MY PERFECT FAMILY

Sixteen-year-old Leena must come to terms with a family revelation.

Leena’s world has always been small—just her single mother, Asiyah, and her best friend, DeeDee, who’s family in every way except blood. But everything changes with one call that upends her world. Leena learns she has a family—a wealthy grandfather, who’s in the hospital, and an opinionated and overbearing great-aunt—and they’re Muslim, a faith she knows little about beyond the headlines. Suddenly, everything Leena thought she knew about her family—and herself—is up for debate. Remnants of Islam linger in Leena’s childhood in small ways, but most Islamic teachings were absent from her upbringing. As she gets to know her grandfather and great-aunt, Leena experiences firsthand the forces that drove her mother away from the faith and learns that she must separate her experiences from those of her mother. VanBrakle realistically shows how religion can alienate, separate, and unite people. She confronts hard truths and stereotypes and excels at portraying complex, compassionate characters. The book explores the intersections of religion, grief, parental choices, and religious trauma with nuance. Leena and her family are Black; the narrative highlights some of the unique challenges African American Muslims face, adding a critical, often-overlooked layer to the narrative. Relatable, page-turning, and honest, this story will leave readers wishing for more and thankful for the space it dares to create.

An engrossing, emotionally rich meditation on faith, family, and the courage it takes to create your own story.