Strongest Heart

A Schneider Family Book Award Honoree From beloved middle grade author Saadia Faruqi comes a poignant exploration of the impact of mental illness on families--and the love and hope that it takes to begin telling a different tale.

Mo is used to his father's fits of rage. When Abbu's moods shake the house, Mo is safe inside his head, with his cherished folktales: The best way to respond is not to engage. Apparently, his mama knows that too--which is why she took a job on the other side of the world, leaving Mo alone with Abbu.

With Mama gone, the two move to Texas to live with Mo's aunt and cousin, Rayyan. The two boys could not be more different. Rayyan is achievement-driven and factual; Mo is a "bad kid." Still, there is a lot to like about living in Texas. Sundays at the mosque are better than he'd expected. And Rayyan and his aunt become a real family to Mo.

But even in a warm home and school where he begins to see a future for himself, Mo knows that the monster within his father can break out and destroy their fragile peace at any moment...

• Coping with a Parent's Mental Illness: A compassionate and honest look at a father's schizophrenia and the impact it has on his son, Mo, who must learn to navigate the unpredictability of his dad's "monster."
• Pakistani-American Characters: A heartfelt middle grade contemporary novel that explores cultural identity, from Sundays at the mosque in Houston to the cherished desi folktales that help Mo make sense of his world.
• Unlikely Cousins: When Mo, the self-proclaimed "bad kid," moves in with his high-achieving cousin Rayyan, the two boys must find common ground and forge a bond that could save them both.
• Coping with Anger: Explores how Mo channels his own complicated feelings through boxing, contrasting his own struggles with his father's terrifying outbursts in a story full of heart and hope.