Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release date: 18th August 2022

Pages: 232

Representation: Pakistani MC.

Trigger warnings: Islamophobia, racism, mentions of 9/11, TB

Summary: Hira is excited to get away from home, to leave Pakistan for a year away in the USA. look down on her for her religion, for her skin colour, and for her view of the world that doesn’t conform to their American standards. Add a sudden illness to the mix, and this has the potential to be the worst year of Hira’s life. But with all the bad comes some good; new friends, new experiences, the possibility for new love, and a new outlook on life.

A love story to those that feel like they don’t belong, ‘American Fever’ paves its own path that ends in a strong debut.

I know I am not the primary target audience for this book-I urge you to seek out reviews from Pakistani readers.

Hira feels like a teenage girl; she sounds and acts and is written as close to reality as I’ve seen in a lot of books. It’s easy to dismiss that-she IS a teenager so obviously she feels like one- but getting the nuance of teenage thought process down in writing is a hard one that shows a lot of skill as a writer. There are a few metaphors that seem lost-dogs compared to polyamory-but Dur e Aziz Amna has written a strong debut. They’re an author I’d definitely watch out for in the future.

American Fever explores the post 9-11 landscape as an Arab in the United States-the main character, Hira, friend regularly gets called a terrorist, and it’s blown off as ‘just a joke.’ They ask her if she knows where Osama Bin Laden is hiding, and almost believe her when she jokes a clearly sarcastic answer in response to their clear racism. It’s a book full of macro- and microaggressions that are true to life. (I obviously don’t know this from personal experience, but from listening to those who have experienced it and from witnessing it.)

The characters are extremely believable as individuals. Hira is whiny and snobby, but she acknowledges that, but she also stands strong in her beliefs and in doing what’s right. She follows the lead of the adults around her, as every teenager does to a degree, but you can see the time in America helping to form her as her own person. She’s sarcastic. She fights back against those that dare throw bigotry at her, even in its simplest form. She knows she’s not always right, and she lets herself be scared. She’s a character as true to life as any I’ve seen.

I can feel the pieces of American exceptionalism clawing at me through the pages, with a specific brand of superiority found only in the states. Perhaps that sounds harsh, or perhaps the people behind me whilst I sit on my flight writing this, I hear a conversation in raised voices. A group of Americans talking about when they went to a bar on vacation, the bartender kept giving them strange looks, and it’s probably because she’d never seen “a real-life American before,” so she was fawning over them. Clearly there’s a lack of Americans visiting Dublin, of all places. It’s hard to be able to get that feeling down on the pages, especially without insulting an entire country, but American Fever does an excellent job. There are good and bad American characters-but being good doesn’t exclude them from this worldly naivety they gain from being brought up in ‘the best country in the world.’ This entire ideal is sewn through the pages in a way unlike any I’ve seen before, and it highlights what the rest of the world already knows and sees. It doesn’t, however, fully villainise the

I usually read reviews of a book straight after reading-it helps me consider ideas I might not have picked out whilst reading while the book is still fresh enough in my mind that I can’t be strongly swayed about my opinion. I saw one that stayed in my head far longer than this book did (in the wrong way.)

“Can I have this rewritten from Amy’s point of view? A coming-of-age about an only child whose single mom suddenly simultaneously marries a guy and adopts a grouchy Pakistani girl (who has a highly contagious disease), a girl who has to decide what she’s going to do with her life while keeping up with volleyball, school and the flavour of the week, Kyle.”

In tone with the rest of the review and star rating given, this wasn’t Satire. Why did I want to highlight this specific section? It’s exactly what, to me, the book is trying to make a point about. Hira’s story has value beyond her love interests and hobbies, and she’s not the foreign girl put in the story to make drama for the MC white girl. She’s not there to push forward other people's stories; she’s there to tell her own. Hira stands on her own two feet, no matter what happens to her, and it’s here that American Fever really shows its strength.

Its shining glory: The characters are well-rounded, and well-written. They’re all extremely realistic, and really make the story shine.

Its fatal flaw: The pacing of the book falters in the second half-it almost feels entirely like a different book and not because of a lack of action or direction. It almost left me feeling unfulfilled.
Read this if: You like character-driven stories that feature strong main characters, and offer a variety of perspectives. You like emotionally well-rounded characters, even though they can sometimes complain.

Skip this if: You prefer plot-driven stories, you like having a defined antagonist (IE. A single, clear villain.) You prefer positive, “there’s always a way!” characters that prefer not to complain.

Absolutely loved this book!

The writing style was really good and I look forward to reading any other books from this author in the future :)

I read this book shortly after Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie, which also has a Pakistani / coming of age plot. I thought I wasn’t going to enjoy Hira’s story, because I was craving something different. However, the first person narrator and the way it’s written draws you in quickly from the beginning. A quick and enjoyable read, even though I wasn’t expecting it!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and the author, for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

American fever follows the story of 16 year old Hira, a young Pakistani girl and her journey as an exchange student in Oregon for an year, in 2013. Hira wants experiences that her life back in Rawalpindi cannot provide her, she craves freedom from her existing life but don't know what that craving will lead her to. Once in America, she struggles between her cultural identity and the stereotypes she's places in as a young Muslim brown girl from the third world. She wants to live freely but without assimilating, she wants to change her life but without disappointing her parents, she wants to fly free without cutting her anchor. As time passes and her life starts to become the consequences of her parent's and then decisions, she has to deal with Racism, Islamophobia, sexism, xenophobia, micro/macroaggressions, bullying, disease, loss, joy, freedom, happiness, love, all on her own.

Its a poignant coming of age tale! a story of seeing humanity as same yet different, understanding your privileges and drawbacks. Understanding that the world is not as glossed out as it appears. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this book. I saw so much of me in Hira, her rage, her need for achievement, her sadness, her feelings towards family, her country, her house! The way she grates her teeth against stereotypes ughh!! like as a brown girl who moved abroad in her early 20's this book spoke to my soul. The divide in culture, the white gaze and opinion on brown ways, the way assimilation seems to be inevitable, the way you want to run home yet you don't! I can keep on going.....

The only thing I hate about the coming of age genre, especially the contemporary ones is that it always feels incomplete at the end! the way you just want to keep going with them as they get on with life, yet you can't!

I wanted to like this story more but the main character got too annoying for me which kind of ruined the plot.

We follow 16 year old Hira, a Pakistani student who is on a year long exchange program in Oregon. As she assimilate herself to new and drastic changes, she finds herself stuck between her cultural identity and wanting to fit in. Hira finds that it is not all she imagined it to be and found herself missing home, especially her family. In her time there, she starts to feel unwell but kept brushing it off until she coughs up blood. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis which pushed her into quarantine making her feel lonelier than ever.

Like any teenager, Hira is eager to leave her family behind and dreams of living the life in America. She thought that her life would go through miraculous changes but it was far from what she imagined. I sympathise with Hira at first but she soon became frustrating. I could feel her loneliness and alienation, her longing to fit in and her longing for home. All these are relatable but I feel that she is also selfish and self-centred in her remarks. She doesn’t want to be judged but she does the same towards others which is a big turn off for me.

What I did enjoy is her reflections on her identity, culture and her unwillingness to compromise who she is just so she can fit in. She stood her ground for what she believed in. Not many people can do that and I do admire her integrity. This does make for a compelling coming-of-age story that sheds light on American prejudices towards outsiders and the bias assumptions people have on Muslims, especially those from Middle East.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the arc.

American Fever is an excellent novel. It surprised me, resonated and has stayed with me months after reading it.

Hira is itchy to leave home, to experience a very different life, to be free from the routine of her day to day. She ends up in Oregon, in a very different world, sick and lonely. She has come a long way from her home, yet carried it with her. It's about culture and identity, including the things that are so much a part of you that you don't even see them as 'different'. About our sifferences and commonalities.

Hira is a wonderful character. She is incredibly relatable even though I have absolutely nothing in common with her other than, well, I'm also human, and female. She's a Pakistani teenager on an exchange program to Oregon - I'm a middle-aged European. Yet I felt so close to her while reading, so in tune with what she was feeling... It's a skilled author who can enable you to empathise with a character to such an extent.

The book is beautifully written, lyrical and funny. it's extremely easy to read and ends on quite a simple message: wherever you go, there you are.

Highly recommended, for any reader.

Important, thought-provoking read.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this title in exchange for my feedback.

This was a great read - super easy and flowed so nicely. I raced through it which is always a good sign!

Wow what a great read! It’s a twist on the classic coming-to-America story, we find an America recognizable in all its generosity, cruelty, and sometimes-well-intentioned bumbling. What a gorgeous book! The author has a great gift for characterisation - nuanced, interesting, believable people but created with a charming lightness of touch.

16 year Hira is a Pakistani student taking place on a year long exchange program. The opening chapters portray Hira's life in Pakistan and I was immediately pulled into this story and the rich descriptions of her life.. Hira is a brilliant character and narrator ,strong, steadfast in her opinions , exquisitely judgemental , the way a sixteen year old can be yet with glimpses of vulnerability that make you want to hug her. While other participants of the program head off to New York and other big US cities , Hira finds herself in small town in Oregon, living with a single mother and her 16 year old daughter.
The book follows Hira over the year as she experiences small town American life. Exploring religion, otherness, growing up, first kisses and new friends, islamophobia , everyday racism, homesickness and assimilation and shining a light on all the holes in the American dream.
I really enjoyed this coming of age tale, wonderfully written and very readable and captured so many emotions with care and tenderness balancing societal issues with issues that are universal to 16 year old's growing up Witty, sharp and thought provoking, a compelling read. Recommend.


I look forward to reading more from Dur e Aziz Amna in the future, I really love how she writes.
4- 4.5 stars.

This was such a brilliant book. It looked at identity, culture and all the beautiful and ugly parts that come with both.
Hira was an excellent character - headstrong, feminist woman that had no problem standing up for herself, even when her identity means she shouldn't. She never lets her identity define her. When she moves to the US from Pakistan for one year she slowly realizes that the western culture on display in the Land of the Free isn't for her. It's a brilliant story of growth and self acceptance. Loved it

It's tough being a teen anywhere but Hara, who thought her scholarship and life in the US was going to be aces, well, she's found it's not that simple. This is a coming of age story and a thoughtful look at otherness and Islamaphobia. Hira is 16 so she's got all the quirks and problems a 16 year old girl has. Add to that she's diagnosed with TB and quarantined so of course she's all attitude, It's a good read and one which should make the reader reflect. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the most remarkable novels I have read.

Hira, a Pakistani girl from Rawalpindi who gets a scholarship as an exchange student for one year to attend Lakeview High School in a small town in Oregon. The story is basically about Hira, living with an American host family, Kelly and her daughter, Amy, her experience in an American high school.

I actually enjoyed reading this author's writing--it was engaging and the author did a good job of drawing the reader into the story. Not only that--I like how very realistic the whole story really is. The story is set in a time when Islamphobia is at its peak after September 11th and I like how it was portrayed in the book--racism, biased views that many Americans have towards Middle Eastern and other countries. Hira's character really reminded me of my own experience as an international student in the United States so kudos for the author for making it real! Hira's character is a very memorable and likable character and as a reader, you start liking the character. I also like how TB diagnosis and the fact that Hira was quarantined, and a loss of family member back in Pakistan changed Hira's perspectives about life. Besides the sensitive issues, there were the typical teenage stuff--like first kiss, making new friends and above all, exploring American culture through the eyes of an international student.

For people who are sensitive and think that America is the best place to live on earth--refrain from reading this book as this book realistically tells you how immigrants and international students face in America. But if you are someone who had that sort of experience (like I did) then this book is perfect for you--worth five stars!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.