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The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook

About The Book

Everything you always wanted to know about Islam -- but didn't know to ask!

What does it mean to be Muslim in America? Ask ten different people and you'll probably receive ten different answers. Islam is as dynamic as it is misunderstood, and has been in a state of constant change and development for almost fourteen hundred years. So how can you reconcile being a teenager in America with being a Muslim? It's not as difficult as you might think!

Written by teens for teens, The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook covers everything from basic Islamic history and reading the Quran to addressing the issues of drinking and dating, and also includes thoughts and opinions from Muslim teenagers across the country. Positive, informative, and honest, here is the indispensable primer -- for Muslims and non-Muslims alike -- for learning about and finding a place in Islamic American culture today.

About The Authors

Dilara Hafiz was born in Karachi, Pakistan. She holds degrees from John Hopkins University and the London School of Economics. She has drawn upon her years of teaching weekend Islamic school, lecturing about Islam, and raising Muslim teenagers to contribute to The American Muslim Teenager’s Handbook.

Imran Hafiz is a member of the Brophy College Preparatory Class of 2010. He frequently spends his time volunteering in the emergency department of one of the Scottsdale Healthcare hospitals in Arizona, in addition to being involved in school theater productions. Imran is also a member of his school's Weapons of Mass Percussion hand-drum club, and also enjoys playing guitar, piano, and traditional drums.

Yasmine Hafiz is a member of the Yale University's Class of 2012. She was a 2008 Presidential Scholar. An avid reader, she hopes to become involved in international relations as a career. Yasmine enjoys watching movies and listening to a wide variety of music.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (February 10, 2009)
  • Length: 144 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781416986577
  • Ages: 12 - 99

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Raves and Reviews

"This is a terrific, personable, and useful book for young Muslims and for people of all ages and faiths, including the secular, who are still trying to figure out the difference between a great majority of actual American Muslims...and the crazed stereotypes generated by war headlines thousands of miles away." -- Michael Wolfe, author of The Hadj and Taking Back Islam

"The slender volume aspires to nothing less than bridging a cultural chasm.... Amid its witty asides and tongue-in-cheek answers to multiple-choice questions, the handbook clearly stakes out a position for a moderate, flexible version of Islam, one that places a higher premium on moral intent than reflexive observance of every rule." -- New York Times

"The first book of its kind.... The handbook exudes an American perspective, upbeat and non-judgmental. It encourages teens...to make their own responsible choices about their faith practices." -- Christian Science Monitor

“Accessible, pitch-perfect for teens, and even fun, this handbook debunks myths and demystifies facts about Islam, the second-largest religion in the world and ‘the most misunderstood religion in America’…. This is an illuminating book that parents, teachers, faith leaders, mentors and youth workers will want to share with youth.”—Youth Today

"An essential addition to all high school and public library YA shelves."--School Library Journal

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