By Claire Fagan, staff writer
Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali is one of those stories that feels like it could almost be real. Ali is Indian-Canadian and a practicing Muslim who aims to highlight Muslim life within literature. Love from A to Z, Ali’s second novel, fits the realistic fiction, romance, and contemporary genres. It also received recognition from Entertainment Weekly as one of the best young adult books of 2019.
The book follows Zayneb, a senior in high school who chooses to wear a hijab every day as a practicing Muslim. Mr. Fencer, her history teacher, directly targets Zayneb when discussing his Islamophobic views. Just before spring break, Zayneb’s fight against this injustice lands her a week-long suspension just before spring break after she draws a butter knife on a piece of paper during class.
As a result, Zayneb leaves for spring break early to Doha, Qatar, where her aunt lives. On the plane ride, Zayneb meets Adam. Adam notices he has the same journal as Zayneb, sees Zayneb’s hijab, and greets her in Arabic. They briefly bond over their shared religion and then part ways. Through a series of coincidences, Zayneb and Adam run into each other many more times.
Adam is a college freshman who dropped out to focus on his passion of carpentry. He comes to Doha to visit his family. Throughout spring break, he struggles with grief during the anniversary of his mother’s death.
At the same time, Zayneb works to find concrete evidence to prove to her family and the school that Fencer is Islamophobic. As they grow closer, Zayneb discovers Adam has multiple sclerosis, also called MS. MS is a potentially debilitating disease that diminishes an individual’s control over their own body by damaging the nervous system. MS is also the same disease that led to Adam’s mother’s death. Adam grapples with a sudden worsening of his multiple sclerosis while Zayneb faces further intolerance. With their struggles mounting, their futures become uncertain.
Beyond the plot, one of the defining characteristics of this book is its structure. The novel uses alternative points of view throughout, so you can see inside the minds of both characters and understand their motivations.
Additionally, the novel’s structure is created in context with the actual world inside the novel. The book is written as journal entries divided into sections. Each new chapter is either a marvel (something amazing, positive, and vibrant) or an oddity (something strange, annoying, difficult). Adam and Zayneb both write in this same type of journal centered around marvels and oddities.This journal is based on the real life writing from the 13th century by Zakariya Al-Qazwini, an Arab geographer, called “The Marvels of Creation and the Oddities of Existence.”
As more marvels or more oddities are written by the characters in a row, you know the novel is about to shift in a massive way. Pacing can almost be predicted by the novel’s structure.
There are three main settings in the novel, Doha, Ottawa and Springfield, and each setting creates a different tone. The main setting is Doha, Qatar, where Adam and Zayneb spend their spring break. This setting actually becomes relevant in subplots, when Zayneb is able to access additional corners of the Internet in Doha her friends in Indiana can’t. Doha sets a bright and unique tone to most of the novel.
Another setting is Ottawa, where Adam has the most memories of his mother. Adam’s mother is a manifestation of joy and nostalgia the book references to explain how the past creates the present. Everything about Ottawa seems vague and brief, representing the fact that Ottawa is a piece of Adam’s irretrievable past. Adam still thinks of Ottawa and his mother as his home.
The third setting is Springfield, Indiana, Zayneb’s hometown. Zayneb is suspended in Springfield, and returns at the end of spring break with a goal to take Mr. Fencer down and make him pay for his intolerance. Every event in Springfield seems incredibly impactful and rigid.
The characters within Love from A to Z are all rich, intense, and captivating. There were never flat or uninteresting moments.The contrast between Zayneb and Adam creates an interesting dynamic.
Adam’s character is entirely based on the principle of family. Adam’s sister, Hanna, doesn’t remember his mother, so Adam tries to preserve his memories of his mother and pass them onto Hanna through stories and objects. Adam initially doesn’t tell his family he has MS because he is worried his disease will only bring further grief to his family. Adam remembers what it was like to lose his mother and doesn’t want his father and sister to suffer through that pain again. At the same time, Adam wants to maximize the time he can spend with his family, because he doesn’t know if his time is limited. He dropped out of school to build things and be with his family.
Conversely, Zayneb’s focus is on passion. Her passion is an extension of her unapologetically Muslim self. Almost her entire personality can be described by this quote from Zayneb’s Aunt Raymond: “Never, ever quake in the face of hate, Zayneb.” Zayneb has experienced more than her share of hatred and intolerance throughout her life, and she’s tired of the injustice and prejudice. She doesn’t hesitate to call everyone out on their ignorance, which sometimes lands her in trouble. Throughout the book, Zayneb’s aunt teaches her strength and Zayneb learns another way to argue against hatred, one that is slower but more effective.
Because their personalities are so disjoint, Zayneb and Adam’s relationship dynamic is always interesting to read. They connect over their religion and their potential relationship comes across as realistic in-world. Even when they fight, they both have good intentions. As they spend more time together, Adam learns to rely on other people and becomes more impulsive, while Zayneb becomes slightly calmer. They help to balance each other out.
Ali writes very diverse and three-dimensional side characters who manage to have their own personalities without overshadowing Adam and Zayneb. Zayneb’s best friend, Kavi, serves as a constant tether to Zayneb’s home life.
Hanna is a naturally curious, lovable sidekick to Adam. Her innocence and lack of knowledge about her mother will break your heart, while her humor only serves to amuse. His mother’s past actions guide Adam through his life.
Intolerance, hatred, and Islamophobia all unfortunately exist in the real world, and Ali writes this novel to criticize those who passively allow this racist bigotry to continue. Nothing in this novel is glossed over. Grief, prejudice, and death are all extremely raw.
However, the best part about this book is definitely its little details. So many tiny additions to this book make it the masterpiece it is. An unseen narrator appears at the beginning and interlude of the novel to broaden your view beyond just Adam and Zayneb’s world, and bring together the bigger picture. The story educates about Islam by weaving typical practices into the plot. You can definitely understand and enjoy this story as a non-Muslim.
There was never a moment in the novel that stuck out to me as out of character. No small, superficial squabbles decrease the strength of the book. Ali put so much thought into every moment of this novel, and it really shines through.
This book is perfect for River Hill students who are stressed and struggling to see the importance of the world beyond endless schoolwork and distant goals. Love from A to Z tackles real-world, big-picture issues. At the same time that the novel pushes the reader to really reflect on injustice, the characters instill everyone with hope.
Every reader will finish this book with a bright outlook on life. You will fall in love with the idea of love itself. While this book doesn’t pretend the world is perfect and everyone finds their happily ever after, it does give you faith for the future.
From Adam, we learn there is always a marvel to be found in the world around us. You will rediscover your own marvels after diving into this book. From Zayneb, we know, “You don’t have to be alone.” And when you read this book, surrounded by these vibrant characters, you never will be.