Who did George try to find out
I Am Thunder – Love or Hate?
The book
I am reading is I Am Thunder by Muhammad Khan. I have not finished the whole book yet, but so far I actually find it very interesting. When I first started reading it, I was not sure if I would like it because it deals with some serious subjects. However, the more I read, the more interested I become in Muzna and what is happening in her life.
The main character is Muzna Saleem, a British Muslim teenager with Pakistani parents. She is quite shy and does not have much confidence in herself, especially in the beginning. Her parents are also very strict and have many expectations of her. For example, they want her to become a doctor, even though Muzna actually dreams about becoming a writer. I think this is an interesting part of her character because she wants to make her parents happy, but at the same time she wants to make her own choices.
After changing schools, Muzna wants to change herself too. She thinks, “I promised myself this time would be different. I would stand up for myself.” I like this quote because it shows that she knows she needs to become more confident. At the same time, it is not that easy to just deciding to change.
She still worries a lot about what other people think about her.
Another important character is Arif Malik. Muzna is surprised when he starts showing interest in her because he is confident, while she does not really see herself in that way. Their relationship makes the story more exciting because Muzna clearly likes him and enjoys finally getting attention from someone like him. There are also some funny and awkward moments between them. For example, Muzna thinks, “Thing is, we were Pakistanis. Kissing was illegal.” I found this funny because it shows Muzna’s personality.
However, as I continue reading, the story is becoming more serious. Arif is not exactly the person Muzna first thought he was. His brother Jameel also starts to influence Muzna and her thoughts about religion. This makes me wonder what will happen next. I feel like Muzna maybe have to make some difficult choices later in the story.
One of the biggest themes I have noticed so far is identity. Muzna is trying to understand who she wants to be while different people are telling her what is right and wrong. The book also brings up racism and Islamophobia. I think this makes the story more meaningful because these problems affect how Muzna sees herself and other people.
I also like the language in the book. It is quite modern and there is a lot of slang, which makes me, as a teenager feel more entertained.
So far, I would say that I like I Am Thunder. I especially like that it mixes normal teenage problems, such as school, parents, confidence and relationships, with more serious topics. Sometimes I disagree with Muzna’s decisions, but that actually makes me want to continue reading. I am curious to see what happens to her and whether she will become more confident and start making her own choices.