Maleeha Siddiqui è una scrittrice americana di origine pakistana che racconta senza scuse storie musulmane per tutte le età. La sua scrittura si concentra sulla condivisione di autentiche esperienze musulmane, creando al contempo narrazioni avvincenti e riconoscibili. Attraverso il suo lavoro, mira a smantellare gli stereotipi e a promuovere la comprensione e l'empatia tra diverse comunità. I suoi contributi arricchiscono il panorama letterario con una rappresentazione molto necessaria.
Twelve-year-old Ainy is looking forward to working at her mother's clothing store for the summer--and someday soon wearing a hijab--but when certain boys harass her, and the boy she has a crush on does not step in, she turns to her older sister for help.
The story revolves around two boys, Ashar and Shaheer, who seem worlds apart in their lives. Ashar is focused on hockey, academics, and friendships, while Shaheer struggles with constant relocation due to his father's job, feeling rootless and lost. Their lives intersect when they discover they are long-lost twins, separated at birth. This revelation sparks a determination to reconnect with their shared past, leading them to secretly switch identities in a quest to reunite with the parent they have never known.
A contemporary debut about fitting in and finding your voice, Barakah Beats is Junior Jenny Hann meets Netflix's Julie and the Phantoms.