BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSHuda calls herself a "friendly neighborhood Arab-Muslim hijab-wearing American whatever," and she is starting her freshman year at Greenfield High a few months after her parents move the family to Dearborn. Back in middle school she was the only girl in class who wore hijab, and she let that become her whole personality. In Dearborn there are hijabis everywhere, from athletes to gamers to fashionistas, and Huda suddenly has no idea what makes her stand out. Home is crowded too. She is one of five sisters, she has to bunk with ten-year-old Neda, and her parents expect nothing less than great grades and full scholarships. Her first week of school goes wrong in every possible way, from a hijab caught in a slammed locker to a teacher who can't say her name to a box of mice she drops on the way to feed the class snake. So Huda tries out new cliques, trades her five identical plaid shirts for an abaya, collects a group of new friends, and gets sent by her mom to a Friday halaqa, while tiny versions of herself keep popping up to argue with her. The book opens with Mama waiting in Huda's dark bedroom holding a report card with a C-minus, then rewinds to show how Huda got there.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Huda F Are You?
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Huda F Are You?. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a freshman trip while carrying a box of mice meant for the class snake?
✓ Answer
Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy
On Tuesday, Mr. Roberts tells Huda it's her turn to feed Snape and to BE CAREFUL. She trips over a foot, the mice run loose across the floor, and Mr. Roberts yells while a boy at a desk laughs.
- First half
In what book does a girl tell her mom "You had me at pajamas."?
✓ Answer
Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy
Mama suggests abayas and gives her own reasons, that they're loose, modest and will bring Huda closer to her deen. Huda has her own reasons, since now she never again has to worry about what to wear every morning.
- First half
In what book does a girl cheer when her kidney infection comes with a doctor's note excusing her from gym?
✓ Answer
Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy
One week later, a doctor tells Huda she has a kidney infection and is one of the most dehydrated teenagers he's ever met. He holds up a note that reads NO GYM, and Huda shouts "YESSSSS" and pumps her fist.
- Second half
In what book does a study-circle leader say attraction is no sin but actions bring accountability?
✓ Answer
Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy
Huda recalls Sister Amal's "The Rules," which say that with the opposite gender everyone must keep it professional and academic, with no mingling. Sister Amal adds that there is no sin in the actual feeling, but "actions are something else. You'll be held accountable for those."
- Second half
In what book do two girls get pulled from class for a psychologist's routine screening?
✓ Answer
Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy
A staff member takes Huda and Nabz out of AP Lang "To the school psychologist," calling it "Just a routine screening." Nabz is surprised the school even has one, and they find a long line of girls, most in hijabs, waiting in the hallway.
- Near the end
In what book does a school building seem to warn a gloating girl there's always next year?
✓ Answer
Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy
On the last day of school, Huda points at the school building and shouts "HA! Take that!" The building seems to think back "There's always next year..."
