Muslim Girl: A Coming of Age Story

In this New York Times Editor’s Pick, the brilliant founder of MuslimGirl.com shares her harrowing and candid account of what it’s like to be a young Muslim woman in the wake of 9/11, during the never-ending war on terror, and through the Trump era of casual racism. At nine years old, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh watched from her home in New Jersey as two planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. That same year, she heard her first racial slur. At thirteen, her family took a trip to her father’s native homeland of Jordan, and Amani experienced firsthand a culture built on the true peaceful nature of Islam in its purest form, not the Islamic stereotypes she heard on the news. Inspired by her trip and after years of feeling like her voice as a Muslim woman was marginalized during a time when it seemed all Western media could talk about was, ironically, Muslim women, Amani created a website called Muslim Girl. As the editor-in-chief, she put together a team of Muslim women and started a life dedicated to activism. Muslim Girl: A Coming of Age is the extraordinary account of Amani’s journey through adolescence as a Muslim girl, from the Islamophobia she’s faced on a daily basis, to the website she launched that became a cultural phenomenon, to the nation’s political climate in 2016 as Donald Trump wins the presidency. While dispelling the myth that a headscarf signifies neither radicalism nor oppression, she shares both her own personal accounts and anecdotes from the “sisterhood” of writers that serve as her editorial team at Muslim Girl. Amani’s “blunt...potent message...is a skillful unraveling of the myth of the submissive Muslim woman” (The New York Times Book Review) and a deeply necessary counterpoint to the current rhetoric about the Middle East. A New York Times Editor's Pick "It is a blunt observation, reflective of the potent message she delivers to her readers, a skillful unraveling of the myth of the submissive Muslim woman and a timely introduction to those other, very American and largely unheard 9/11 kids who bear the destructive burden of that one day, every day." ? The New York Times Book Review Required reading from the founder of MuslimGirl.com?a harrowing and candid memoir about coming of age as a Muslim American in the wake of 9/11, during the never-ending war on terror, and through the Trump era of casual racism. At nine years old, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh watched from her home in New Jersey as two planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. That same year, she heard her first racial slur. At age eleven, when the United States had begun to invade Iraq and the television was flooded with anti-Muslim commentary, Amani felt overwhelmed with feelings of intense alienation from American society. At thirteen, her family took a trip to her father's native homeland of Jordan, and Amani experienced firsthand a culture built on pure religion, not Islamic stereotypes. Inspired by her trip and after years of feeling like her voice as a Muslim woman was marginalized and neglected during a time when all the media could talk about was, ironically, Muslim women, Amani created a website called MuslimGirl. As the editor-in-chief, she put together a team of Muslim women and started a life dedicated to activism. This is the extraordinary account of Amani's journey through adolescence as a Muslim girl, from the Islamophobia she's faced on a daily basis, to the website she launched that became a cultural phenomenon, to the nation's political climate in the 2016 election cycle with Donald Trump as the Republican nominee. While dispelling the myth that a headscarf makes you a walking target for terrorism, she shares both her own personal accounts and anecdotes from the "sisterhood" of writers that serve as her editorial team at MuslimGirl. Amani's honest, urgent message is fresh, timely, and a deeply necessary counterpoint to the current rhetoric about the Middle East Required reading from the founder of MuslimGirl.com--a harrowing and candid memoir about coming of age as a Muslim American in the wake of 9/11, during the never-ending war on terror, and through the Trump era of casual racism. At nine years old, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh watched from her home in New Jersey as two planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. That same year, she heard her first racial slur. At age eleven, when the United States had begun to invade Iraq and the television was flooded with anti-Muslim commentary, Amani felt overwhelmed with feelings of intense alienation from American society. At thirteen, her family took a trip to her father's native homeland of Jordan, and Amani experienced firsthand a culture built on pure religion, not Islamic stereotypes. Inspired by her trip and after years of feeling like her voice as a Muslim woman was marginalized and neglected during a time when all the media could talk about was, ironically, Muslim women, Amani created a website called MuslimGirl. As the editor-in-chief, she put together a team of Muslim women and started a life dedicated to activism. This is the extraordinary account of Amani's journey through adolescence as a Muslim girl, from the Islamophobia she's faced on a daily basis, to the website she launched that became a cultural phenomenon, to the nation's political climate in the 2016 election cycle with Donald Trump as the Republican frontrunner. While dispelling the myth that a headscarf makes you a walking target for terrorism, she shares both her own personal accounts and anecdotes from the "sisterhood" of writers that serve as her editorial team at MuslimGirl. Amani's honest, urgent message is fresh, timely, and a deeply necessary counterpoint to the current rhetoric about the Middle East In this New York Times Editors' Choice, the brilliant founder of MuslimGirl.com shares her harrowing and candid account of what it's like to be a young Muslim woman in the wake of 9/11, during the never-ending war on terror, and through the Trump era of casual racism. At nine years old, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh watched from her home in New Jersey as two planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. That same year, she heard her first racial slur. At thirteen, her family took a trip to her father's native homeland of Jordan, and Amani experienced firsthand a culture built on the true peaceful nature of Islam in its purest form, not the Islamic stereotypes she heard on the news. Inspired by her trip and after years of feeling like her voice as a Muslim woman was marginalized during a time when it seemed all Western media could talk about was, ironically, Muslim women, Amani created a website called Muslim Girl. As the editor-in-chief, she put together a team of Muslim women and started a life dedicated to activism. Muslim Girl: A Coming of Age is the extraordinary account of Amani's journey through adolescence as a Muslim girl, from the Islamophobia she's faced on a daily basis, to the website she launched that became a cultural phenomenon, to the nation's political climate in 2016 as Donald Trump wins the presidency. While dispelling the myth that a headscarf signifies neither radicalism nor oppression, she shares both her own personal accounts and anecdotes from the "sisterhood" of writers that serve as her editorial team at Muslim Girl. Amani's "blunt...potent message...is a skillful unraveling of the myth of the submissive Muslim woman" ( The New York Times Book Review ) and a deeply necessary counterpoint to the current rhetoric about the Middle East. At Nine Years Old, Amani Al-khatahtbeh Watched From Her Home In New Jersey As Two Planes Crashed Into The World Trade Center On September 11, 2001. That Same Year, She Heard Her First Racial Slur. At Age Eleven, When The United States Began Their Invasion In Iraq And The Television Was Flooded With Anti-muslim Commentary, Amani Felt Overwhelmed With Feelings Of Intense Alienation From American Society. At Thirteen, Her Family Took A Trip To Her Father's Native Homeland Of Jordan, And Amani Experienced Firsthand A Culture Built On The True Peaceful Nature Of Islam In Its Purest Form, Not The Islamic Stereotypes She Heard On The News. Inspired By Her Trip, And After Years Of Feeling Like Her Voice As A Muslim Woman Was Marginalized And Neglected By Western Media During A Time When All It Could Talk About Was, Ironically, Muslim Women, Amani Created A Website Called Muslimgirl. As The Editor In Chief, She Put Together A Team Of Muslim Women And Started A Life Dedicated To Activism. Muslim Girl: A Coming Of Age Is The Extraordinary Account Of Amani's Journey Through Adolescence As A Muslim Girl, From The Islamophobia She's Faced On A Daily Basis To The Website She Launched That Became A Cultural Phenomenon, To The Nation's Political Climate In The 2016 Election Cycle With Donald Trump As The Republican Nominee. While Dispelling The Myth That A Headscarf Is A Signifier For Radicalism Or Oppression, She Shares Both Her Own Personal Accounts And Anecdotes From The Sisterhood Of Writers That Serve As Her Editorial Team At Muslimgirl.--jacket. Amani Al-khatahtbeh. At nine years old, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh watched from her home in New Jersey as two planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. That same year, she heard her first racial slur. Muslim Girl: A Coming of Age is the extraordinary account of Amani's coming of age in a country that too often seeks to marginalize women like her. Her spirited voice and unflinching honesty offer a fresh, deeply necessary counterpoint to current rhetoric about the place of Muslims in American life