Fatima Tate Takes the Cake

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Seventeen-year-old Fatima Tate dreams of becoming a baker and enjoying innocent flirtation with her attractive friend Raheem, but her strict Muslim parents would never approve. Leading a typical life filled with drives with her best friend Zaynab, mosque services, family gatherings, and volunteering at a soup kitchen, Fatima's world shifts when she meets charming university student Raheem. To avoid her parents' wrath, she keeps their budding relationship secret. However, everything changes when their parents decide to arrange their marriage. Initially, it seems like fate, but soon after the engagement, Raheem's demeanor shifts from charming to controlling. When Fatima realizes she must end the engagement, Raheem threatens to expose their premarital relationship, risking her family's reputation in their close-knit community. Fatima faces the challenge of finding her inner strength to assert her autonomy over her body, choices, and future. This powerful coming-of-age story resonates with the authenticity of Elizabeth Acevedo and the intricate social dynamics of Ibi Zoboi, offering a vital voice to young Black Muslim women.