The Strongest Heart

A Schneider Family Book Award Honoree From beloved middle grade author Saadia Faruqi comes a poignant exploration of the impact of mental illness on families—and the love and hope that it takes to begin telling a different tale.

Mo is used to his father’s fits of rage. When Abbu's moods shake the house, Mo is safe inside his head, with his cherished folktales: The best way to respond is not to engage. Apparently, his mama knows that too—which is why she took a job on the other side of the world, leaving Mo alone with Abbu.

With Mama gone, the two move to Texas to live with Mo’s aunt and cousin, Rayyan. The two boys could not be more different. Rayyan is achievement-driven and factual; Mo is a “bad kid." Still, there is a lot to like about living in Texas. Sundays at the mosque are better than he’d expected. And Rayyan and his aunt become a real family to Mo.

But even in a warm home and school where he begins to see a future for himself, Mo knows that the monster within his father can break out and destroy their fragile peace at any moment…

A Powerful Father Son Story: Mo loves his Abbu but lives in constant fear of the "monster" inside him—a side of his father that is loud, furious, and unpredictable. Coping with a Parent's Illness: An honest and heartfelt middle grade novel about navigating the complexities of a parent’s mental health, dealing with bullies, and finding emotional resilience. Cousins Become Brothers: After moving to Texas, Mo finds a new home with his loving aunt and his quiet, studious cousin, Rayyan, who couldn’t be more different from him. The Power of Stories: To escape the turmoil at home, Mo retreats into the world of desi folktales, using ancient stories of heroes and monsters to make sense of his own life.