Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions by Ahmad Saber

I’m going to say something controversial but not unexpected given my reputation as a queer-friendly Muslim and rabid Arsenal fan: everyone in this book has terrible taste in football teams. I was somewhat mollified by the fact that the actual football-playing scenes are really rad, tho the conceit that losing a competition would reflect poorly on the star player is a convenient nonsense that, fortunately, is not brought to any illogical conclusions here.

And that’s the genius of this excellent Young Adult novel about a Pakistani Canadian teenager struggling with his sexuality and faith: none of the conclusions feel glib or unrealistic or even overly dramatic. Everything in this book feels very real. And I’m saying that not only because this book was inspired by the author’s own life, but because I’ve lived through many similar experiences myself. I might not necessarily agree with everything our titular protagonist decides on (possibly because I come from a much less constipated school of jurisprudence than he does. Like, the prohibition on music and birthday parties made me lol, even tho I recognize that plenty of hardliners are against both,) but I do agree with him that Allah is the only one who can judge a person, and that it’s better to live and let live than to police those acts that don’t actually curtail others’ lives, liberties and pursuits of happiness.

Anyway, this novel tells the tale of Ramin Abbas, the eldest son of immigrant parents who’ve enrolled him in the conservative Muslim but academically rigorous Hikma High School. He’s dead set on getting into pre-med at NYU so that he can a) become a pediatrician, and b) check out shows on Broadway. His parents frown on music, and it’s probably best not to talk about the way his dad freaked out when Ramin tried on one of his mother’s hijabs and lipstick when he was much younger. Their family only eats halal and are all regulars at their (also) conservative mosque.

Ramin is a good God-fearing kid who just wants to keep his head down and reconcile his love of Allah with the many things he’s forbidden from doing and being. Maybe once he’s on his own in New York City, he’ll be able to quietly explore musicals and other haram topics. In the meantime, he’s happy to focus on academics and being a good Muslim son.

His path towards graduation is looking pretty sunny until Mr Jamal, the academy’s headmaster, drops a bombshell. While Ramin passed the theory part of physical education, he still needs fifty hours of actual active movement to graduate. Fortunately (or otherwise,) the academy’s seven a side men’s football team needs a new member, especially with several important games upcoming. If Ramin plays, he’ll get to graduate and eventually make his way to freedom.

Trouble is, Ramin isn’t particularly athletic. Worse, the captain of the football team is incredibly hot, which makes it hard for Ramin to concentrate on his own narrow path towards graduation. When a vengeful member of the team starts threatening Ramin with exposure if he doesn’t help tank the tournament, will even Ramin’s burgeoning relationships with the rest of the team help him figure out how to navigate this incredibly tricky situation?

The answers aren’t neat but they are, for the most part, very satisfying. And as someone who’s read quite a bit of YA on the topic of nonconformity, I continue to be struck by how similar conservative movements are to one another in how they freak out over truly second-tier, if even that, topics like not being straight or not dressing “modestly”. This book, like many of its predecessors, is a powerful message that it’s okay to ask questions and to make your own choices, even as religion should be about faith, kindness, generosity and personal integrity. Others may not agree, but for readers desperate for answers on how to reconcile belief with cold reality, this novel is a fine place to start. Could’ve done with fewer HP references tho: they were unnecessary and jarring.

Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions by Ahmad Saber will be published tomorrow March 3 2026 by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books and is available from all good booksellers, including