Borderline (review)

Mohammed Sami Sabiri, called Sami, has always felt like an outsider in his suburban Rochester home because of his Islamic faith and traditional Iranian parents. A recent incident involving Mary Louise Prescott's bra has landed him in private high school and away from his only friends, Andy and Marty. There he is tormented by bully Eddy "Duh Turd" and administrators who value alumni funds over students' rights, though he finds a friend in gay teacher Mr. Bernstein. Chafing under his father's rules, he rebels with a clandestine boat trip to Andy's family cottage in Canada. Shortly after, Sami's world is shattered as FBI agents ransack his family's home and arrest his father, director of a research lab, on charges of consorting with a known terrorist cell. The ensuing media storm and wild accusations against his father leave Sami determined to find out the truth. On one level the book is fast-paced suspense; on another, an examination of xenophobia toward Muslim-Americans (and -Canadians) and the resulting oppression of even innocent citizens. Plenty of male teen wit—"his cheeks are flapping so hard, his ass'll get windburn"—makes it an engaging and solid portrayal of guy friendship as well. Though the book goes a little over the top with its messages and plot contrivances, it struggles to examine some issues that haven't gotten much play in young adult literature, and it pushes readers to question what is real in the face of fear, intolerance and media frenzies around depictions of terrorists, just as Sami is forced to question his own father. A timely addition to YA lit about Muslim Americans, this will find an audience among those hungry for insight or commiseration.