Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
‘We Are Big Time’ follows teen Aliya as she moves from the sunny Florida to Wisconsin with her family, a shift she isn’t happy about. Everything feels unfamiliar and colder, both literally and figuratively. But when she gets the chance to try out for her new school’s basketball team, Aliya finally finds something to be excited about: joining an all-girls team where every player wears a hijab. There’s just one small problem… the team is terrible, and Aliya is pretty sure the captain already dislikes her.
Written by Hena Khan and illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui, ‘We Are Big Time’ is a colorful story told from Aliya’s perspective as she joins ‘Peace Academy’, a large Islamic School. The basketball coach, Jess Martinez, is also new to the campus and doesn’t know much about Islamic traditions, but she certainly understands the game. Determined to bring out the best in the players, she trains the girls seriously and pushes them to compete in the upcoming inter-school tournament with the goal of securing as many wins as possible.
Aliya is energetic, ambitious, and determined to prove that she deserves her place on the team as co-captain despite being the newest member. Noura, who previously held the captain’s position on her own, isn’t happy about sharing the responsibility and makes her resentment quite obvious. Her cold attitude begins to affect Aliya, shaking her confidence as an athlete even though she continues to give her absolute best every time she steps onto the court.
However, We Are Big Time is more than just a familiar story about a new student trying to fit into a different school. The book also explores what it means to be a Muslim girl playing basketball while wearing a hijab. For Aliya, the hijab feels no different from wearing a sweatband during a game, it’s simply part of who she is. But for people unfamiliar with Islam, the team often attracts curious looks and plenty of questions. Some come from genuine interest, while others make the girls feel uncomfortable.
Despite its collective-sounding title, ‘We Are Big Time’ is told almost entirely from Aliya’s perspective. While her voice is lively and engaging, the narrative occasionally leaves the reader wishing that other teammates had been given more room to share their stories as well. And Aliya’s tense relationship with co-captain Noura is resolved rather suddenly, pleasantly free of drama, but perhaps a little too neat to feel entirely convincing.
One of the key lessons Aliya learns comes from basketball coach Jess Martinez, whose motto for the team is: “You are more than the score.” Even though she pushes the girls to play aggressively and aim high during matches, she never shames them for losses. Her relaxed, no-pressure coaching style allows the team to enjoy the game, although a few players inevitably begin to take the tournament very seriously.
The artwork in ‘We Are Big Time’ is bright, vibrant, and full of energy. The tournament scenes are especially engaging, highlighting the visual contrast between Aliya’s team, who play in hijabs, long pants, and full-sleeved jerseys, while their opponents wear traditional basketball shorts and sleeveless tops. Despite these outward differences, both teams share the same competitive spirit and passion for the sport. The creators communicate this idea smoothly.
One of the most heartwarming aspects of We Are Big Time is the strong support Aliya receives from her family. While her mother occasionally wishes she would devote a bit more attention to her studies (a familiar parental concern) the family overall is enthusiastic about her passion for basketball. In fact, nearly everyone in the household seems to enjoy the sport, making it especially fun to see Aliya practice with her brother or enthusiastically discuss games with her father.
As Aliya’s team begins to attract media attention for being an all-girls basketball squad that plays while wearing hijabs, the players handle the sudden spotlight with impressive maturity. Rather than letting the attention distract them, they stay focused on their love for the game. Ultimately, ‘We Are Big Time’ reminds readers that Aliya and her teammates are just like any other group of high school students. They enjoy playing basketball, celebrating victories, and ending the day with something delicious like a well-earned shawarma.
Rating for ‘We Are Big Time’: 3 on 5 stars.
Read Next: Mary Shelley Vs del Toro’s Frankenstein – 12 Differences (Audio Version Below)