The Land of No Regrets — Sadi Muktadir

Dead Poets Society meets A Place for Us in this powerful story of four students who find hope and connection amid the challenges of life in a strict madrasa in North America

Nabil, freshly plucked from his public middle school, is struggling to find his place at Al Haque Islamic Academy. Amid intense religious studies and restrictive rules, he longs for his past life of baseball heroics, video games, comic books and Alana, his crush. But then he falls into the company of Maaz and Nawaaz, who harbor a secret about madrasa friendships that Nabil agrees to guard. And when boundary-pusher and class clown Farid transfers in, the group feels complete.

One day, while exploring the madrasa's off-limits spaces, the boys discover the diary of a student who lived on the grounds when it was an all-girls Catholic school. Her name is Cynthia Morgan and her words inspire them to make a pact. They will stay or escape, but either way, they'll stick together. Their ultimate decision will change the course of their lives forever.

Strikingly original, and as poignant as it is humorous, Land of No Regrets is a vibrant, compassionate exploration of faith, friendship, identity and the true meaning of freedom.