Not all the characters were quite so archetypal (Ilyias's peers in his maths class and his teacher were all brilliant characters), and Khan does discuss and break down some of these stereotypes, but I felt it could have been done more subtly. Many for a younger reader, this would be more up their alley and could gain more from this, but I won’t be rushing to recommend this book to anyone. But I also want to see minority characters allowed to be as flawed and imperfect as their white counterparts without judgement. Read more about the condition New: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. I wasn't entirely convinced by the adult characters (the saintly cool Maths teacher as much as Kelly's evil snobby mother), and felt like the climactic scene where the protagonist gets to prove his worth in a big competition was a bit too familiar.

Second is Kelly, who is described as a large red-headed girl but her story isn’t about her weight which I loved! Sexism and homophobia are also discussed and addressed in the novel (although more could have been done with the latter), and gang culture is touched upon. For the most part, I thought the premise of this book was incredibly promising – a narrative that explores the themes of racism, sexism, gang culture, misogyny, toxic masculinity, friendships, peer pressure and bullying through the eyes of fifteen-year-old comic book enthusiast Ilyas Mian, who is also bearing the weight of a dozen different expectations on his shoulders. Until he’s serving detention and meets Kelly, who is just as fed up as he is, however, the protection that their detention provides won’t last forever and Ilyas must face the consequences or risk losing the only person who gets him. Fifteen-year-old Ilyas is under pressure from everyone: GCSE's are looming and his teachers just won't let up, his dad wants him to join the family business and his mates don't care about any of it.It’s a painful scene, made more so by being experienced through the eyes of a young child who doesn’t understand why the colour of his skin rules him out of dressing up as one of his favourite characters.

He has never given up his passion for comics, and works on his illustrations for his own design constantly. Kick the Moon' is not about becoming perfect - it deals in overcoming and mastering personal flaws - but it is about taking ownership of one's life. The only thing I struggled with - and it is defintely my age and not the author - is the street language/slang.What other books might centre on as main themes, this book sidelines, making them the very fabric that the story is woven from: growing up, racism, sexism, family, friendship, gang violence, mysogyny, masculinity, homophobia, culture, religion, love, sex, and so on. Then Imran sets his sights on Kelly - he wants to keep Ilyas under his thumb and targeting Kelly is his way of exerting his control. Muhammad’s style will hopefully appeal to many who have struggled to feel represented in fiction before.

Refreshingly, when Ilyas meets a kindred spirit in the form of Kelly one day in detention, we don't find ourselves in mismatch-romance territory. This book right here is what needs to be read, respresenting gang culture, and heard – defining who you are.The reality is that Ilyas and Kelly have a tough exterior but on the inside they are slowly slipping away from their true selves. For a book that seems to be aimed at a young readership, I would want there to be a trigger warning. the graphic novel storyline was great but i think it could have developed more, the family at the centre of the story were well written and that dynamic interested me. They learn to hide parts of themselves if it doesn’t match what they are taught about what makes them a “man”. I have always wanted to see a superhero who looked like me and I was so happy to see that in this book!