Some of Us Are Brave
by Saadia Faruqi
Intermediate, Middle School    Quill Tree/HarperCollins    336 pp.
2/26    9780063389533    $19.99
e-book ed.  9780063389540    $10.99

Three young teens grappling with their fears are caught in the destruction of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Rising eighth graders Yasir, Mona, and Cody are too busy getting through each summer day to notice the looming storm. Yasir and Mona are both dealing with difficult family situations, including loss; Yasir is also processing the trauma of a near-drowning, and Mona is plagued by recurring nightmares. Cody is mean and brash at soccer practice but walks on eggshells at home, where his veteran dad metes out harsh punishments. When the hurricane hits, they find themselves stranded by rising floodwaters, which puts their tentative friendship and survival skills to the test. Faruqi builds on the tension of the developing hurricane and delves into different cultural flood myths. The characters are thoughtfully created, and their reflections on class, immigrants, and absentee parents are developed with nuance. The story sugarcoats neither the difficulties they face nor the devastation wreaked on Houston. The evolution of the protagonists and the lack of a quick fix serve as reminders that friendships, recovery, and healing all take time. An author’s note discusses Faruqi’s experience with Hurricane Harvey.

From the January/February 2026 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.