Here to Stay

August 13, 2018
A private New England high school becomes the scene of bigoted bullying in a timely novel by Farizan (If You Could Be Mine). When narrator Bijan Majidi, of Jordanian and Persian descent, scores a winning basket for the varsity basketball team, his popularity rises. It also garners him more friends and brings him closer to his crush, Elle, whom he joins in campaigning to change the school mascot, the Gunner, to something nonviolent. Then someone sends the entire school an anonymous email, captioned “Our New Mascot,” with an image of Bijan Photoshopped to portray him as a terrorist. While Bijan’s single mother and some classmates protest this hate crime, Bijan resists becoming the symbol for “eradicat campus intolerance.” But when a similar attack targets two of his lesbian friends, he realizes the issue goes far beyond himself, eventually leading him to take a courageous public stance. Bijan’s narrative voice includes imaginary live analysis from his two favorite NBA commentators, adding humor to heavy subject matter. A diverse cast of well-developed supporting characters, including several who Bijan thinks might be the cyberbully, add a suspenseful mystery to this top-notch high school drama. Ages 13–17. Agent: Susan Ginsburg, Writers House.

Narrator Jonathan Todd Ross delivers a relevant and timely story about bullying, Islamophobia, and racism. Bijan Majidi is a nerdy junior varsity jock at the Granger School in Boston. After winning a playoff game, he finds himself part of the popular group at Granger. However, he discovers that not everyone is thrilled about him when he receives an anonymous email with his picture photoshopped to look like a terrorist. Ross's powerful voice perfectly reflects Bijan's personality. In some instances, however, he fails to make the female characters' voices distinct. Since the audiobook has basketball elements to it, Ross also delivers a lively sports commentator's play-by-play every time Bijan becomes pensive. Teens aren't the only ones who will appreciate this listen. A.C. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine