Mariam Sharma Hits the Road

Three Pakistani-American teenagers, on a trip through the land of pork ribs, mechanical bulls, and Confederate flags. It’s going to be quite an adventure.

The summer after her freshman year of college, Mariam is looking forward to working and hanging out with her best friends: irrepressible and beautiful Ghazala and religious but closeted Umar.

But when a scandalous photo of Ghaz appears on a billboard in Times Square, Mariam and Umar come up with a plan to rescue her from her furious parents. And what could be a better escape than a spontaneous road trip down to New Orleans?

With the heartbreaking honesty of Julie Murphy’s Dumplin’ mixed with the cultural growing pains and smart snark of When Dimple Met Rishi, this wry, remarkable road-trip story is about questioning where you come from—and choosing the family that chooses you back.

One car. Three best friends running from their secrets. A thousand miles of trouble ahead.

• Found Family: When your own parents don’t understand, you choose the friends who do. A heartfelt story about the unbreakable bond between three Pakistani-American teens—Mariam, Ghazala, and Umar.
• LGBTQ Voices: A poignant and authentic portrayal of a young gay Muslim man, Umar, navigating his faith, his friendships, and his identity while closeted from his family.
• Muslim Representation: A hilarious and honest look at the lives of modern Muslim teens, grappling with everything from parental expectations and community gossip to faith and freedom on their own terms.
• Witty Dialogue & Banter: Full of the smart snark and laugh-out-loud moments that fans of When Dimple Met Rishi will love, exploring serious themes with a light touch.

“Mariam Sharma Hits the Road, like all great road trip stories, is about finding adventure, finding surprises, and finding yourself. It’s also so much fun that it’s not until the journey is over that you realize the depth of what you’ve just read.” - Abdi Nazemian, author of The Authentics

“Sheba Karim has done it again! Funny, heartwarming, and achingly real, Mariam Sharma Hits the Road is the road-trip novel everyone needs to be reading right now.” - Sandhya Menon, New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi and From Twinkle, With Love

“Karim offers a nuanced perspective on the road trip novel, centering the experiences of three South Asian American teens who also encounter racism and Islamophobia on their journey of self-discovery. This joyously exuberant tale will speak to readers who enjoy a blend of barbed humor and poignant reflection.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

“Readers who enjoy a great road trip story and those desiring to read more ‘own voices’ stories will find much to enjoy here.” - Booklist

“An entertaining story that examines tough issues.” - Kirkus Reviews

“With warmth and intimacy, Karim explores the bond among the three protagonists, as well as their individual identity conflicts.” - Publishers Weekly

“For all of its facing of issues, Mariam Sharma feels like a celebration of being young and on the road with good friends by your side.... A fast read that’s fun, political, and the perfect addition to a summer travel bag.” - NPR