Aliya is none too pleased about moving from Tampa to Milwaukee, where everything feels different and disorienting (and a lot colder). At her Islamic high school, Peace Academy, she joins the basketball team, hoping the familiarity of her favorite sport will help her to feel more settled. Her new team leaves something to be desired, but the newly hired Coach Jess (Puerto Rican) is determined to turn things around. To help unite old and new leadership, Coach appoints Aliya co-captain along with prickly Noura, a senior who’s not keen on sharing the role or the spotlight. Coach Jess stresses teamwork and practice, and she urges them to embrace their individual motivations for joining the team. As the team begins to turn its season around, they draw the attention of local news outlets—but the team quickly realizes that interviewers seem to be more interested in the girls’ hijabs than in their athleticism. Navigating this, too, requires team solidarity. While the overall tone of this sports-centered graphic novel is lighthearted, the story is not without depth. In the end, Aliya and her team emerge triumphant in the face of microaggressions, interpersonal drama, and challenging team dynamics.

SWISH! Cheer courtside for a Muslim teen in this graphic novel—inspired by a true story—as she joins an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team and learns that she’s much more than a score.

Aliya is new to Wisconsin, and everything feels different than Florida. The Islamic school is bigger, the city is colder, and her new basketball team is… well, they stink.

Aliya’s still excited to have teammates (although Noura's not really Aliya's biggest fan) and their new coach really understands basketball (even if she doesn't know much about being Muslim.) This season should be a blast...if they could just start to win.

Join Aliya and the Peace Academy on a headline-making season where they strengthen their skills and their Muslim identities--all while discovering that it takes more than talent to be great, and that teamwork and self-confidence can define true success.

For fans of The Crossover and Roller Girl, this graphic novel goes big with humor and heart as it explores culture and perceptions, fitting in and standing out, and finding yourself, both on and off the court.