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Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali, a Story of Love, Identity, and Growth

2/19/2025

 
Leilya Pitre, a former secondary school English teacher in Ukraine and US public schools, is an associate professor and English education coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana University where she teaches methods courses for teacher candidates, advanced grammar, linguistics, and young adult literature courses for graduate and undergraduate students. Her research interests include teacher preparation, secondary school teaching, and teaching and research of young adult literature.
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Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali, a Story of Love, Identity, and Growth

​In today’s post, I just want to share with you my latest read. It was brought to my attention by one of my undergraduate students in our Young Adult literature course after we read Deborah Ellis’s My Name of Parvana (2012), the fourth book in the internationally bestselling series that includes The Breadwinner, Parvana's Journey, and Mud City.
There are books that entertain, books that make us think, and books that stay with us long after we’ve turned the last page. Love from A to Z (2019) by S.K. Ali is one of those books that does all three. This beautifully written young adult novel explores love, faith, identity, and the resilience of two Muslim teenagers navigating life’s challenges.
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An award-winning Canadian author, S.K. Ali is celebrated for her authentic and heartfelt portrayal of Muslim characters. Her debut novel, Saints and Misfits, was a finalist for the American Library Association’s William C. Morris YA Debut Award, and she continues to be a powerful voice for diverse representation in young adult literature. Inspired by her own experiences as a Muslim woman, Ali writes stories that challenge stereotypes and create space for underrepresented voices in literature.
Love from A to Z introduces us to two protagonists, Adam and Zayneb, who cross paths at a pivotal moment in their lives. Adam has recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, grappling with his future and struggling to share the news with his loved ones. Zayneb, bold and outspoken, is dealing with the pain of being suspended from school after standing up to her Islamophobic teacher. When they run across each other in Doha, Qatar, their connection sparks a journey of self-exploration, discovery, healing, and love.
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I was drawn to Love from A to Z because of its commitment to diverse representation. As someone who values stories that highlight different perspectives, I found Ali’s novel a refreshing and necessary addition to the YA literary landscape. The themes of love, self-discovery, and resilience also resonated with me, making this book a deeply rewarding read.
Ali’s portrayal of Muslim teens feels refreshingly real. The novel highlights the diversity of the Muslim experience, avoiding clichés and instead presenting multi-dimensional characters who struggle, grow, and find joy in ways that feel deeply human.
The novel doesn’t shy away from tough topics—chronic illness, prejudice, and the complexities of faith and identity—but it does so with warmth that makes it impossible to put down. The dual perspective format allows readers to step into the hearts and minds of both Adam and Zayneb, making their journeys even more compelling.
​Ali weaves the narrative through journal entries, capturing the inner thoughts of both protagonists in a way that feels deeply personal. This nonlinear approach adds an intimate layer to the story, making readers feel like they are discovering Adam and Zayneb’s worlds firsthand.
Readers who enjoyed I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman will find similar themes of unexpected connections and self-discovery in Love from A to Z. Likewise, those who appreciated All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely will recognize the novel’s commitment to tackling social justice issues and identity with authenticity. Ali’s use of nonlinear storytelling and journal-style narration adds to literary sophistication, complex nature, and uniqueness, making it stand out in the YA genre.
Beyond its skillfully written prose and engaging narrative, Love from A to Z is a book that fosters empathy. To apply Bishop’s metaphor, it offers a mirror for Muslim teens who rarely see themselves represented in mainstream literature, a window for others to understand different experiences, and a sliding door for readers to transport them into the story and help them empathize with characters.  
With overwhelmingly positive reviews from readers and critics, this book is more than just a love story—it’s a timely and necessary read that will stay with you long after you finish. If you’re looking for a novel that blends romance, identity, and social issues in an unforgettable way, Love from A to Z is a book for you. 
Have you read Love from A to Z? Have you read any other books by S.K. Ali? Let’s talk in the comments!

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    Dr. Steve Bickmore
    ​Creator and Curator

    Dr. Bickmore is a Professor of English Education at UNLV. He is a scholar of Young Adult Literature and past editor of The ALAN Review and a past president of ALAN. He is a available for speaking engagements at schools, conferences, book festivals, and parent organizations. More information can be found on the Contact page and the About page.
    Dr. Gretchen Rumohr
    Co-Curator
    Gretchen Rumohr is a professor of English and writing program administrator at Aquinas College, where she teaches writing and language arts methods.   She is also a Co-Director of the UNLV Summit on the Research and Teaching of Young Adult Literature. She lives with her four girls and a five-pound Yorkshire Terrier in west Michigan.

    Bickmore's
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    Meet
    Evangile Dufitumukiza!
    Evangile is a native of Kigali, Rwanda. He is a college student that Steve meet while working in Rwanda as a missionary. In fact, Evangile was one of the first people who translated his English into Kinyarwanda. 

    Steve recruited him to help promote Dr. Bickmore's YA Wednesday on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media while Steve is doing his mission work. 

    He helps Dr. Bickmore promote his academic books and sometimes send out emails in his behalf. 

    You will notice that while he speaks fluent English, it often does look like an "American" version of English. That is because it isn't. His English is heavily influence by British English and different versions of Eastern and Central African English that is prominent in his home country of Rwanda.

    Welcome Evangile into the YA Wednesday community as he learns about Young Adult Literature and all of the wild slang of American English vs the slang and language of the English he has mastered in his beautiful country of Rwanda.  

    While in Rwanda, Steve has learned that it is a poor English speaker who can only master one dialect and/or set of idioms in this complicated language.

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