Hayat Shah is a Pakistani Muslim growing up in Wisconsin in the late 1970’s. Up until his pre-teen years, his religion, that his family does not practice regularly, hasn’t been a big deal. When his mother’s best friend Mina, whose husband has just divorced her, comes to live with the Shahs with her young son, new worlds are opened up to Hayat, first love, a more scholarly approach to the Quran and his religion, stirrings of his sexuality and learning about his family, his parents and their relationships with each other. Hayat becomes very close to Mina, but America begins to work its magic on Mina, and she begins to drift away from him, creating her own life. Things begin to spiral out of control for Mina and Hayat sees everything he once held dear falling apart and soon realizes an act he committed out of jealousy was the impetus for these events, events that will change everything for everyone, but for none more than his beloved Mina
American Dervish, set prior to September 11, is a wonderfully complex coming-of-age story. It gracefully weaves in the religious journey of a young, Muslim-American boy and those around him. Hayat learns kindness and tolerance in unusually places and sees the religion he has come to worship and adore be used as the root of hatred and intolerance. Even in his struggle, Hayat will be a much loved character who will stay with readers long after the final chapter. The novel has the intimate feel of a memoir and will strike a chord with most readers as they find something familiar in Hayat’s struggle to become a man.
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