Love, Hate and Other Filters

About this book

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In this unforgettable debut novel, an Indian-American Muslim teen copes with Islamophobia, cultural divides among peers and parents, and a reality she can neither explain nor escape. Seventeen-year-old Maya Aziz is torn between worlds. There’s the proper one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter: attending a college close to their suburban Chicago home and being paired off with an older Muslim boy her mom deems “suitable.” And then there is the world of her dreams: going to film school and living in New York City—and pursuing a boy she’s known from afar since grade school. But in the aftermath of a horrific crime perpetrated hundreds of miles away, her life is turned upside down. The community she’s known since birth becomes unrecognizable; neighbors and classmates are consumed with fear, bigotry, and hatred. Ultimately, Maya must find the strength within to determine where she truly belongs.

Censorship history

In 2024, "Love, Hate and Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed faced bans at the school level in various districts across the United States, primarily due to concerns over its themes of race, colonialism, and political content. Specific challenges arose during school board meetings and from parent-teacher associations, leading to formal complaints that prompted reviews of the book's appropriateness in educational settings. The bans reflected a growing trend of censorship surrounding literature that addresses complex social issues, particularly in suburban areas with diverse populations. As of late 2024, the book's status remained contested in several districts, with ongoing debates about its inclusion in school curricula.

Bans

Related