I absolutely loved this book and the important messages it contained. One that I will recommend to young readers within my classroom.

Hanan has always adhered to the expectations of being a good, quiet girl, avoiding trouble even when subjected to racist bullying by her classmates and becoming the poster girl for her teachers' idealized version of a Muslim student. Despite their limited perception beyond her headscarf, Hanan knows she is more than the surface. However, when a local man is murdered, tensions escalate, and Muslims become targets for intensified abuse.

Facing a harrowing attack, Hanan decides it's time to break her silence and assert her voice. Ayaan Mohamed's compelling debut, filled with powerful poignancy and heart-wrenching honesty, narrates the journey of Hanan, a courageous teenage girl navigating bigotry and Islamophobia in her prestigious London grammar school and the broader local community. The narrative, beautifully written, evokes deep emotions, provoking both sobs and heartbreak for the pain endured by Hanan and her family. Simultaneously, it skillfully highlights the warmth, love, and vibrancy of Somali culture, challenging negative media portrayals of what it truly means to be Muslim and a refugee in contemporary Britain. In essence, this poignant narrative provides a nuanced representation of Muslims, addressing challenging topics while illuminating the resilience and strength of the characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the galley in exchange for an honest review.

he way FMC develops as a character throughout the story touched me, from the girl trying to be invisible in college to the girl who spoke up and made an impact. I hate that this is a fact, especially for Muslim girls whose dress can make their lives miserable because others don't accept or understand beliefs different from their own. their beliefs.

The character Jessica is also essential in the story. A girl does what she is told, not what she finds good. Humans don't and shouldn't act like sheep; hate begets hate is an outdated concept and shouldn't be a reality anymore.
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I found this novel to be really hard to read but so pertinent for the times we are living in.

It affected me emotionally and will stay with me for some time.

Hanan has always been good and quiet - keeping the peace, not reacting to racist abuse. She has kept her head down, fitted in until the death of her school caretaker - her friend - by a Muslim. This event causes ruptures within her friendship group and makes her question her own way of living. She finds everyone is angry at her, at Muslims again.

Her twin brother drops out of college and suddenly has a lot of money - her desire to protect him leads them both to be attacked. This makes Hanan realise she must find her voice and shout.

I can appreciate what this book is doing. It's so important to see diversity in the pages of YA books. Not only so people can read about real life experiences, but so there are characters that everyone can relate to.
Well written, important. Easy to read.

This is such an important read. It’s a hard look at bullying, racism and islamophobia. Even though it’s a tough topic it is written so beautifully. I loved the insight into Somali culture and as a non religious person I really enjoyed reading Hanan’s reflections and what her religion meant to her. Hanan is so badass and just an incredible character. I loved her friends and family but also the realistic portreal of not always getting on. It's a heartbreaking read in places and I definitely cried a few times. It shows beautifully that just because someone lives their life differently doesn't mean it's wrong. Highly recommend. especially for YA who may be struggling with feeling different.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

What I enjoyed most about this book is the healthy representation of young Muslim characters that are visibly proud of their faith and actively practising, praying, and interacting with the Quran. It is essential to read about characters choosing their faith daily and consistently in a way that can challenge a non-Islamic narrative that tends to treat eager and comfortable participation of religion as some form of oppression for young girls/women.
I also found it satisfying to see how her Somali culture layered into her identity through the foods she cooked and ate, her language, clothing, and her community.

I think people should care about stories like this and it has its place in literature as a whole. It touches on complexities and coming-of-age storytelling that may not be common to come across. Personally, reading this book was a bit triggering, but I think that's a good thing because it tapped into something within the reader (me). Completing this read felt like a sigh of relief without realising I was holding my breath throughout the reading. My younger self would have appreciated this book.

This was a YA debut novel, I think the author did a good job and should be proud of their work. I'll definitely look forward to what they publish next.

“I wonder how different these words would've been if it had been Hussein there that night with a knife in his hands and hate in his heart. How different this story would’ve looked and whether they would’ve called him an angel boy or a devil. If they would've called his violence an act of terrorism instead of something mild, wrapped in a bow of deceit and justification, like a breakdown.”

Wow this book was brilliant! It follows the story of Hanan, a Somali refugee living in London and attending a prestigious grammar school. When a violent mugging happens in the area, the local community focusses it’s fear and hatred on Muslims living in the area.

This is such an important book for so many reasons. It shines a light on racism and Islamophobia within schools and society, and the way in which this is perpetuated by sensationalist stories in the media.

This is a YA book so is highly accessible and fast-paced. Some parts were shocking but the author deals with these well. Muslims are a very underrepresented group within YA literature so it was great to learn more about Somali culture and see Hanan practicing her faith throughout.

Hanan is an intelligent and strong main character who has been taught to keep quiet and not attract attention for fear of how others will react to her. As the book progresses it was so inspiring to see her starting to find and use her voice.

This is a book that should be stocked in all schools/colleges and one everyone should read.

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

An empowering and timely debut, You Think You Know Me touches on the racial and Islamophobic ideals which are to this day very present in British society, particularly calling this out in the education system.

We follow Hanan who dreams of following in her late father’s footsteps and becoming a doctor so is determined to work hard towards the entrance exam that is looming around the corner. However, when a local incident gives rise to heightened Islamophobia in the community and a potential change in school policies Hanan must decide whether she is going to keep her head down and be the token Muslim student she is expected to be or if she is going to use her voice to speak for what is right.

Touching on themes of family and cultural identity it is just as much an elder daughter’s story and refugee story as it is a Muslim one, and is all about standing your ground and being true to yourself in the face of hate and prejudice. Of learning to accept that you don’t need to justify who you are and sacrifice your identity to fit in with the status quo or for the benefit to those who are blinded by their ignorance.

Mohamud’s writing brilliantly voices Hanan’s character and emotions and also shapes the various supporting characters of the story too, making them and their experiences feel authentic and really brings the important messages at the heart of this book across. The relationships, both those involving family and friends, were so wholesome and though there were some very hard moments to get through in the story there were also some wonderfully heart-warming and humorous scenes too.

As a British Muslim myself I am fortunate to have lived in diverse communities and attended schools where incidents like those that occurred in this book are rare but you just have to go looking into the news to see that they are more than just fiction.

I think I’m not alone in saying that this would be a great book to have in schools/libraries for young readers to pick up but it is definitely a book that people of all ages can take something away from.
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book is so powerful and needed in the young adult market. Representation of young Muslim women (or young Muslims or any kind) is so rare, and especially ones that are devout. Mohamud tackles racism in all its guises, from overt attacks to microaggressions and calls for integration, with a sensitivity that is admirable. This book should be in every school library (or every library in general!).

A great book that I would recommend to all. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.

This was such a powerful novel that left a lasting effect on me, shining a light on how hurtful and devastating hate crimes truly are.

Wow, why a story! I loved Hanan - her quiet strength and determination to succeed. Her story is told as a first person narrative, allowing us to understand her thoughts and feelings about her friends, her school and her faith, as well as how she deals with the racist comments and treatment she receives. As the story unfolds, we find out more about her background and why her family left Somalia, about her relationship with her mum and her twin brother, about the delicate balance of friendships at school. The language used and the treatment she receives from her school and the police are eye opening. It's a book that will stay with me and I feel is important for people to read to gain a better perspective on racism and it's impact on 'ordinary' Muslims.

This book is so, very important, especially with the on-going racism + islamophobia that's happening in Europe and all over the world right now. I'm grateful for the realistic portrayal of the life of Hanan - her behaviour, emotions and the growth that we experienced. The way the teachers and even the Head of the school behaved, infuriated me so so much, but I guess that is just the world we live in. What a thought-provoking, authentic and powerful book.

THINK YOU KNOW ME is one of those books that will have you raging at the sheer awfulness of people, but also smiling at the warmth of relationships. The characters are so well imagined and real, and although it is an “issues” book: taking head on Islamaphobia, bullying (including “by-standers” and the harm they cause), and racism; the insight into Somali culture and Hanan’s reflections on religion are also wonderfully written. I asked debut author Ayaan Mohamud a few questions...

I preface this review by saying I’m a white privileged middle aged woman who has been humbled by the rawness of the content of this book. This is a very powerful book which takes the reader into the inner sanctum of what it is like to be a Muslim, a refugee and try to live, work and assimilate into British society in these times. It made me ashamed of some recognised behaviour from white so called Christians in our community and I think it’s about time they got called out for their racist views. There were parts of the book where I felt the scenario was contrived, particularly as the book is set in modern day London and I really don’t believe that there is any school where there are only 20 Muslim pupils. However I am prepared to overlook this anomaly for the sake of the impact of this story. I particularly enjoyed the relationships in the family and learned a little about Somali culture. All the characters were well defined and this made the book easy to read (even if the content wasn’t an easy read). I’m glad that this book has been supported by what is fundamentally a white middle class industry and I hope Hanan’s voice is widely heard. Well done Ayaan Mohumud for writing a book of our time.

‘You Think You Know Me’ is a book that belongs in every secondary school library; it’s heartfelt and educational, all whilst being engaging and brilliantly written. It carries important messages too, of acceptance, bravery and kindness to name a few.

Every character is well-developed and unique, but Hanan stands out as being particularly so. She’s truly the heroine of this story, with her twin Hussein being a noble hero too. Their sibling dynamic (complete with their teasing and tender moments) is as engaging as their individual character arcs and several moments between the two of them had me tearing up. The two deeply care for each other, and Ayaan Mohamud did a brilliant job of ensuring that was always evident.

Abooto and Hooyo (Hanan’s grandmother and mother) also stand out as especially brilliant characters. They have suffered horrendous trauma (as have Hanan and her siblings) but they still find good in the world and pass on positivity to their family. Abooto had some very funny moments too, and I was thrilled to see elements of my own Nan in her. I learnt a lot about both Islam and Somali culture from the Ali family - and this novel in general - and I hope that recommending this book to others will help them do the same.

The trigger warnings are certainly not to be ignored in this novel, with racism, bullying and Islamophobia being explored in detail. Hearing a first-hand account of how Muslim people in England suffer is heart-breaking and eye-opening all at once, but so, so important. Thank you so much Ayaan Mohamud for writing such a beautiful book, even if it did completely shatter my heart. It shares some similarities with A. M. Dassu’s ‘Fight Back’, but is definitely suited towards older readers.

This is such an important book.

I urge everyone to pick it up. It's heart-wrenching and upsetting, but it's a topic that desperately needs to be addressed and discussed. Islamophobia is a theme not featured in many books. And I think this one tackled it quite well. I also loved the writing and the direction of the story. I highly recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc!

YTYM is a necessary read. After the media coverage of a murder in North West London renders the perpetrator a terrorist based only on race, Hanan Ali, a Muslim Somalian, straight A achieving student, faces bullying and islamophobia at her prestigious grammar school. Hanan always tries to keep a low profile at school, her ultimate goal is to pass the admissions test to Medical School, but the onslaught of abuse from her peers and condescending attitude by the principal isolates Hanan further. The story broke my heart in so many places, especially the second half; Hanan and the bond she shares with her twin brother Hussein is everything. This is a story about finding your voice to stand up against hate crime and the beauty in diversity. 

There are so many aspects that I enjoyed - reading about Somalian culture and heritage, Hanan's equation with each of her family members felt personal and relatable, and most importantly, her faith and beliefs, the strength, peace and clarity Hanan gets from reciting prayers. I laud Ayaan Mohamud's efforts for writing this narrative, a story which needed to be told. This is representation in its purest form. I wanted to give it 4.5 stars because the ending felt rushed but on reflection, I am glad the way it concluded and I understand why Hanan's future was left to the reader's imagination. A brilliant debut and I look forward to more!

Thank you Netgalley and Usborneya for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Headlines:
Insider young person's view
Racism in the UK
Pervading hope for better

I read this blurb and knew the book would hurt, and so it should. Reading this was tense because I came to care for Hanan. Her life had it's tough elements, then the things that happened around her and to her increased that difficulty ten fold. Hanan had a strong family but it was fraying in many ways.

As a character Hanan was determined and strong but she could be bruised, battered and crushed by events and people. The events in this book felt authentic, relatable to things I've read in the media but haven't experienced myself. That said, I feel like I lived and learnt through this book, carried away by the characters and stories.

Don't expect a comfortable read here, expect discomfort, some bubbling rage and frustration with processes and people. Expect heartache too, a longing and some hope on the horizon. I've been purposely vague in my thoughts because this is a read to experience for yourself.

Ayaan Mohamud has a compelling narrative voice that seeks to advocate and empower. Please check out some Muslin reviewers on this title.

Thank you to Usbourne Publishing for the review copy.