Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero

At a time when we are all asking questions about identity, grief, and how to stand up for what is right, this book by the author of A Thousand Questions will hit home with young readers who love Hena Khan and Varian Johnson—or anyone struggling to understand recent U.S. history and how it still affects us today.  

Yusuf Azeem has spent all his life in the small town of Frey, Texas—and nearly that long waiting for the chance to participate in the regional robotics competition, which he just knows he can win.

Only, this year is going to be more difficult than he thought. Because this year is the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, an anniversary that has everyone in his Muslim community on edge.

With “Never Forget” banners everywhere and a hostile group of townspeople protesting the new mosque, Yusuf realizes that the country’s anger from two decades ago hasn’t gone away. Can he hold onto his joy—and his friendships—in the face of heartache and prejudice?

A Passion for Robotics: Yusuf has been dreaming of the Texas Robotics Competition his whole life, but this year, winning is about more than just a trophy. The Impact of 9/11: Set during the twentieth anniversary of the attacks, this story explores how history continues to shape the present for Yusuf and his Muslim community. Dual Timeline Story: Through his uncle’s journal from 2001, Yusuf discovers what it was like to be a Muslim kid in America right after the towers fell. Standing Up to Prejudice: When hateful notes appear in his locker and protesters target his family’s new mosque, Yusuf must decide what it means to be a friend, an American, and a hero.