Saints and Misfits

Janna, the protagonist of Saints and Misfits, is a complex and dynamic character whose journey of self-discovery and empowerment reflects her willingness to learn and grow. At the start of the story, Janna is presented as a teenager struggling to reconcile the many facets of her identity. She is a misfit, feeling out of place among her peers due to her Muslim faith and the pressures of fitting into American society; this internal struggle is often symbolized through Janna’s choice to wear clothing that conforms to Muslim standards of modesty and sets her apart from mainstream American standards of fashion. In the opening chapter, for example, she wears a burkini while everyone else is clad in more revealing swimwear. To complicate the matter further, Janna feels like she doesn’t fully represent a “perfect” Muslim either because her parents are divorced parents and she has a crush on a non-Muslim. Janna’s internal conflicts are also exacerbated by external factors such as bullying and the presence of Farooq, who becomes a central antagonist in her life when he sexually assaults her and continues to harass her at every opportunity.

One of Janna’s defining traits throughout her many challenges is her resilience.