You Truly Assumed

Gr 8 Up–Aspiring ballerina Sabriya’s summer plans to audition for the American Ballet Theater (ABT) are derailed when a terrorist attack in DC hits way too close to home. Across the country, fellow Black Muslim teens Zakat and Farah are also dealing with a shift in plans: Zakat’s childhood enemy has been hired to work at the Georgia bookstore where she is employed, and Farah is being sent from California to visit her father’s new family in Massachusetts. When Sabriya’s online journal post is accidentally made public, she takes the opportunity to start a blog she names “You Truly Assumed.” When the blog goes viral, Zakat (an artist) and Farah (a fledgling programmer) join the admin team of the site, and together the girls create a safe online space for fellow Black Muslim teens to feel seen and heard. As the blog gains readers and recognition, hateful comments and threats build to a tipping point, and the trio must decide whether to back down in the face of cyberbullies or speak up about their experiences. Timely discussions of Islamophobia, racism, microaggressions, and the intersectionality of being both Black and Muslim in America will resonate with some readers and enlighten others. Though some aspects may seem a little too convenient (Sabriya willingly puts her plans to audition for the ABT off an entire year, which seems unrealistic for a dedicated dancer), each teen grows into her own throughout the novel and emerges stronger and more resilient, with a clearer picture of herself and those around her.