Winner of the Frances Lincoln 'Diverse Voices' Children's Book Award 2014
Karen thinks she's not proper white.
Her dad is Pakistani and her mother is white Christian, and somehow she feels as if she doesn't quite fit in... anywhere. So she's made a choice: she's switching sides.
Karen's going to convert to Islam to find her true identity.
But Shamshad, her Hijab-wearing school mate, isn't making things easy for her. What's her deal, anyway? Is Shamshad really any more proper than herself?
Trouble and turmoil await in the old textile mill town of Boardhead East, as school battles are replaced by family troubles, name calling turns to physical confrontation and cataclysmic secrets are unveiled.
Set against a backdrop of seething Islamaphobia, You're Not Proper is the first in the Striker series, written by Tariq Mehmood and Pete Kalu to shine a light on issues of identity, religion, politics and class affecting young people today – a unique new series in young adult fiction.
'You're Not Proper is a real insight into communities more often talked about than listened to. But it's not just an important book - it's full of heart and a cracking good read as well. Highly recommended!' Melvin Burgess
'Contemporary and hard-hitting, You're Not Proper is the story of two girls with one religion and two very different lifestyles ... High on impact and highly engaging, it truly is a story of our age.' Jake Hope, critic, librarian and coordinator of the Lancashire Children's Book of the Year Award
