You're Not Proper

Tariq Mehmood is an award-winning writer and film-maker. His books include Hand on the Sun and While There Is Light. He co-directed the multiple-award-winning documentary Injustice. Tariq teaches at the American University of Beirut, in Lebanon, and lives in Beirut and Manchester, UK.

'A real insight into communities more often talked about than listened to. But it's not just an important book - it's full of heart and a cracking good read as well. Highly recommended!' (Melvin Burgess). 'Contemporary and hard-hitting ... High on impact and highly engaging, it truly is a story of our age.' (Jake Hope). "Mehmood gives us a sterotype-quashing, timely novel about religion, gender, and families. He is as astute about class difference and social injustice as he is about the growing Islamophobic. You're Not Proper sounds a resonant, authentic note that cuts through the monotone voices coming out of YA writing." (Claire Chambers, Huffington Post). "An excellent book! Mehmood does an excellent job of describing what every day life is like in Manchester for Kiran, which will be fascinating for US readers. This read quite a lot like a Jacqueline Wilson book with Pakistani characters. I gave this to one of my students, who recently took to wearing a hijab, and her eyes lit up when she saw the title. 'That's exactly what MY family said!' (Ms Yingling Reads, Teacher / Librarian/Blogger, USA).