THE STRONGEST HEART

Imran Sheikh's narration captures the interiority of 13-year-old Mohammad (Mo) Mirza, who works hard to stay cheerful despite his father's rages. Sheikh delivers the humor, intelligence, gift for storytelling, and sarcasm that buoy Mo as he deals with his father's paranoid schizophrenia; the absence of his mother, who has chosen to work in a distant refugee camp; and being thrown into a new life in Texas with an aunt and cousin he hardly knows. Sheikh believably renders the support of his aunt, a devout Muslim, and the engaging awkwardness of his cousin, Rayyan. Finally, Sheikh shows Mo's psychological fragility in the face of bullying at school and his father's episodes at home. This compelling listen is filled with heart and humor. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2025]