Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui
Published by Scholastic Press on October 19, 2021
ISBN: 1338702068
Pages: 288
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

A tender story about a Muslin girl who starts attending her local public school after years of religious education.  Any middle school student suffers the typical emotional ups and downs and Nimra is no exception.  She struggles with making right decisions relating to her faith and family expectations while trying to fit in.  The existence of an eight-grade band adds dimension and challenges the character.  This is a story about a strong girl who knows herself and finds a way to demonstrate her values.

Readers will be drawn to well defined characters and to the inclusion of music in the storyline.  The use of some technology adds realism without making the story dependent on emails.  Barakah Beats provides an old-fashioned approach to friendships.  Add to intermediate and middle grade media centers and to juvenile collections in public libraries.