Aliya, the main character in The Garden of My Imaan, may be a young Muslim girl of Indian descent, but her story is one that will resonate with readers of many backgrounds. As early adolescents, Aliya and her friends struggle with identity, boy-girl relationships, school, soccer practice, and siblings, just like any other middle schoolers. It just so happens that they also attend Quran lessons on weekends and regularly deal with ignorant comments about their appearance. Author Farhana Zia creates a nice balance of universality and more culturally specific issues, opening a door into a world that is less familiar to many Americans. A glossary of Arabic and Urdu words at the end of the book helps with comprehension. This is a relatable book well suited to starting dialogue between Middle Eastern and Western readers.