Book Report: My Perfect Family by Khadijah VanBrackle
By: Briana Wilvert
Looking for a read that follows family secrets, Muslim characters, and/or mother-daughter relationships? Read this Book Report to figure out if My Perfect Family is next on your TBR!
BEFORE WE DIVE IN…
Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction
Age Group: 14-18 years old
Content Warnings: Death of a parent/grandparent (chapter 19), grief, religion
Spice Level: N/A
ABOUT THE BOOK (synopsis)
16-year-old Leena thought that it was always going to be just her and her mother, Asiyah. Besides burying her nose in a new book and attending school, she helps her mother run a daycare in their home. Leena’s best friend is also always by her side, spending time working in the daycare with Asiyah.
One day, Asiyah receives a phone call from her aunt that will forever change her two-person household—Leena’s grandfather is in the hospital. Leena didn’t know her grandfather and great-aunt existed, or that they were Muslim! Tariq, Leena’s grandfather and Asiyah’s father, now wants to get to know Leena, though Asiyah is skeptical and knows that there are strings attached.
Leena always wanted a bigger family; some more folks to attend her future graduation or people to see during the holidays. Now, she’s unfolding secrets about her family as she deepens her relationships and learns about the Islamic faith. When it comes to choosing between her mother and grandfather, who does she choose?
READER PROFILE
If you like any of the following media OR need similar media to consume after reading My Perfect Family, then check these out:
For more Black Muslim women voices by Khadijah VanBrackle, read her debut novel, Fatima Tate Takes the Cake.
If you’re looking for another story (but in graphic novel form) where the main character searches for her own unique identity, check out Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy.
Families and secrets? What about family secrets?! Read Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo.
There’s a scene in the book where Leena visits a girls-only party. We Are Lady Parts on Peacock has the same vibes: young Muslim women exploring themselves and living in control of their own lives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Khadijah VanBrakle is a Muslim woman of color living in the Southwestern US. As someone born and raised in Canada to American parents, she writes to ensure teens who share her Black and American Muslim dual marginalization see themselves on the printed page. Fatima Tate Takes The Cake was her 2023 debut novel while her most recent book, My Perfect Family, releases August 26th, 2025. Check out her website, khadijahvanbrakle.com or find her on Instagram @khadijahvanbrakle.
WHAT READERS THINK
There are very few non-professional reader reviews. The following are starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist:
“VanBrakle (Fatima Tate Takes the Cake) utilizes typical conflicts around teenage relationships and dating to contextualize conversations of Tariq’s Muslim practices and attitudes surrounding gender roles, modest dress, and abstinence. . . . [A] complex depiction of one teen’s yearning for more.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“VanBrakle realistically shows how religion can alienate, separate, and unite people. . . . An engrossing, emotionally rich meditation on faith, family, and the courage it takes to create your own story.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“VanBrakle sensitively centers the story on Leena and her struggle to learn about her family while also not alienating herself from her mother. . . .A story that is deeply empathetic, allowing its central character to grow and stake her own claim to her family’s legacy and her own future.”
—Booklist
BOOK REPORTER’S REVIEW
Karen’s Review: 4/5
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Leena’s journey! I feel like I can empathize with Leena as she explored what it was like to connect with a grandfather she did not know and who was also experiencing a health crisis. Also, I got a sneak peek into the lives of teenage Muslim Americans! I learned so much through Leena’s interactions with her family and the Muslim teen events that she attended. This book was all about the different relationships a teenager can encounter. It was sweet to see Leena deepen her connection with her mother, great-aunt, and best friend while subtly exploring a quick crush! I thought this was a well-balanced, character-driven book that had me rooting for Leena the whole time. Thank you, Holiday House, for sending the Readin’ team a copy for review!
If My Perfect Family sounds like your next read, click here to order from Holiday House!
