Description
Salma embraces her voice and speaks up for herself and her friends in book 4 of the award-winning Salma series.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection • A Silver Birch Express Award nominee
Salma’s best friend Riya has had a secret: she dreams of becoming a poet! So when their school’s Speech Club announces an assembly where the winner will get a spot in a city-wide writing workshop, Riya convinces Salma to join the club with her. But Nathan, another member of the club, keeps criticizing the girls for not speaking English “correctly.”
Salma grows increasingly frustrated: why does Nathan get to decide which accents are good or bad? Also, Salma is worried about her beloved Khalou Dawood, who keeps canceling their dinner plans, although he claims he’s not sick. Through research and discussions with her family, Salma discovers what might be impacting Khalou and also gains the courage and confidence to embrace her voice and speak up for herself and others.
*A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Author Bio
Prizes
- Silver Birch Express AwardNominated 2026
Review Quotes
“With warmth and honesty, Ramadan explores the challenges immigrants face around identity, belonging, and mental health, and the strength it takes to be true to oneself. A simple yet powerful story about taking a stand, embracing who you are, and caring for others.”
