Love From A to Z

Content Warning: This section of the guide refers to chronic illness, violence, death, racism, and Islamophobia.

Zayneb Malik is one of the novel’s protagonists. The chapters marked with Zayneb’s first name are also written from Zayneb’s first-person point of view. These sections therefore present Zayneb’s perspective of the narrative world. Her fierce, passionate, and bold spirit is reflected in the vibrant narrative tone of her portions of the novel. Furthermore, the conflicts that Zayneb faces in her personal life drive the narrative tension in the Zayneb chapters.

Zayneb lives in Indiana with her mother and father. She has two siblings, Sadia and Mansoor Malik. Having grown up in a Muslim family and home, Zayneb’s Muslim faith and culture are key facets of her developing identity. Since she was a little girl, Zayneb has devoted her energies to fighting for the things that she believes in. She particularly stands up for herself, her beliefs, and her people at school with Mr. Fencer. As the only Muslim student in her social science class, Zayneb sees it as her responsibility to push back at Fencer’s often racist and Islamophobic comments.