Saving Sunshine

By Saadia Faruqi & Shazleen Khan. Published by First Second. 

Softcover, 224 pages, Colour, 2023

From Saadia Faruqi and Shazleen Khan comes a relatable, funny, and heart-wrenchingly honest graphic novel about Muslim American siblings who must learn how to stop fighting and support each other in a world that is often unkind.

It's hard enough being a kid without being teased for a funny sounding name or wearing a hijab.

It's even harder when you're constantly fighting your sibling—and Zara and Zeeshan really can't stand each other. During a family trip to Florida, when the bickering, shoving, and insults reach new heights of chaos, their parents sentence them to the worst possible fate— each other’s company! But when the twins find an ailing turtle, it presents a rare opportunity for teamwork—if the two can put their differences aside at last.

"A beautiful, realistic, and important story focusing on family and sibling bonds." —Kirkus, starred review

"[A] stirring and uplifting story of family and identity." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“The art style moreover captures a variety of nuanced expressions with an approachably cute quality, offering emotional depth as well as humor and sweetness.” — The Bulletin of the Center For Children’s Books, starred review

"A relatable sibling story that approaches tough topics like discrimination with compassion and intention...heartwarming, funny, and bright." —Booklist

"A fine addition for collections seeking representation of discordant sibling relationships." —School Library Journal