That Thing We Call a Heart

This young adult novel by Sheba Karim, author of Skunk Girl, is a funny and affecting coming-of-age story for fans of Jenny Han, Megan McCafferty, and Sara Farizan. A Kirkus Best Book of 2017!

Shabnam Qureshi is facing a summer of loneliness and boredom until she meets Jamie, who scores her a job at his aunt’s pie shack. Shabnam quickly finds herself in love, while her former best friend, Farah, who Shabnam has begun to reconnect with, finds Jamie worrying.

In her quest to figure out who she really is and what she really wants, Shabnam looks for help in an unexpected place—her family, and her father’s beloved Urdu poetry.

That Thing We Call a Heart is a funny and fresh story about the importance of love—in all its forms.

Can Shabnam find the courage to navigate her first love, mend a broken friendship, and discover who she’s meant to be?

Summer Romance: Working at a pie shack was supposed to be boring, until Jamie walks in and changes everything. But is he too good to be true? Complicated Friendships: Shabnam is trying to reconnect with her former best friend, Farah, but their shared history and Farah’s suspicions about Jamie put their fragile bond to the test. Muslim Main Character: A heartfelt exploration of identity, family, and faith as Shabnam navigates her heritage and finds guidance in her father’s beloved Urdu poetry. YA Contemporary Romance: A funny, fresh, and heartfelt novel about finding your voice, falling in love for the first time, and the importance of friends who have your back.