By Meghan Mazzaferro
Content warning: racism, hate speech, Islamophobia
Hana Khan Carries On follows 24-year-old Hana as the world around her begins to turn upside down: the biggest fan of her anonymous podcast seems to want something more; her internship is almost over and her boss expects her to compromise her values to get ahead; there are complications to her sister’s pregnancy; and the family business, which supports all of them, is floundering. To make matters worse, an occasionally charming man and his never charming father have decided to open up a new halal restaurant directly across from her family’s. When it feels like everything is on the cusp of changing, Hana turns to her podcast, and to the stories she values to give her strength and see her through.
This book is an incredible contemporary story of family, growth, and identity. Set in Toronto, it shines a light on the prejudices and racism that too many Canadians turn a blind eye to, and is equal parts informative, exposing, and hopeful as it engages with Hana’s experience as a hijab-wearing Muslim woman seeking to find her place in the world.
Hana’s personal journey is incredibly compelling. Twenty-four years old, on the edge of having to make real, long-lasting decisions about her future at a time when all the constants in her life are changing. Her story is both sympathetic and inspiring, and her voice is strong, casual, and clever as she narrates not only her podcast but her own story. Her family is fleshed out and real, each character leaping off the page, and it feels like we see them through Hana’s eyes. Likewise, all of Hana’s experiences are visceral and immersive; the reader seems to stand beside her as she travels through her life and its challenges. In truth, while this novel contains sections of Hana’s podcast, in which she speaks on issues of identity, independence, family secrets, and even the infinite cosmos, this whole novel really feels like Hana is talking to us, and I commend Jalaluddin for the rich vibrancy of Hana’s voice in this novel.
This book weaves several different plot threads together into one single narrative. Hana’s career in radio, her family and friends’ changing dynamics, the failing restaurant, the community she loves and the risks it faces, the real experiences of life as a Muslim in Canada, and her tumultuous relationships with both her podcast friend and her restaurant rival are all woven together into a single story, and the plot felt very grounded. There were times where it really felt like I was listening to Hana’s podcast, with her telling me stories about her life, rather than reading her fictional narrative in a novel. While some of the plotlines had some stereotypical components, particularly the romance plot, this book is about more than any one storyline, and in that, I feel like it thrives.
Hana Khan Carries On is a genre-defying novel that, at its heart, is about Hana—a complicated young woman growing into herself. It was a genuine pleasure to read her story, and I feel like my world has been expanded in reading it. If you’re a fan of contemporary, coming of age stories about strong women, the power of family, and hope, with a healthy dose of romance, this is definitely a book worth reading.