Laila Sabreen

In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths. Sabriya has her whole summer planned out in color-coded glory, but those plans go out the window after a terrorist attack near her home. When the terrorist is assumed to be Muslim and Islamophobia grows, Sabriya turns to her online journal for comfort. You Truly Assumed was never meant to be anything more than an outlet, but the blog goes viral as fellow Muslim teens around the country flock to it and find solace and a sense of community. Soon two more teens, Zakat and Farah, join Bri to run You Truly Assumed and the three quickly form a strong friendship. But as the blog's popularity grows, so do the pushback and hateful comments. When one of them is threatened, the search to find out who is behind it all begins, and their friendship is put to the test when all three must decide whether to shut down the blog and lose what they've worked for...or take a stand and risk everything to make their voices heard.

You Truly Assumed

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"assume" also means forming opinions with no facts to back them up...it's genius!

You truly assumed is a sarcastic way of telling someone they should've seen something coming. It's perfect because I should've seen the reaction to the attack from miles away.

It’s scary that names can speak for someone before they’re given the chance to even open their mouth. Names can decide between who lives and dies. Between who can live in peace and who has to live in fear. Between those who can tell their own story and those whose stories are assumed before they can even pick up a pen. Some people already have preconceived notions of who they think I am or who I should be, just because I’m a young Black Muslim woman. Maybe that’s why I journal. I want to write my own story.

It’s gross that people get to have racist, Islamophobic, or homophobic or any of the other countless “phases” that get written off as them simply being children. Especially without any regard as to how what they said or did during their “phase” hurt others.

I think back to the doodle I drew recently of a girl with woods growing out of her heart. I’m Lullwood, my roots are here. But I don’t know how far I can go without risking the possibility of ripping them out from the soil. And if I lose my roots, then I lose everything. I’m Lullwood. But that can’t be all that I am.

I’m constantly aware of my existence, my being being politicized. As a young Black Muslim woman, I’ve gotten used to having all three identities politicized. Or having others try to separate the three and try to act like just one is central to my existence. I used to try to do the same, until I realized it was impossible. I’m Black and Muslim and a young woman. Have you all ever felt this before? Feeling like you have to separate your different identities in order to fit a particular space?

 This tingling in the fingers and the
weighted feeling of believing that change can be created.

And in the moment, Zooming with two people I would’ve never met had I not taken a chance, and returning to something that helps me feel healed when it’s so easy to feel broken, those words feel true.

You Truly Assumed quotes

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