You Think You Know Me

You Think You Know Me Synopsis

People like me are devils before we are angels.

Hanan has always been good and quiet. She accepts her role as her school's perfect Muslim poster girl. She ignores the racist bullies. A closed mouth is gold - it helps you get home in one piece.

Then her friend is murdered and every Muslim is to blame. The world is angry at us again. How can she stay silent while her family is ripped apart? It's time for Hanan to stop being the quiet, good girl. It's time for her to stand up and shout.

Compelled to write the story following the tragic deaths of Shukri Abdi, a 12-year-old Somali refugee, and Lee Rigby, a British Army soldier, Ayaan was keen to shine a light on the real-life stories behind the headlines.

She explores how the backlash from a crime committed by a Muslim affects an entire community and leads to a vicious cycle of violence. Offering insight into what it’s like to be confronted with Islamophobia at school during a time when hate crimes against Muslims are on the rise, this inspiring and powerful story is about finding the strength to speak up against hate, fear and injustice.

Ayaan aims to unite and create much-needed empathy and understanding among young generations of readers.

She said: “Like most Muslims living in the West, I have never forgotten the first time I experienced Islamophobia, and the fear of being abused because of my faith has always been a constant shadow. I wanted to explore this in You Think You Know Me, and also consider how different this experience might be from the point of view of a refugee who has already faced so much in a difficult world.

“This story is everything I never read in books growing up because Hanan actively chooses her faith. It’s a beautiful part of her character that I was excited to write and for readers to see and I hope too that it proves educational for people who may not know much about Islam. “Up until now, the representation of Muslim characters in Young Adult books has been dire, and this is amplified when you consider the lack of characters who are visibly Muslim or who actively practise their faith.

I believe it is vitally important that representation of all groups is shown across the spectrum of lived experiences and I can’t wait to see how readers respond to Hanan and her inspirational story.”