WE ARE BIG TIME: (A Graphic Novel), by Hena Khan and Safiya Zerrougui, Knopf Books for Young Readers, Aug. 6, 2024, Paperback, $13.99 (ages 8-12)
A Muslim teen as she joins an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team in We Are Big Time, a graphic novel by Hena Khan and Safiya Zerrougui.
Aliya is new to Wisconsin, and everything feels different than Florida. The Islamic school is bigger, the city is colder, and her new basketball team is…well, they stink.
Aliya’s still excited to have teammates (although the team’s captain, Noura, isn’t really Aliya’s biggest fan), and their new coach really understands basketball (even if she doesn’t know much about being Muslim). This season should be a blast…if they could just start to win. As they strengthen their skills on the court, Aliya and the Peace Academy team discover that it takes more than talent to be great — it’s teamwork and self-confidence that defines true success. —Synopsis provided by Knopf Books for Young Readers
We Are Big Time is a fictionalized story based on the real-life experiences of the Salem School girls’ varsity high school basketball team in Milwaukee, Wis., during their 2018-19 season. Author Hena Khan interviewed the coach and several players, and used their answers as inspiration for the book.
Because of this, We Are Big Time feels weighted in reality. And while basketball is the central topic running through the book, it goes beyond sport. Themes of family, friendship, culture, finding your place on a team and differentiating yourself all come into play, and they all feel well explored and authentic.
Safiya Zerrougui’s illustrations are a great extension of Khan’s text. Her linework is smooth and her characters are expressive.
We Are Big Time is an uplifting graphic novel that will appeal to athletes, girls and fans of contemporary stories. It’s a great option, especially now, with so many kids buzzing about all the action they saw during the Olympics.
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