting after her friend's crush, Peter, and angsting over what a "bad person" she is for liking someone her best friend likes. Which is such a cliche.
There's a side plot about her issues with her parents and her culture, but it's so underdeveloped and artificial that I didn't care at all.
And what was the point of this book taking place in Ramadan? Just to fill up half the book with "ohmigod I'm so hungry" rants?
At the end of the book, and then she's like, she has to hide it from her parents because they'll never understand. And then the book ends with "I don't know how to break it to them...but I hope that someday, I can tell them everything and they will understand."
DOES MEDEIA SHARIF EVEN KNOW WHAT HER CONFLICT IS CAUSE I DON'T.
Writing:
Crap writing. To be fair, there was ONE quote I liked: "Mornings are like almost clean slates. I say almost clean because the residue of yesterdays is sometimes stuck on them."
But everything else was crap. Medeia Sharif has never heard the expression, "Show, don't tell" or else her editor doesn't know to cut out all the unnecessary words, or both.
For example, the second page has a rant about Almira's body image issues, and she says the same thing like 5 times. Okay, we get it, Almira's chubby.
The dialogue is so bad that the chat conversations sound more natural than the characters' real-life interactions. And Sharif, like many amateur authors, has a bad case of Trying To Avoid the Word Said. Like "Lisa brays." Is she a donkey? Just use the word "says", it won't kill you.
And then there's stupid transitions like the one on page 3 " I push my glasses up my nose and rush to my mom..." Sharif, I know you wanted to establish that she had glasses early on, but that's such an awkward and random way to do it.
And there are awkwardly constructed sentences like " There are grumblings from girls about her." everywhere.
And all the name-dropping brands and celebrities? You know that's just going to make your novel dated, right? And alienate those of your readers who don't keep up with pop culture?
And naming the other Arab character Shakira? There's a million and two other names out there, and..."Shakira"???
Some of the things Almira says about teenageness are clearly Sharif talking down to her audience. "How can a teenager be sultry?"pg. 41
"I'm at the age where everything they (her parents) say or do irks me." pg. 24
NO TEENAGER IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD SAY THOSE THINGS. If you want to appeal to a teen audience, you need to write about teenagers as human beings instead of falling back on their age as a reason for their motivations. It's lazy writing.
I think Sharif needs her teaching license revoked, for real.
Portrayal of Muslims and POC:
This book is so full of stereotypes. It sickens me. Us Muslims, we already have enough negativity surrounding our public image, and we don't need our own authors to perpetuate misinformed ideas.
Examples:
*Almira's grandfather insults people by calling them "infidel." Was this really necessary, Sharif? There's already a stereotype that Muslims go around chopping off people's heads off for being "infidels."
Side note: I went to 12 years of Islamic school and I have never once heard someone use the word "infidel" in a serious context.
Later in the book Almira says her grandfather was "about to stone Mom" when her Mom and grandpa had a fight over the way her Mom dresses. Again, I don't know why Sharif felt the need to invoke incorrect representations of Muslims (that we "stone" people who don't follow Sharia Law), but she did.
*Negative portrayal of hijabis.
Almira mocks the hijab on page 5. She says " So basically she(Almira's grandma)'s telling God 'Love me because I'm covering my head in one-hundred-degree weather'.
Okay, so Almira thinks hijab is kind of silly. That's her personal opinion. I could've let the first comment slide if it weren't for other comments, like:
"with her head covered she looks like an immigrant fresh off of an airplane" pg.65
Thank you, Sharif. It's really appropriate to perpetuate the idea that hijabi = foreign. I mean, it's not like hijabi women don't already face awful stereotypes everyday. Let's turn around and create division within the Muslim community, too! Yay for judgementalness!
*Mixing up "Arab" and "Muslim."
A lot of non-Muslims associate these two terms. However, not all Arabs are Muslim and not all Muslims are Arab. This book could've been a chance to correct that misconception. But no.
"Older-generation Muslim women don't seem to know how to drive, Grandma included. I'm so happy that Mom knows how to drive, as if ti's something, a badge of honor. Women in Saudi Arabia aren't allowed to drive. That sucks. I'm glad I don't live there pg. 5
First of all, where the hell are you living that Muslim women don't know how to drive? I have a friend whose family is so conservative that they force everyone to get engaged by the age of 18 and don't let women work, but everyone still drives because how else are they going to shop for groceries and visit people and drive their kids to school?
But ok, I recognize that Almira's experience with Islam is not the same as my own. And then Sharif goes and puts Saudi Arabia in there. Like WHAT? That's not even relevant, they're not even Saudi.
And then there's ridiculous descriptions like " the old country seeping out of his voice." Like Almira couldn't analyze what her grandpa is saying by his religious or moral beliefs, nope, it's just "the old country." Seeping out of his voice.
*Internalized racism and Islamophobia
Sharif has no inclination to portray Islam as a good thing. Throughout the entire novel, Almira keeps wanting "freedom" from Islam. She keeps wanting to be a "normal" American. I kept thinking Almira was going to be proud of her culture at the end of the novel, but nope.
Almira's grandfather comes down on Almira and her mom for their "American values" by which Almira means the fact that they dress in a typically Western way and are more lax about religion.
*sigh*
A certain lifestyle is not an "American value." American values are perseverance, loyalty, tolerance. Acceptance of other cultures and religions. There are a thousand and one ways to be American and to portray only one way of livings as the "right" way is harmful and unacceptable.
Not only does Sharif portray Muslims poorly, but she also manages to fat shame, make light of mental illness, and constantly refer to Almira's Latina friend as a "chonga."
I can't even go into that. This review is too long already. I'm sure other people have elaborated on those issues greatly.
Blech. I can't even believe this got published.If you ever find this book in your possession, this is what you need to use it for.
The cover looks like some idiot slapped together a few stockphotos, added a few pink swirls, and put a title on it. Who in their right mind thinks this a good cover? I understand not having a budget, but really, now? A minimalist pink background with white text would've looked better, kind of like the cover for Perfect.) Also, the font on the inside wasn't that readable. Design team, you get an F all around.
But all right, I said. You shouldn't judge a book by a cover, I said. I tried to give this book a chance, I really did. But it's bad.
**I'm sorry if this review comes off as rude and sarcastic**
Characters:
Almira is the most disgusting, ungrateful, whiny, selfish, judgemental brat I've had to read about in a long time. Her characterization is inconsistent and she alternately speaks like a 5-year-old ( Yum, yum, yummy. ) and an intelligent person. ("With his accent--Asiatic but less choppy than an Indian one--he is one eccentric grandpa.")
She's so creepy and melodramatic when it comes to boys. I think Sharif was going for your average hormonal heterosexual teenage girl, but does Sharif even know what that is?
"When I go to bed at night I leave the television on mute, like an animated night-light, and it's great looking at Eric Bana or Jake Gyllenhaal while I doze off. There's no need for themto speak. Look handsome for me. Thanks." pg.16-17
"Maybe I'll take a picture of Peter with my cell phone so that I can have a new desktop image to adore." pg. 29
"Peter is my cookie chunk. I want to bite into him and have hm for myself."
"I want to cry every minute of every day that I can't have Peter."
If you think this is okay, I'm judging you.
She thinks she understands Peter so much more than everyone else, but she's really just as shallow as everyone else. She spends 80% of the book drooling over his "Greek" body and green eyes tinged with a little brown.
And she justifies it by saying "Maybe everyone's a little shallow...We don't notice someone's brains across a room. We don't place someone's eloquent words into a picture frame."
I. Beg. To. Differ. Sometimes you're in class and someone says something thought-provoking, and then yes, you notice their brains across the room. And there's plenty of inspirational quote prints on Etsy, are you going to tell me the people who buy those don't hang them on their walls? What even.
The love interest, Peter, is also insufferable. He's too perfect. He's an artist, he's gorgeous, he's all deep...yeah, no, I can't see why anyone would want to read about him.
The friends and family weren't that interesting either. Almira's best friend, Lisa, is almost as melodramatic as she is (she starts crying when Peter kisses Almira.) The parents are just meh, and the grandfather is supposed to be like the opposing force in this story but it just didn't feel realistic at all.
Plot/conflict:
Nothing happens in this book. The main character spends the whole time lusting after her friend's crush, Peter, and angsting over what a "bad person" she is for liking someone her best friend likes. Which is such a cliche.
There's a side plot about her issues with her parents and her culture, but it's so underdeveloped and artificial that I didn't care at all.
And what was the point of this book taking place in Ramadan? Just to fill up half the book with "ohmigod I'm so hungry" rants?
At the end of the book, and then she's like, she has to hide it from her parents because they'll never understand. And then the book ends with "I don't know how to break it to them...but I hope that someday, I can tell them everything and they will understand."
DOES MEDEIA SHARIF EVEN KNOW WHAT HER CONFLICT IS CAUSE I DON'T.
Writing:
Crap writing. To be fair, there was ONE quote I liked: "Mornings are like almost clean slates. I say almost clean because the residue of yesterdays is sometimes stuck on them."
But everything else was crap. Medeia Sharif has never heard the expression, "Show, don't tell" or else her editor doesn't know to cut out all the unnecessary words, or both.
For example, the second page has a rant about Almira's body image issues, and she says the same thing like 5 times. Okay, we get it, Almira's chubby.
The dialogue is so bad that the chat conversations sound more natural than the characters' real-life interactions. And Sharif, like many amateur authors, has a bad case of Trying To Avoid the Word Said. Like "Lisa brays." Is she a donkey? Just use the word "says", it won't kill you.
And then there's stupid transitions like the one on page 3 " I push my glasses up my nose and rush to my mom..." Sharif, I know you wanted to establish that she had glasses early on, but that's such an awkward and random way to do it.
And there are awkwardly constructed sentences like " There are grumblings from girls about her." everywhere.
And all the name-dropping brands and celebrities? You know that's just going to make your novel dated, right? And alienate those of your readers who don't keep up with pop culture?
And naming the other Arab character Shakira? There's a million and two other names out there, and..."Shakira"???
Some of the things Almira says about teenageness are clearly Sharif talking down to her audience. "How can a teenager be sultry?"pg. 41
"I'm at the age where everything they (her parents) say or do irks me." pg. 24
NO TEENAGER IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD SAY THOSE THINGS. If you want to appeal to a teen audience, you need to write about teenagers as human beings instead of falling back on their age as a reason for their motivations. It's lazy writing.
I think Sharif needs her teaching license revoked, for real.
Portrayal of Muslims and POC:
This book is so full of stereotypes. It sickens me. Us Muslims, we already have enough negativity surrounding our public image, and we don't need our own authors to perpetuate misinformed ideas.
Examples:
*Almira's grandfather insults people by calling them "infidel." Was this really necessary, Sharif? There's already a stereotype that Muslims go around chopping off people's heads off for being "infidels."
Side note: I went to 12 years of Islamic school and I have never once heard someone use the word "infidel" in a serious context.
Later in the book Almira says her grandfather was "about to stone Mom" when her Mom and grandpa had a fight over the way her Mom dresses. Again, I don't know why Sharif felt the need to invoke incorrect representations of Muslims (that we "stone" people who don't follow Sharia Law), but she did.
*Negative portrayal of hijabis.
Almira mocks the hijab on page 5. She says " So basically she(Almira's grandma)'s telling God 'Love me because I'm covering my head in one-hundred-degree weather'.
Okay, so Almira thinks hijab is kind of silly. That's her personal opinion. I could've let the first comment slide if it weren't for other comments, like:
"with her head covered she looks like an immigrant fresh off of an airplane" pg.65
Thank you, Sharif. It's really appropriate to perpetuate the idea that hijabi = foreign. I mean, it's not like hijabi women don't already face awful stereotypes everyday. Let's turn around and create division within the Muslim community, too! Yay for judgementalness!
*Mixing up "Arab" and "Muslim."
A lot of non-Muslims associate these two terms. However, not all Arabs are Muslim and not all Muslims are Arab. This book could've been a chance to correct that misconception. But no.
"Older-generation Muslim women don't seem to know how to drive, Grandma included. I'm so happy that Mom knows how to drive, as if ti's something, a badge of honor. Women in Saudi Arabia aren't allowed to drive. That sucks. I'm glad I don't live there pg. 5
First of all, where the hell are you living that Muslim women don't know how to drive? I have a friend whose family is so conservative that they force everyone to get engaged by the age of 18 and don't let women work, but everyone still drives because how else are they going to shop for groceries and visit people and drive their kids to school?
But ok, I recognize that Almira's experience with Islam is not the same as my own. And then Sharif goes and puts Saudi Arabia in there. Like WHAT? That's not even relevant, they're not even Saudi.
And then there's ridiculous descriptions like " the old country seeping out of his voice." Like Almira couldn't analyze what her grandpa is saying by his religious or moral beliefs, nope, it's just "the old country." Seeping out of his voice.
*Internalized racism and Islamophobia
Sharif has no inclination to portray Islam as a good thing. Throughout the entire novel, Almira keeps wanting "freedom" from Islam. She keeps wanting to be a "normal" American. I kept thinking Almira was going to be proud of her culture at the end of the novel, but nope.
Almira's grandfather comes down on Almira and her mom for their "American values" by which Almira means the fact that they dress in a typically Western way and are more lax about religion.
*sigh*
A certain lifestyle is not an "American value." American values are perseverance, loyalty, tolerance. Acceptance of other cultures and religions. There are a thousand and one ways to be American and to portray only one way of livings as the "right" way is harmful and unacceptable.
Not only does Sharif portray Muslims poorly, but she also manages to fat shame, make light of mental illness, and constantly refer to Almira's Latina friend as a "chonga."
I can't even go into that. This review is too long already. I'm sure other people have elaborated on those issues greatly.
Blech. I can't even believe this got published.If you ever find this book in your possession, this is what you need to use it for.
May 15, 2012
The idea for this book was good; a YA story with a Muslim protagonist and Ramadan in America. The execution left to hope for.
The protagonist, 15-years old Almira thinks she is the only Muslim in her school. Last years he tried Ramadan but cheated (by eating before sunset) and got caught. This year she wants to do better. Almira is incredibly shallow, and fasting does not make her spiritual at all. She whines about her size 8 rolling tummy fat and how she's addected to chocolate, and in less than two weeks she manages to lose an amazing amount of weight by just daytime fasting (in comparison, most practicing Muslims I know actually gain weight during Ramadan, since after sunset it's time to feast). She obsesses about a boy, loses a shallow friend (the irony of her calling anyone shallow), and befriends an interesting new Muslim girl in her school.
The protagonist, 15-years old Almira thinks she is the only Muslim in her school. Last years he tried Ramadan but cheated (by eating before sunset) and got caught. This year she wants to do better. Almira is incredibly shallow, and fasting does not make her spiritual at all. She whines about her size 8 rolling tummy fat and how she's addected to chocolate, and in less than two weeks she manages to lose an amazing amount of weight by just daytime fasting (in comparison, most practicing Muslims I know actually gain weight during Ramadan, since after sunset it's time to feast). She obsesses about a boy, loses a shallow friend (the irony of her calling anyone shallow), and befriends an interesting new Muslim girl in her school.
May 11, 2017
In light of Ramadan, it seemed fitting to finally pick up Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. With the pink swirls on the cover, the depiction of a guy and a girl together with that pastel-creamed cupcake, I expected a feel-good kind of book. What I did not expect was a load of fluff to boot. Perhaps the title should have tipped me off. I mean, "bestest"! Really? When I first saw this book at the library a few months ago, I didn't pick it up precisely because of that. I should have left this book on the shelf. Yet, I am often drawn to seasonally fitting books, so I read it anyway, telling myself I needed a light read after delving into more science fiction of late than I usually do.
I have not come across many YA books specifically written about multiculturalism, so Medeia Sharif evidently contributed to filling that void. Almira's life is a balancing act, bordering on a double life, as she tries to come to terms with her Middle Eastern roots whilst in America. Her struggle is a very real one because Muslims are a lot more conservative than Americans in general.
It's only natural then that Almira should be pining after a boyfriend, even though she knows that if she does date someone, she will have to keep it secret from her family because her parents do not permit her to date anyone. At the same time, being raised in America, "the land of freedom", means that her family is more liberal than if they would have stayed in the Middle East. Almira is not expected to wear a hijab (headscarf) or cover her arms to her wrists and her legs to her ankles. She dresses and talks like her peers, many of whom were Hispanic. In that aspect, I appreciated what this book attempted to address: the difficulties of staying true to one's ethnic roots and culture while living in a different one.
Sadly, I have more gripes than praises. Almira is a straight-A student and her teachers agree that she is extremely intelligent. I didn't see that. Sure, she was smarter than her best friend, Lisa, who couldn't even remember(!) who wrote "The Diary of Anne Frank" which isn't a work of fiction. Lisa chose it for a book report, and it seemed that she had already read it previously, so she must've been pretty dumb for someone in an honours class. This means that it didn't take much for Almira to be smarter than Lisa.
Despite her supposed intelligence, she was incredibly shallow. She spent the most part obsessing over Peter and worrying about Lisa chasing him too. Then there was Shakira, the new girl. Almira of all people should have known that there is more to someone than her clothes. After all, her own grandfather referred to most women wearing non-conservative clothing "prostitutes" because he thought wearing mini skirts was a sign of corrupt morality. Still, she dismissed Shakira immediately and didn't even bother talking to her until circumstances led them to each other.
What bothered me the most was that I expected to read about Almira's experience of Ramadan. Ramadan however is about more than not eating between sunrise and sundown. It is about strengthening faith and a spiritual exercise. For the most part, Almira was fixated on the abstinence from food. Understandable, seeing how this was the first time she seriously took part in fasting. Beyond that though, there was little mention of her own faith. I didn't expect soul-searching at that point but I did think it would've been important to explore why she so badly wanted to take part in Ramadan.
She had only been to the mosque twice in her life and neither did she have any Muslim friends, so there was no real social pressure besides her parents and grandparents. If their opinions truly did matter that much, then it's strange that her first full fast only came at the age of 15. Instead, I got the sense that she stuck it out because she realized she could lose weight that way, and also for pride to prove her grandfather wrong because he believed she couldn't do it. There were brief mentions on how Muslims need to be fully covered when praying and that technically they should pray five times a day, even if Almira didn't adhere to the prayer times at all.
Readers who wish to find out more about Islam might want to look elsewhere. One stark example for me that misrepresented valid Muslim practice was the mention of nail polish and the stance towards it. Almira was annoyed about the ignorance of another girl who once was astonished that her parents allowed her to wear nail polish. She claimed that Muslims can be fashionable too. That is true. Muslims can be fashionable but the ignorant one was Almira. Pity. Normal nail polish may technically be worn but most be removed completely for prayers because otherwise ablution is not valid. Nail polish is impermeable to water, so nails cannot be cleansed properly for prayers when nail polish worn.
Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. didn't live up to my expectations. I was disappointed because Ramadan was belittled through the eyes of the main character. Sure, she did not have a strict upbringing, even though it was stricter than that of her friends. Yet, there was no extensive Islamic influence in her life either to be representative of a Muslim growing up in America, trying to practice her faith while in a country that is exceedingly more liberal than her religion allows.
At the end of it I did not think that the question of how to be Muslim and American was answered.
This review first appeared on Word Revel.
I have not come across many YA books specifically written about multiculturalism, so Medeia Sharif evidently contributed to filling that void. Almira's life is a balancing act, bordering on a double life, as she tries to come to terms with her Middle Eastern roots whilst in America. Her struggle is a very real one because Muslims are a lot more conservative than Americans in general.
It's only natural then that Almira should be pining after a boyfriend, even though she knows that if she does date someone, she will have to keep it secret from her family because her parents do not permit her to date anyone. At the same time, being raised in America, "the land of freedom", means that her family is more liberal than if they would have stayed in the Middle East. Almira is not expected to wear a hijab (headscarf) or cover her arms to her wrists and her legs to her ankles. She dresses and talks like her peers, many of whom were Hispanic. In that aspect, I appreciated what this book attempted to address: the difficulties of staying true to one's ethnic roots and culture while living in a different one.
Sadly, I have more gripes than praises. Almira is a straight-A student and her teachers agree that she is extremely intelligent. I didn't see that. Sure, she was smarter than her best friend, Lisa, who couldn't even remember(!) who wrote "The Diary of Anne Frank" which isn't a work of fiction. Lisa chose it for a book report, and it seemed that she had already read it previously, so she must've been pretty dumb for someone in an honours class. This means that it didn't take much for Almira to be smarter than Lisa.
Despite her supposed intelligence, she was incredibly shallow. She spent the most part obsessing over Peter and worrying about Lisa chasing him too. Then there was Shakira, the new girl. Almira of all people should have known that there is more to someone than her clothes. After all, her own grandfather referred to most women wearing non-conservative clothing "prostitutes" because he thought wearing mini skirts was a sign of corrupt morality. Still, she dismissed Shakira immediately and didn't even bother talking to her until circumstances led them to each other.
What bothered me the most was that I expected to read about Almira's experience of Ramadan. Ramadan however is about more than not eating between sunrise and sundown. It is about strengthening faith and a spiritual exercise. For the most part, Almira was fixated on the abstinence from food. Understandable, seeing how this was the first time she seriously took part in fasting. Beyond that though, there was little mention of her own faith. I didn't expect soul-searching at that point but I did think it would've been important to explore why she so badly wanted to take part in Ramadan.
She had only been to the mosque twice in her life and neither did she have any Muslim friends, so there was no real social pressure besides her parents and grandparents. If their opinions truly did matter that much, then it's strange that her first full fast only came at the age of 15. Instead, I got the sense that she stuck it out because she realized she could lose weight that way, and also for pride to prove her grandfather wrong because he believed she couldn't do it. There were brief mentions on how Muslims need to be fully covered when praying and that technically they should pray five times a day, even if Almira didn't adhere to the prayer times at all.
Readers who wish to find out more about Islam might want to look elsewhere. One stark example for me that misrepresented valid Muslim practice was the mention of nail polish and the stance towards it. Almira was annoyed about the ignorance of another girl who once was astonished that her parents allowed her to wear nail polish. She claimed that Muslims can be fashionable too. That is true. Muslims can be fashionable but the ignorant one was Almira. Pity. Normal nail polish may technically be worn but most be removed completely for prayers because otherwise ablution is not valid. Nail polish is impermeable to water, so nails cannot be cleansed properly for prayers when nail polish worn.
Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. didn't live up to my expectations. I was disappointed because Ramadan was belittled through the eyes of the main character. Sure, she did not have a strict upbringing, even though it was stricter than that of her friends. Yet, there was no extensive Islamic influence in her life either to be representative of a Muslim growing up in America, trying to practice her faith while in a country that is exceedingly more liberal than her religion allows.
At the end of it I did not think that the question of how to be Muslim and American was answered.
This review first appeared on Word Revel.
September 6, 2012
This book was so predictable and cliche. The main character complains way too much, and she says her life sucks because she's not allowed to have a boyfriend or eat. I understand the hardship of fasting, but you do NOT need a boyfriend to be happy or have a life! The characters were so simple-minded and you just can't connect with them.
February 16, 2013
I finished this book last night. I thought it was a really entertaining read, and yet at times I was just mildly disgruntled by main character Almira's self-centred behaviour...and also the awkward moments relating to her stalking of Peter because they reminded me a little bit of myself in high school. haha. I saw another review where someone mentioned thinking the author had tried too hard to make her character teen-like. But I did recognise my own high school behaviour in quite a few of the scenes featuring Almira. Of course, I never would have gone after a guy my friends liked, but I did occasionally stalk boys I liked (though I did this with my friends in tow, never on my own. haha). I think the two scenes that struck the most horror into me though were those in which Almira 1) steals Peter's bookbag and 2) rips his drawing out of his art pad. Oh my god! Those were truly blasphemous moments and things I never would have done, particularly as an art student myself who understands the importance of one's own artwork.
Almira did have a reason for stealing the picture - it was a picture of Lisa, her best friend who she had mildly backstabbed, by the boy that both of them are in love with. So when I finally figured out she had at least some reason to steal it, I forgave her...a tiny bit. Still, the moment when she took the picture was one that made my jaw drop and me exclaim in dismay that she could do such a thing.
I think my favourite part of this story was Almira interacting with her family. They were entertaining, and I think I was especially amused by the grandfather how he would knock something over with his car every time he visited - almost like it was a ritual. I enjoyed his dialogue even though he's definitely not my kind of bloke when it comes to expectations he has of women. But I understand that it's cultural and I found him an entertaining character anyway.
I wasn't sure about the way the story ended, as it almost seemed like a non-conclusion. In a way I guess there wasn't any other way I could have seen it ending, but it did seem to almost peter away. I was proud of Almira for managing to get through Ramadan, and yet I was a bit unsure that the message that "I got through Ramadan and now I'm skinny - I rock!" was the one I was hoping for. I think Almira did see the other side of it - committing to something and seeing it through, and coming to appreciate her family more. But I wonder if she was mostly excited that she'd managed to get skinny and get herself a boyfriend, because of Ramadan.
Almira's a funny narrator and I think even by the end she's quite clueless in a way, but I guess that's part of what makes her entertaining.
Anyway, those are just some thoughts. All in all I'll say I was really entertained by Medeia Sharif's writing, even if sometimes I felt quite a bit of distaste for particular decisions Almira made.
Almira did have a reason for stealing the picture - it was a picture of Lisa, her best friend who she had mildly backstabbed, by the boy that both of them are in love with. So when I finally figured out she had at least some reason to steal it, I forgave her...a tiny bit. Still, the moment when she took the picture was one that made my jaw drop and me exclaim in dismay that she could do such a thing.
I think my favourite part of this story was Almira interacting with her family. They were entertaining, and I think I was especially amused by the grandfather how he would knock something over with his car every time he visited - almost like it was a ritual. I enjoyed his dialogue even though he's definitely not my kind of bloke when it comes to expectations he has of women. But I understand that it's cultural and I found him an entertaining character anyway.
I wasn't sure about the way the story ended, as it almost seemed like a non-conclusion. In a way I guess there wasn't any other way I could have seen it ending, but it did seem to almost peter away. I was proud of Almira for managing to get through Ramadan, and yet I was a bit unsure that the message that "I got through Ramadan and now I'm skinny - I rock!" was the one I was hoping for. I think Almira did see the other side of it - committing to something and seeing it through, and coming to appreciate her family more. But I wonder if she was mostly excited that she'd managed to get skinny and get herself a boyfriend, because of Ramadan.
Almira's a funny narrator and I think even by the end she's quite clueless in a way, but I guess that's part of what makes her entertaining.
Anyway, those are just some thoughts. All in all I'll say I was really entertained by Medeia Sharif's writing, even if sometimes I felt quite a bit of distaste for particular decisions Almira made.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2017
With a bit of tweaking, this book could totally be my life story. I'm so glad I got a chance to read it, and during Ramadan too!
June 3, 2013
What a disappointing YA book. The plot is not original..it may even be nonexistent. The book lacks characterization..and not just when it comes to the main character. As for the main character, she is passive and shallow. The only part of this book I enjoyed was the irony in the main character calling someone else shallow.
June 19, 2013
If there was a zero star for the rating that's what I'd give it. Totally wrong and sending out bad signals of Muslims. A disgrace to all Muslims and Islam in general. Revolting to see how an author can change such a beautiful topic, ramadan and turn it into a joke. A pitiful book.to be a Muslim you have to embrace it this book had fake shallow characters.
August 13, 2011
Almira Abdul is trying her best to honor Ramadan, an entire month where she is not allowed to eat from sunrise to sunset. While her family is not overly religious, she has only been to a mosque twice, she feels that it's a good challenge for her. And she thinks she can stand to lose a couple pounds. What happens though is more than just food temptation! Her crush Peter starts noticing her at the same time her best friend starts noticing him! And while her traditional grandfather is teaching her to drive, he's also showing her how things would be if they weren't living in America.
Almira is a hilarious character. Her voice is unique and her inner dialogue charming. A few times I laughed out loud to the reference to her love of chocolate or her great infatuation of Rob Pattinson (and therefore her hatred of Kristen Stewart.)
Pop references aside, this is no light book. Almira is suffering from what many minority teenagers have difficulty with- how to blend in with the American culture while still holding onto her family's beliefs. It's not just about Ramadan. Her grandfather is a strong and aggressive character, representing the old ways. Her mother and father are somewhere in between.
Almira's friends are a diverse bunch of characters. Each has their own distinct personality and culture too. The conversations between Almira and her friends over AIM are hilarious. And let's not even get started on the new, bomb shell of a girl that just started their school...
Sharif does a fantastic job navigating these touchy waters. Almira's voice is touching, desperate and loving. She is torn, observant and just doing the best she can. When there's drama at the end of the novel, Almira's sadness and panic came through brilliantly. This really feels like a high school teenager's account of her one month during Ramadan.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know what to expect from the back synopsis, but it's an adventure I'm glad I didn't miss. Kudos to Sharif whose story made me sit down in a quiet corner, with no distractions, and quietly ate up Almira's journey. To be honest, I wouldn't have normally picked this book up, let alone read it! (Or seek it out for that matter. I went to three borders and two Barnes and Nobles with no luck. I had to buy it on amazon.) But it's well worth it!
Almira is a hilarious character. Her voice is unique and her inner dialogue charming. A few times I laughed out loud to the reference to her love of chocolate or her great infatuation of Rob Pattinson (and therefore her hatred of Kristen Stewart.)
Pop references aside, this is no light book. Almira is suffering from what many minority teenagers have difficulty with- how to blend in with the American culture while still holding onto her family's beliefs. It's not just about Ramadan. Her grandfather is a strong and aggressive character, representing the old ways. Her mother and father are somewhere in between.
Almira's friends are a diverse bunch of characters. Each has their own distinct personality and culture too. The conversations between Almira and her friends over AIM are hilarious. And let's not even get started on the new, bomb shell of a girl that just started their school...
Sharif does a fantastic job navigating these touchy waters. Almira's voice is touching, desperate and loving. She is torn, observant and just doing the best she can. When there's drama at the end of the novel, Almira's sadness and panic came through brilliantly. This really feels like a high school teenager's account of her one month during Ramadan.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know what to expect from the back synopsis, but it's an adventure I'm glad I didn't miss. Kudos to Sharif whose story made me sit down in a quiet corner, with no distractions, and quietly ate up Almira's journey. To be honest, I wouldn't have normally picked this book up, let alone read it! (Or seek it out for that matter. I went to three borders and two Barnes and Nobles with no luck. I had to buy it on amazon.) But it's well worth it!
August 13, 2011
Bestest. Ramadan. Ever by Medeia Sharif follows Almira a Muslim girl who is trying to have her first successful Ramadan fast. The members of Almira's family differ in how devout they are from her grandfather disapproving of anything American to Almira herself who appreciates her heritage but also wants to be able to have a boyfriend and wear makeup. The story follows Almira through her month of Ramadan while she tries to balance her families traditions with the American lifestyle that her friends have.
This is a cute and funny book about an immigrant trying to make sense out of the complex world that she lives in. Trying to figure out how to be Muslim enough for her parents but American enough for herself. The book doesn't do a great job at showing readers what it's like to be an Islamic teenager. Islam and her families culture is seen more as a burden and the reader isn't given many positive aspects of the religion to balance out the negatives. However, I loved Almira and was engrossed in her story and finished the book quickly. The author did a fantastic job at creating characters that the reader cares about and there are lots of funny moments in the book (like the comments that her English teachers writes on her daily journal entries).
Appropriateness: There is not any adult content in this book. This is a light hearted fun contemporary novel that will be enjoyed by readers 11+
This is a cute and funny book about an immigrant trying to make sense out of the complex world that she lives in. Trying to figure out how to be Muslim enough for her parents but American enough for herself. The book doesn't do a great job at showing readers what it's like to be an Islamic teenager. Islam and her families culture is seen more as a burden and the reader isn't given many positive aspects of the religion to balance out the negatives. However, I loved Almira and was engrossed in her story and finished the book quickly. The author did a fantastic job at creating characters that the reader cares about and there are lots of funny moments in the book (like the comments that her English teachers writes on her daily journal entries).
Appropriateness: There is not any adult content in this book. This is a light hearted fun contemporary novel that will be enjoyed by readers 11+
June 4, 2019
Ugh!!!! During the holly and great month of Ramadna we; Muslims, don't put makeup, don't cheat during the days of the fast. We also don't wear short skirts and try to attract boys' attention because our religion is against this!
As a Muslim girl, I found this book really stupid! but comme one dear author! you know that being kissed by a stranger is completely forbidden, dating is Haram and the whole book isn't helping people with different religions; religions that we really respect, to have a good picture on how a Muslim girl could live in America or any other country! I, personally know a lot of Syrians and other Arabs who live in different European countries and they really respect our religion. Almira's grandpa was described as an old, dramatic, rude man with a "big mouth", as she and her mom think about him, just because he knows what's okay and what's not in the Religion and wants from his son and daughter-in-law to keep the values of Islam.
I wear a viel but I'm not living in darkness as a vampire or as a slave, I have my freedom and I can't imagine myself abusing it! I don't date and I don't feel that I'm different or un-complete! When I read the title, I thought that it's going to tell me about a girl who lives in America and have friends with different religions, yet this difference won't be an issue, they would help her to make that Ramadan the bestest ever! UGH!! I'm not a writer to creat a new plot but I found this book a great dissapointement!
As a Muslim girl, I found this book really stupid! but comme one dear author! you know that being kissed by a stranger is completely forbidden, dating is Haram and the whole book isn't helping people with different religions; religions that we really respect, to have a good picture on how a Muslim girl could live in America or any other country! I, personally know a lot of Syrians and other Arabs who live in different European countries and they really respect our religion. Almira's grandpa was described as an old, dramatic, rude man with a "big mouth", as she and her mom think about him, just because he knows what's okay and what's not in the Religion and wants from his son and daughter-in-law to keep the values of Islam.
I wear a viel but I'm not living in darkness as a vampire or as a slave, I have my freedom and I can't imagine myself abusing it! I don't date and I don't feel that I'm different or un-complete! When I read the title, I thought that it's going to tell me about a girl who lives in America and have friends with different religions, yet this difference won't be an issue, they would help her to make that Ramadan the bestest ever! UGH!! I'm not a writer to creat a new plot but I found this book a great dissapointement!
February 22, 2015
Skim-read.
Even though this was written in 2011 and features a sophomore in high school, it reads more like a junior high book written in the 80s or 90s, with weird "contemporary" references mixed in. I put "contemporary" in quotes because it is difficult for me to imagine any teen idolizing Angelina Jolie, Amy Winehouse, Shakira or Orlando Bloom, even in 2011 (and Amy died in 2011, probably just as the book was being published, RIP). This feels like Out of Touch Adult Author Writing for Teens Syndrome, which is weird, because the author is apparently a high school teacher in Florida. Maybe I'm wrong and Floridian kids were really into those celebrities in 2011? In any case, in 2015, those references feel very dated, which hurts the book a lot since it aims to be hip and current. I'm generally not a fan of books that drop fashion and celebrity names because they are pretty painful to read, even just a few years later. The author also has Almira think things like (something to the effect of) "Lately I feel like every boy is hot. It must be because of all the hormones. I am a teen at the stage of having hormones." It wasn't quite as awkward as that, but there were some spots of writing which seemed very adult-writing-about teens.
But on top of that, the style and plot of the writing feels very middle school. Yes, Almira is a bit sheltered, but it's the writing and plot themselves that seem very junior high. The plot is simplistic like a middle school fantasy is: chubby not that popular Almira ends the book slender, more popular and with a cute boyfriend - who of course is the impossible target of her desires.
I loathed the way that Almira talked about her body from the beginning, and bodies in general. She also focuses on cosmetics, clothes, handbags, hair, and having a perfect smile (her dad is a dentist). The book is set in Miami, so I suppose the culture there is very body-conscious and, to my values, superficial. Almira never challenges those values. She accepts them and then feels like a winner because she manages to fit herself into those guidelines.
There is also the issue that Almira "gets skinny" because of the fasting during Ramadan. So - the message is to readers: starve yourself during the day? There are two tiny paragraphs towards the end of the book when Almira reflects about "what Ramadan teaches" (patience, humbleness, compassion for the starving people in the world, willpower, reverence for Allah, sacrifice) but these lessons feel shoehorned in. Most of the book Almira on reflects on Ramadan as both a great diet plan and an inconvenience.
If I found Almira to be rather shallow, the rest of the characters were paper thin. Her parents, her friends, the cute boy - very 1980s YA. The only interesting character to me was new student Shakira, who was two and a half dimensional, at least.
I really wanted to like this book!
Even though this was written in 2011 and features a sophomore in high school, it reads more like a junior high book written in the 80s or 90s, with weird "contemporary" references mixed in. I put "contemporary" in quotes because it is difficult for me to imagine any teen idolizing Angelina Jolie, Amy Winehouse, Shakira or Orlando Bloom, even in 2011 (and Amy died in 2011, probably just as the book was being published, RIP). This feels like Out of Touch Adult Author Writing for Teens Syndrome, which is weird, because the author is apparently a high school teacher in Florida. Maybe I'm wrong and Floridian kids were really into those celebrities in 2011? In any case, in 2015, those references feel very dated, which hurts the book a lot since it aims to be hip and current. I'm generally not a fan of books that drop fashion and celebrity names because they are pretty painful to read, even just a few years later. The author also has Almira think things like (something to the effect of) "Lately I feel like every boy is hot. It must be because of all the hormones. I am a teen at the stage of having hormones." It wasn't quite as awkward as that, but there were some spots of writing which seemed very adult-writing-about teens.
But on top of that, the style and plot of the writing feels very middle school. Yes, Almira is a bit sheltered, but it's the writing and plot themselves that seem very junior high. The plot is simplistic like a middle school fantasy is: chubby not that popular Almira ends the book slender, more popular and with a cute boyfriend - who of course is the impossible target of her desires.
I loathed the way that Almira talked about her body from the beginning, and bodies in general. She also focuses on cosmetics, clothes, handbags, hair, and having a perfect smile (her dad is a dentist). The book is set in Miami, so I suppose the culture there is very body-conscious and, to my values, superficial. Almira never challenges those values. She accepts them and then feels like a winner because she manages to fit herself into those guidelines.
There is also the issue that Almira "gets skinny" because of the fasting during Ramadan. So - the message is to readers: starve yourself during the day? There are two tiny paragraphs towards the end of the book when Almira reflects about "what Ramadan teaches" (patience, humbleness, compassion for the starving people in the world, willpower, reverence for Allah, sacrifice) but these lessons feel shoehorned in. Most of the book Almira on reflects on Ramadan as both a great diet plan and an inconvenience.
If I found Almira to be rather shallow, the rest of the characters were paper thin. Her parents, her friends, the cute boy - very 1980s YA. The only interesting character to me was new student Shakira, who was two and a half dimensional, at least.
I really wanted to like this book!
November 8, 2014
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, and was very grateful for the opportunity to read it, even though I'm waaaaaaay beyond the target audience age for this story.
The premise of a teenager who's "different" and struggling to "fit in" appealed to me, especially since one of my granddaughters is currently going through a similar struggle. The prospect of gaining insight into what it's like to be a young Muslim in America today also appealed to me, and I even thought I might possibly learn a little something about the religion and its traditions by reading this book. However, outside of the family's one visit to the mosque, which I found to be both interesting and informative, there isn't a lot of real insight into the Muslim religion and its practices to be found in this book. But that's okay. Teaching about the religion obviously wasn't the author's primary goal. I think her main focus was in demonstrating... to teenagers, not to old gals like me... that being a Muslim doesn't prevent Almira from being a typical American teenager. She shares far more similarities with her friends than differences. And ya know what? I think that's a lesson well worth teaching, and it's one the author demonstrated quite well.
However, it bothers me that when Almira's parents tell her not to do something, she goes behind their backs and does it anyway. She lies to them... essentially because she doesn't "agree" with their rules. She's an intelligent young lady, but her hormone-infused thinking is shallow and self-centered. Could be I'm simply an old fuddy-duddy who's way out of touch, and this is a fair representation of how most teenagers behave nowadays. But I sure hope my grandchildren don't.
All-in-all, there's some good humor in this book, which I always appreciate. It's a quick read, written simply to appeal to young readers. If you're looking for a book about how a deeply religious Muslim manages to function in American culture, this isn't the book for you. But if you want to read about a group of high school kids, their melodramatic, sometimes flippant way of looking at life, tossed with a healthy dose of laughs, this one will fill the bill nicely.
Bottom line? I'd give it three and a half stars, rounded up to four.
The premise of a teenager who's "different" and struggling to "fit in" appealed to me, especially since one of my granddaughters is currently going through a similar struggle. The prospect of gaining insight into what it's like to be a young Muslim in America today also appealed to me, and I even thought I might possibly learn a little something about the religion and its traditions by reading this book. However, outside of the family's one visit to the mosque, which I found to be both interesting and informative, there isn't a lot of real insight into the Muslim religion and its practices to be found in this book. But that's okay. Teaching about the religion obviously wasn't the author's primary goal. I think her main focus was in demonstrating... to teenagers, not to old gals like me... that being a Muslim doesn't prevent Almira from being a typical American teenager. She shares far more similarities with her friends than differences. And ya know what? I think that's a lesson well worth teaching, and it's one the author demonstrated quite well.
However, it bothers me that when Almira's parents tell her not to do something, she goes behind their backs and does it anyway. She lies to them... essentially because she doesn't "agree" with their rules. She's an intelligent young lady, but her hormone-infused thinking is shallow and self-centered. Could be I'm simply an old fuddy-duddy who's way out of touch, and this is a fair representation of how most teenagers behave nowadays. But I sure hope my grandchildren don't.
All-in-all, there's some good humor in this book, which I always appreciate. It's a quick read, written simply to appeal to young readers. If you're looking for a book about how a deeply religious Muslim manages to function in American culture, this isn't the book for you. But if you want to read about a group of high school kids, their melodramatic, sometimes flippant way of looking at life, tossed with a healthy dose of laughs, this one will fill the bill nicely.
Bottom line? I'd give it three and a half stars, rounded up to four.
June 20, 2014
*I received Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. from Goodread's Firstreads in exchange for an honest review.*
It took me about a week after getting the book in the mail to start reading it; and once I started the book, I was disappointed. Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sharif was an unusually slow read for me. Most books I am able to finish in just a couple of nights; Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. took me almost 2 weeks to complete. The first hundred pages or so, are very slow going and the vocabulary of the characters is not that of most high schoolers. I feel like this book is more for intermediate (5th & 6th grade) level readers. I was determined to finish the book, however, in order to give it a fair review. I give this book three stars for a couple of different reasons. First, like I pointed out earlier, the novel was written with too easy of a vocabulary; which made reading the book boring. Second, it was very slow going. Sharif seemed to drag things out and, if possible, be too detailed in her writing. Thirdly, parts of the book seemed to jump from one part to another without the use of a transition or a page break. Even with these flaws; by the last 100 pages I was unable to put the book down because the story begins to move along faster. All in all, the book was Okay. I do not plan on grabbing this novel off of my bookshelves to reread time and time again, but I will not throw it out either.
It took me about a week after getting the book in the mail to start reading it; and once I started the book, I was disappointed. Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sharif was an unusually slow read for me. Most books I am able to finish in just a couple of nights; Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. took me almost 2 weeks to complete. The first hundred pages or so, are very slow going and the vocabulary of the characters is not that of most high schoolers. I feel like this book is more for intermediate (5th & 6th grade) level readers. I was determined to finish the book, however, in order to give it a fair review. I give this book three stars for a couple of different reasons. First, like I pointed out earlier, the novel was written with too easy of a vocabulary; which made reading the book boring. Second, it was very slow going. Sharif seemed to drag things out and, if possible, be too detailed in her writing. Thirdly, parts of the book seemed to jump from one part to another without the use of a transition or a page break. Even with these flaws; by the last 100 pages I was unable to put the book down because the story begins to move along faster. All in all, the book was Okay. I do not plan on grabbing this novel off of my bookshelves to reread time and time again, but I will not throw it out either.
April 19, 2014
Almira is a typical American teenage girl. She wants to learn to drive and get her license. She'd love to be more slender and attractive, and she really wants a boyfriend. So what sets her apart from her high school friends?
While she has been born and raised stateside, her grandfather hasn't. His standards are those of a different culture, one that draws on strict Muslim rules of conduct. And, although, Almira's parents are more liberal, they too hold different standards and expectations for their only child.
Among them is to observe Ramadan, the Muslim period of fasting. And it's darned hard to not eat or drink from dawn to sunset with constant temptations from her friends.
Then there's Peter. He's the boyfriend she's dreamed of, but how can she introduce him to her family when there's still talk of arranged marriages?
I liked Almira for several reasons: she's a "good" girl, a good daughter and a true friend. We see her pass a lot of tests to prove all of these qualities.
I loved the multi-cultural theme of this book. It was very well handled--no preaching, just revealing a young Muslim girl's struggle to do the right thing while straddling her Muslim background and the more secular west.
Teens will enjoy reading this book and, if they have no experience with Muslim practices, they will learn something very interesting.
While she has been born and raised stateside, her grandfather hasn't. His standards are those of a different culture, one that draws on strict Muslim rules of conduct. And, although, Almira's parents are more liberal, they too hold different standards and expectations for their only child.
Among them is to observe Ramadan, the Muslim period of fasting. And it's darned hard to not eat or drink from dawn to sunset with constant temptations from her friends.
Then there's Peter. He's the boyfriend she's dreamed of, but how can she introduce him to her family when there's still talk of arranged marriages?
I liked Almira for several reasons: she's a "good" girl, a good daughter and a true friend. We see her pass a lot of tests to prove all of these qualities.
I loved the multi-cultural theme of this book. It was very well handled--no preaching, just revealing a young Muslim girl's struggle to do the right thing while straddling her Muslim background and the more secular west.
Teens will enjoy reading this book and, if they have no experience with Muslim practices, they will learn something very interesting.
August 22, 2016
This is a very light read and more appropriate for younger girls but it's the first book I've read with a Muslim protagonist. I usually don't read that kinda thing because I get pretty sick of my own religion sometimes. But I love Ramadan and its really the only religious thing I do. Still though, the way we go about it and the way its described in this book is very different. For this girl, its all about the food. There's no mention of the other things we should abstain from in order for our fast to be valid. I really don't know if this is a cultural difference of if for some Muslims it really is just about food. But I enjoyed the honesty of some aspects of this book. I enjoy losing a few pounds in Ramadan too, I have that folder of hot guys I would never let anyone in my family see...and of course, the slightly deeper issues, the 'jokes' about finding a husband for me, the fear that if I fall in love with a non-Muslim or even a Muslim my family doesn't approve of that it would destroy my relationship with my parents.
Anyway, all in all this is a good book for teen girls. 3 stars.
Anyway, all in all this is a good book for teen girls. 3 stars.
May 8, 2013
Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. is a story about a 15 year old girl named Almira and her struggles during Ramadan. Almira is a Muslim, so during Ramadan she has to fast until sun down, can't have a boyfriend, and her grandpa is pretty traditional.
Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. is Sharif's first book ever and it certainly shows. The story is written in first person POV, but that is no excuse for the amount of rambling that is prevalent throughout the book. On a positive note, I could really get a sense that Almira was a Muslim struggling between her religion and her own desires around the last third of the book.
Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. is not the most impressive read and Medeia Sharif has room to grow. There is definitely potential for narratives about American Muslims, but she fell just a bit too short of her goal.
Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. is Sharif's first book ever and it certainly shows. The story is written in first person POV, but that is no excuse for the amount of rambling that is prevalent throughout the book. On a positive note, I could really get a sense that Almira was a Muslim struggling between her religion and her own desires around the last third of the book.
Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. is not the most impressive read and Medeia Sharif has room to grow. There is definitely potential for narratives about American Muslims, but she fell just a bit too short of her goal.
July 29, 2016
I 'picked this up' from the New Hampshire library online on a dreary, cold Hobart day which seemed perfect for some fluffy, non-thinking young adult reading, I was sorely disappointed.
I was excited to see some diversity, but annoyed by the constant obsession with weight (size 8 - according the internet, size 10-12 is average...?) and also the whiny. SO WHINY. I can empathise with some of the whiny because I can only imagine how HANGRY one would get fasting during Ramadan. It was excessive whining making none of the characters interesting.
Diversity good.
Book not good.
I was excited to see some diversity, but annoyed by the constant obsession with weight (size 8 - according the internet, size 10-12 is average...?) and also the whiny. SO WHINY. I can empathise with some of the whiny because I can only imagine how HANGRY one would get fasting during Ramadan. It was excessive whining making none of the characters interesting.
Diversity good.
Book not good.
February 17, 2019
2/5 Stars
I was bored through this entire book. I could not stand the main character, who worked so hard to change herself to get someone to like her. Just that alone could make me hate this book, but there's more. The family in this story was stereotyped and I couldn't stand how authors always encourage the "typical" Muslim family. I understand that it exists, but it isn't always the case, and the constant stream of this same content isn't helping to get that message across. Lately, this is all I've been seeing in books about Muslim people, and it really bugs me.
I was bored through this entire book. I could not stand the main character, who worked so hard to change herself to get someone to like her. Just that alone could make me hate this book, but there's more. The family in this story was stereotyped and I couldn't stand how authors always encourage the "typical" Muslim family. I understand that it exists, but it isn't always the case, and the constant stream of this same content isn't helping to get that message across. Lately, this is all I've been seeing in books about Muslim people, and it really bugs me.
July 13, 2016
I am finished with this book. Made it about a third of the way through. Alvira, the main character, is a caricature: I've never read a book with a character more selfish and self-centered ever. Obnoxious. I was hoping to learn a little about Ramadan, its practice, background, and customs. Not happening, and I bet there are lots of better books out there.
Read
August 24, 2014So disappointing. Obsessive attention to weight issues right from the beginning of the book made me uncomfortable, particularly as the girl in the story wasn't really overweight, just not skinny. Didn't get very far.
Want to read
January 3, 2011This book sounds great. The whole Ramadan theme, Muslim girl self-discovery--it all sounds right up my alley!
June 8, 2013
I really wanted to like this book, but it wasn't that great. Cute story, but it never came to the point where it became a page-turner.
June 9, 2013
Not sure how I ended up reading this book. There was no plot and barely any character development. I probably would have liked it as a teen, if only for the cultural differences.
Read
May 5, 2019I saw this on the shelf at the library and realized I had never heard of this one so I picked it up. Ugh. I am not Muslim, but by this time have read quite a few books by and about Muslims. This one is not the one I'd recommend if someone wants a book about Ramadan or a book with a Muslim main character. Before even dealing with the Muslim representation, the writing seems very forced and contrived. This includes the dialogue, but the writing also is fairly simplistic and the plot is very predictable throughout.
Next, the weight issue. Almira complains about her weight and this is a huge deal for her and yay - Ramadan is helping her lose weight. What? Let's just say body positivity is not a part of this book.
Also, the characters are very flat. Her best friend is boy obsessed and academically unintelligent. That's really all we know. Her grandfather is more nuanced, but not by much. He calls any annoying woman a prostitute. He's cantankerous, more conservative religiously than her parents and smacks his car into trash cans & mailboxes. All we know about her mom is that she is more forward thinking than her parent's generation, she super attractive to men & she exercises pretty much all day.
Finally, I know there are many ways to live life as a Muslim, but there is not much here that would lead anyone to believe that there is a good reason to be Muslim. Of all the characters in the book, I'm not sure if any of them made it seem like Islam was a good thing except the one mosque experience. I'm not sure how to explain this better. I was bothered by many things in the book and had these thoughts before writing my review, but scrolling through Goodreads reviews, it seems this book maybe went over better with people unfamiliar with Islam and many reviews only confirmed what I had felt while reading.
Books that do it better: The Lines We Cross & Love from A to Z
Next, the weight issue. Almira complains about her weight and this is a huge deal for her and yay - Ramadan is helping her lose weight. What? Let's just say body positivity is not a part of this book.
Also, the characters are very flat. Her best friend is boy obsessed and academically unintelligent. That's really all we know. Her grandfather is more nuanced, but not by much. He calls any annoying woman a prostitute. He's cantankerous, more conservative religiously than her parents and smacks his car into trash cans & mailboxes. All we know about her mom is that she is more forward thinking than her parent's generation, she super attractive to men & she exercises pretty much all day.
Finally, I know there are many ways to live life as a Muslim, but there is not much here that would lead anyone to believe that there is a good reason to be Muslim. Of all the characters in the book, I'm not sure if any of them made it seem like Islam was a good thing except the one mosque experience. I'm not sure how to explain this better. I was bothered by many things in the book and had these thoughts before writing my review, but scrolling through Goodreads reviews, it seems this book maybe went over better with people unfamiliar with Islam and many reviews only confirmed what I had felt while reading.
Books that do it better: The Lines We Cross & Love from A to Z
December 27, 2011
This book called out to me from the stacks at the library because I can semi-relate. My sister spent her high school years dealing with many of the same issues as Almira (the main character). I would recommend this book to Muslim girls and non-Muslim girls alike. I think it would be a great read for Muslim girls to not feel alone. I also feel like it would be a great read for an American teenager who is not Muslim and might like to know a little more about what it means to be Muslim-American.
May 23, 2017
Almira is your typical American teenager trying to balance homework, high school friendships, crushes and fitting in - all while keeping her more traditional family at bay. When Ramadan - a month of fasting begins, she finds herself at the crossroads of cultural expectations. Told in a funny down-to-earth voice with a breezy style, this book never gets heavy handed!
See other books in our Celebrating Islam booklist here: https://kitaabworld.com/blogs/news/ce...
See other books in our Celebrating Islam booklist here: https://kitaabworld.com/blogs/news/ce...
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