Six Truths and a Lie

January 1, 2024
Muslim high school students in Los Angeles are accused of a terrorist attack on the Fourth of July. When a fatal explosion causes tremendous damage at Monarch Beach, six Muslim teenagers become suspects. The story unfolds in chapters that alternate between the viewpoints of Nasreen Choudhry, who attends a private Catholic school where she's the only Pakistani American in her classes; Palestinian Arab American Qays Sharif, a soccer player with a 4.4 GPA and a Stanford scholarship; Lebanese and Syrian American social media influencer Samia Al-Samra; Zamzam Thompson, who's Black and an aspiring doctor; Afghan immigrant Muzhda Ahmad, whose family has a secret; and Sudani American Abdullahi Talib, an EMT in training. Each of them have something to hide from their families as well as complicated family relationships and expectations. Two white investigators, federal agent Kandi Favreau and Detective Micky Pennella, seem determined to use the teens' Muslim identities and ethnicities to frame them. In her sophomore novel, Shukairy writes leads who have different goals, ambitions, and dreams. She clearly captures each of the characters' confusion and fear as they are arrested. Facing pressure from family members and lawyers, the young people must decide whether they want to fight for their collective freedom and innocence or frame one another. Tensions run high as the trial proceeds, and readers will be surprised by a twist toward the end. This story of post-9/11 America clearly depicts how lives can change overnight when those in power control the narrative. A powerful and timely read. (Fiction. 13-18)

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Starred review from January 8, 2024
In this audacious novel by Shukairy (The Next New Syrian Girl), a group of Muslim teenagers suspected of a terrorist attack face pressure from the press, the police, and their own families to turn against one another. Dubbed the Six, the teens—Abdullahi, Muzhda, Nasreen, Qays, Samia, and Zamzam—each come from varying backgrounds; some of them are looking forward to bright futures while others are barely surviving their everyday lives. When all six are picked up by police from Monarch Beach after an oil rig explosion on the Fourth of July, they experience overwhelming Islamophobic paranoia from authorities, are denied basic rights upon their detention, and are kept in the dark about their situations. As new evidence is revealed and investigators threaten to drag the teens’ own secrets into the spotlight, the Six are encouraged to inform on one another to secure their freedom. Now, they each must decide where their loyalties lie by opting to frame a friend or work together. Shukairy swings for the fences, breathing life into each of the six leads who narrate this exhilarating read; interweaving relationships establish a credible and indelible emotional through line, and the story’s resolution is both heartbreaking and stunningly executed. Ages 12–up. Agent: Serene Hakim, Ayesha Pande Literary.

March 15, 2024
Grades 9-12 The lives of six Muslim teens from the Los Angeles area were forever changed when Monarch Beach exploded on the Fourth of July. Now in custody, the teens--known in the news as the Independence Day Six--are being held as potential terrorists responsible for blowing up an oil rig. Separated from their families, their communities, and their rights as American citizens, they are left with only each other as confidants. But how far can their trust go when the authorities are offering freedom in exchange for betraying the others? Shukairy deeply (and impressively) explores the inner lives of the Six through alternating points of view. Though they are all bound by religion and have ethnicities rooted in the Middle East, each character is unique, with experiences spanning the social and economic strata of American society. Concurrently, the plot takes on the trappings of a taut legal thriller, spotlighting how prejudice toward Muslims still exists in America, especially in the legal system. This combination makes for a captivating read, showcasing resilience and courage in the face of intolerable circumstances.

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Starred review from June 7, 2024

Gr 10 Up-When an explosion rocks a Fourth of July celebration, six Muslim teens are accused of terrorism. All the teens, from various Los Angeles high schools, were attending the annual bonfire sponsored by the Muslim Student Association. Of the six, only two actually knew each other, but before the night is over, they are irrevocably linked forever. Arrested and incarcerated, they experience harsh and unfair treatment because of their homelands and religion. Add to this a police and judicial system that works against them even when knowing the truth, and Shukairy's book is so realistic that it hurts. Each of the six main characters are fully drawn, believable, and sympathetic. The plot structure moves back and forth among the characters and shows each perspective of the events. While the minor gothic element is a bit off-putting and unnecessary, it does not damage the impact of the book. Both the writing and story are so intense at times that readers may find they have to stop to take a breath before continuing. VERDICT Highly recommended for high school students, this would make a great reading group book to discuss.-Janet Hilbun

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