PRAISE FOR It’s Not Over Yet
“Hussain (The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan) presents a compassionate contemporary portrait of an honest and prickly protagonist learning to accept support as he faces his own mortality. . . . Raw and steadfast prose credibly and viscerally renders Wali’s feelings of fear, anger and overwhelm, resulting in an affirming and empowering outing.” —STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly
“The story is moving without being maudlin, and Hussain’s YA debut vividly captures Wali’s voice with humor and charm. An excellent read offering a potent reminder that life is precious.” —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
“Hussain offers readers a refreshing male protagonist who must work through messy feelings and is held accountable to deal with the consequences. . . . An excellent addition to all collections.” —School Library Journal
“Despite delving into heavy topics such as racism and religious prejudice, it is far from grim, thanks to Wali’s whimsical, often insightful narration. Hussain writes with a wonderful sensitivity to the various topics Wali deals with, showing that each of our stories is about the unique journey through it — not in the highlights or end points, but the quiet moments of understanding that change our lives forever.” —Booklist
“Hussain’s Wali as a narrator is funny, insightful, artistically inclined and realistically flawed. . . . [She] does her young protagonist justice by having him tell the story of his health crisis in first person rather than allowing a third-person narrator to speak for him.” —Hamilton Spectator
“I never imagined I would cry and laugh so hard while reading a novel about a teen boy undergoing a life-altering surgery for a tumor. It’s Not Over Yet challenges the darkness of Wali’s diagnosis while also crackling with wisdom, hope and humor. This might be Salma Hussain’s best work yet.” —Tanaz Bhathena, author of
Hunted by the Sky and The Beauty of the Moment
“A humorous and heartfelt coming-of-age novel that does not shy away from the complexities of being a teenaged boy faced with a serious health diagnosis. Wali is a fully realized protagonist who takes readers on a beautiful, messy, resilient journey of hope. Hussain captures the authenticity and universality of adolescence through Wali who you can’t help but root for!” —Jackie Khalilieh, author of You Started It
“Hussain has written a book that is at once full of heart-twinging warmth and laugh-out-loud hilarity. Her characters are as lovable as they are complex — I fell in love with every one of
them. Wali’s story is a compassionate and nuanced treatment of a young boy preparing for a life-altering brain surgery alongside the everyday complexities of growing up.” —Tanya Boteju, author of Messy Perfect
“This book is truly a gift and I found myself wanting to lean into the pages and give Wali a big hug. Profound and powerful in its authentic and emotional storytelling, It’s Not Over Yet is the story of a teen’s battle with darkness and sickness, fought with sheer willpower, raw honesty with himself and above all, seeking refuge and comfort in human connection. Wali’s story reminds us that love just might be the best medicine and the only sure way through darkness and suffering.” —Ahmad Saber, author of Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions
“Full of heart, wit and hope, It’s Not Over Yet is an unforgettable and endearing coming of age story about finding beauty amidst life’s uncertain reckonings. Wali’s authentic voice is pitch-perfect as he navigates his diagnosis, mental health, faith and the quirky cast of people in his life he learns to appreciate along the way. Part-tear jerker, part-comedy and whole-heartedly original, Salma Hussain’s YA debut is vulnerable and beautiful.” —Alaa Al-Barkawi, author of In the Country I Love
