Here to Stay

Bijan Majidi is a high school junior and varsity basketball player who suddenly finds himself in the spotlight after making the winning shot at an important game. His triumph quickly turns sour when an anonymous cyberbully starts circulating photoshopped images that paint him as a terrorist, playing on his Iranian heritage. As the hateful memes spread through the school community, Bijan must navigate complex relationships with his teammates, classmates, and school administrators. He grapples with questions of how to respond to racism while maintaining his dignity and staying true to himself. The story centers on issues of identity, belonging, and racism in contemporary American high school life. Through Bijan's experiences on and off the basketball court, Farizan examines how prejudice and fear can ripple through a community. This young adult novel tackles serious themes of discrimination and courage while exploring the universal teenage experiences of friendship, first love, and finding one's place in the world. The narrative raises questions about what it means to be both American and Middle Eastern in today's society.

Readers found the book deals thoughtfully with racism, cyberbullying, and Islamophobia through a teenage basketball player's perspective. Many connected with the authentic portrayal of high school dynamics and family relationships. Liked: - Strong depiction of Iranian-American family life - Basketball scenes feel realistic and engaging - Main character Bijan's voice comes across as genuine - Handles serious topics while maintaining moments of humor Disliked: - Some found the plot predictable - Several readers wanted more depth to secondary characters - Romance subplot feels underdeveloped - Resolution wraps up too neatly according to multiple reviews Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (90+ ratings) Kirkus Reviews: Starred Review "The basketball scenes had me on the edge of my seat" - Goodreads reviewer "Wished for more complexity in the supporting cast" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect balance of serious issues and light moments" - School Library Journal reader review

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan A Persian-American lesbian student navigates high school romance and cultural identity while keeping her sexuality hidden from her conservative family.

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan Two Iranian girls in love must face the realities of their culture's laws against homosexuality in Tehran.

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan A Bangladeshi-American teen struggles between her Muslim parents' expectations and her identity when they discover her relationship with a girl.

Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali A Muslim teen photographer confronts abuse within her religious community while discovering her own voice and strength.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat A Palestinian-American bisexual woman moves between the US and Middle East as she wrestles with cultural expectations and personal desires.

🌟 Author Sara Farizan wrote this book based on her own experiences as an Iranian-American growing up in Massachusetts 📚 The basketball scenes in the novel were inspired by Farizan's father, who coached basketball and taught her about the sport 🎨 The book addresses multiple forms of prejudice, including Islamophobia and homophobia, through the lens of high school life 🏆 Here to Stay won the 2019 Massachusetts Book Award in the Young Adult/Middle Reader category 🌍 The protagonist's family is Jordanian-Lebanese American, representing the diverse Arab-American experience that is still rarely featured in young adult literature