Drawing Deena
by Hena Khan
Middle School    Salaam/Simon    240 pp.
2/24    9781534459915    $17.99
e-book ed.  9781534459939    $10.99

Thirteen-year-old Deena Rahman’s world revolves around spending time with her friends, creating art, and appeasing her Pakistani American family. Deena also helps her mother run a clothing boutique selling Pakistani outfits, hoping to alleviate tension in their home over finances. Deena often overhears her parents fighting about money and feels guilty for their having to spend it on things she needs, such as dental work. She also hesitates to tell them about things she and her brother, Musa, would benefit from, such as art classes for her and talent scouts to further Musa’s chances at a soccer scholarship. She tries to ignore the daily nausea and gnawing in her stomach, but soon the physical manifestations of stress demand attention. Both Deena and her parents must confront her anxiety issues and the importance of support. With helpful friends and an artist mentor, she learns to deprioritize others’ expectations and advocate for herself, including pushing back against her parents’ reluctance to allow her to see a school psychologist. A sensitive look at the effects of anxiety and the pressures of today (including social media) on young people’s mental health.

From the January/February 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.