That Thing We Call a Heart

This young adult novel by Sheba Karim, author of Skunk Girl, is a funny and affecting coming-of-age story for fans of Jenny Han, Megan McCafferty, and Sara Farizan. A Kirkus Best Book of 2017!

Shabnam Qureshi is facing a summer of loneliness and boredom until she meets Jamie, who scores her a job at his aunt’s pie shack. Shabnam quickly finds herself in love, while her former best friend, Farah, who Shabnam has begun to reconnect with, finds Jamie worrying.

In her quest to figure out who she really is and what she really wants, Shabnam looks for help in an unexpected place—her family, and her father’s beloved Urdu poetry.

That Thing We Call a Heart is a funny and fresh story about the importance of love—in all its forms.

But as Shabnam navigates a new romance and an old friendship, can the secrets of centuries-old poetry really guide a modern heart?

• First Love: Shabnam is falling hard for Jamie, the charming boy from the pie shack. But her best friend Farah sees red flags, forcing Shabnam to question everything.
• Complicated Friendships: A heartfelt exploration of a friendship between two Muslim teens trying to reconnect after drifting apart while navigating faith, identity, and boys.
• A Journey of Self-Discovery: With college just around the corner, Shabnam turns to her father’s beloved Urdu poetry for answers about who she is and what she truly wants.
• South Asian Voices: A funny, fresh, and authentic contemporary YA novel about a Pakistani-American girl finding her own way in the world.

“This is a warm-hearted story that may encourage readers, like Shabnam, to find possibilities in greater human connections.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“[W]hat sets this funny, dialogue-heavy read apart is its nuanced examination of identity... Fans of Sara Zarr and Jenny Han and readers of realistic fiction will enjoy this thoughtful, witty offering.” - School Library Journal

“Populated by complicated characters who are so well described readers will feel they might bump into them on the street, Karim’s second novel delivers on its title’s promise.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Funny, fresh, and poignant, Karim’s (Skunk Girl, 2009) novel is noteworthy for its authentic depiction of a Pakistani American teen coming of age and falling in love.” - Booklist