A/N: I am currently remaking this list as there have been quite a few additions and the formatting of this post is a bit messy. A new list will be up in the new year.
Please note: I’m speaking from the view of mainstream publishers, as there have been Islamic companies who have attempted to provide representation.
I’ve been an avid reader and lover of Young Adult novels ever since I could ever remember. I still remember my 12-year-old self borrowing the Darren Shan vampire series one by one from my school library because my parents wouldn’t buy me the entire series. I remember the day my cousin bought me all the The Hunger Games novels, and finishing them all in the space of a couple of days. I’ve been watching the increasing attention placed on diversity in literature for YA in recent year and I love that it’s happening.
In Islam, our faith rests on diversity and universal bonding through similarities. By advocating and encouraging voices to share their stories we can put them on the shelves. To future Muslim authors, I know you’re there, within the writing community, and I’m rooting for you. And with the recent news of Salaam Reads, I eagerly look forward for a broader spectrum of Muslim stories.
THIS LIST HAS BEEN UPDATED AND MOVED TO A NEW PAGE. YOU CAN NOW FIND IT HERE!!!
as told by zaheerah 
I am so glad you made this post. I think YA books need to diversify more and add more Muslim characters! I can’t wait to add these books to my tbr shelf.
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This is wonderful!! I’m so glad I came across someone who is wanting a similar trend to come up! The question is WHERE ARE WE innit??
If you are interested you can join a whole group of us on twitter promoting and spreading the word of diversity in reading. This includes calling out for Muslim writers and readers to speak out as well! 🙂 Use the #DiverseBookBloggers tag on Twitter to find more of us and book recommendations. I’ll tag you if you want to 🙂
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Thank you!! and thanks for informing me about that tag! I’ll take a look down the tag once I have more time away from revision!
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Love this! As a Muslim writer (not yet author) I acknowledge the need for more YA Muslim characters. I look forward to reading these books! 🙂
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This is such an amazing post ! I’ve been looking a lot for books with Muslim protagonists lately and I came across your post at the right time, so thank you ! 😀
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Hah. XD My parents are exactly the same with books probably because I am also a Muslim.
(Love your hijab btw- I can never do it like that)
Just as a point, I really hate it when authors just include diverse characters only for education or just for the sake of earning diversity points.
This is a review of the first book I read with a (half) Muslim protaganist and the first book I strongly hated. It is also the second book ever that I reviewed (so excuse the terrible formatting and writing).
http://reviewingdreamer.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/youre-not-proper.html
Hope to hear from you again
a.s.damea @ ReviewingDreamer/a>
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Sara Farizan’s books fit this. I have a lot of adult suggestions but not much in YA.
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I can’t believe I forgot to add Sara!! Thank you for reminding me!! Also, I’m thinking about making an Adult one in the near future once I’ve added more to this one!!
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Check out Forgotten Suns by Judith Tarr and see if it qualifies. It’s a sci-fi epic, set way in the future, where one of the main characters is a 16 year old girl. Most of the characters are people of colour and Not A Big Deal is made of this. Occasionally get reminded that the girl is of some kind of African descent, and generally goes around with her head and face covered (“niquab” is not used). The implication is that she’s Muslim, but again Not A Big Deal is made.
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Just checked and I can’t seem to find out if it is considered a YA but I’ll add it anyway because it sounds amazing! Thank you!
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yeah, I’m not a huge follower of YA, so that’s why I wasn’t sure. The only other book I’ve read from Tarr – Living in Threes – is classed as YA, so she seems to have some track record in stories where at least some of the characters are around the 16 yo mark.
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Thank you for compiling this list! I hope it grows. The only book on here I’ve read is She Wore Red Trainers.
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Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson is an exceptionally brilliant novel that focuses primarily on the plight of Muslim youth, introduces some creatures of the natural realm, and gives a spin on the Arab Spring. I recommend it!
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