Love, Hate & Other Filters

Seventeen-year-old Muslim-American Maya suffers a great conflict: her parents' expectations of a good, obedient Indian daughter who will go to college near home and date a good Muslim boy vs. her desire to flee her hometown, go to college in New York, and date non-Muslim football player Phil. But, her life is turned upside down when a suicide bomber who attacks a building has the same last name as her family and they suddenly experience racism and hatred, and Maya must struggle to determine her path in life. The novel, for grades 8-12, is best suited for small group or independent study and selections may be used for whole class discussion and examination of racism, prejudice, power, and hate.