Grounded

When four children find themselves stranded at the Zora Neale Hurston Airport after the annual Muslims of North America conference, their journeys collide. Although it may seem they don’t have much in common initially, they come together as they embark on a mission to find a missing cat. The tweens experience typical issues that middle-school and intermediate students may relate to, such as the fear of fitting in, tense relationships with parents, and anxiety. The novel presents opportunities for readers to explore themes of belonging and friendship and more complex issues surrounding racism and problems between first- and second-generation immigrant parents and children. In the classroom, the book may prompt class discussions about the wearing of hijabs, safe spaces to pray in Canadian schools and society, assimilation, multiculturalism, as well as how Muslims are represented in North America and society’s feelings towards them.