About the Author
Maleeha Siddiqui is a first-generation Pakistani-American Muslim living in Virginia. When she isn't writing, she can be found working at a biotech company or hanging out with her family. Barakah Beats is based on her own experiences growing up in America as a young practicing Muslim.
Product Description
A fresh and fun new spin on the Parent-Trap story, by Indies Introduce author Maleeha Siddiqui
Ashar is busy with the ice hockey team, studying to get into the best school, and hanging out with his friends.
Shaheer and his father are always moving, following his dad's jobs. Shaheer has given up hope of finding a place where he can put down roots, a place that feels like home.
The two boys have nothing in common.
But when they meet on Shaheer's first day at his new school, it’s like looking in a mirror.
They quickly figure out that they're twins, separated as babies. And they are determined to do whatever it takes―including secretly switching identities―to get to know the parent they've been separated from.
This is the story of two long-lost brothers who, while they might not like each other, just might need each other. Bhai for Now is by turns heartwarming and hilarious, and with an unforgettable Muslim family and friendship story at its core.
From School Library Journal
Gr 3-7-Shaheer has gotten used to keeping to himself and watching Property Brothers on television with his grandfather. He's never had the opportunity to stay in one place for very long as he moves around the country, accommodating his physician father's frequent job changes. Imagine his shock and confusion when, on his first day of eighth grade in a brand-new school, he runs into his doppelgänger! It turns out that Shaheer and his identical twin, Ashar, were separated when their parents divorced. Ashar lives with their mother, enjoying ice hockey and studying for the entrance exam to a prestigious high school. Neither parent has ever been open about the other, so the twins (with the cooperation of their cousin Zohra) cook up some classic trading-places high jinks. In this reworked Parent Trap, the story is completely driven by the actions and feelings of the kids. The narrative perspective switches back and forth between the twins, witnessing them getting to know their new relatives and confronting the conflicting feelings that come with discovering such a long-held and damaging secret. The parents don't rekindle any romantic attachment and, in fact, demonstrate some harsh, but emotionally honest, vitriol towards each other. Ashar and Shaheer, who is starting to form connections for the first time in his life, must convince their parents that brotherhood, family, and community all matter more than old grievances. Details of both families' Pakistani heritage and Muslim faith are seamlessly integrated into the story. VERDICT An uplifting, culturally inclusive, and lively exploration of family bonds.-Alyssa Annicoα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
Praise for Bhai For Now
“An uplifting, culturally inclusive, and lively exploration of family bonds.” --School Library Journal
"A Parent Trap redux that doesn’t disappoint. A delightful tale of family love and complexity.” --Kirkus Reviews
"A compelling and emotionally resonant story with a satisfyingly outlandish plot. Give to fans of Gordon Korman's realistic fiction." -- Booklist
“This is an engaging read that balances humor, suspense, and genuine feelings of insecurity and betrayal.” -- School Library Connection
Praise for Barakah Beats:
A New York Public Library Best Kids Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Indie's Introduce Summer/Fall 2021 Pick
Indie Next November/December 2021 Pick
A Junior Library Guild Selection
*"Every[one] will benefit from this touching story about a preteen struggling to reconcile faith, friends, and family against the backdrop of an American
