Saadia Faruqi author page

Saadia Faruqi biography

Saadia Faruqi was born in Pakistan and moved to the United States when she was 22 years old. She is a Pakistani American author and interfaith activist who writes children’s books, including chapter books, graphic novels and picture books. She writes the Yasmin series and middle-grade novels including Yusuf Azeem Is Not A Hero.

Meet Yasmin!, illustrated by Hatem Aly, is an early chapter book about Yasmin, a Pakistani American second-grader whose curiosity leads to discoveries, challenges and mishaps. Faruqi’s Yasmin books include references to Pakistani culture and customs, and the series has also continued through titles such as the Holidays and Celebrations with Yasmin books.

Faruqi’s middle-grade fiction includes The Partition Project, a novel about 12-year-old aspiring journalist Mahnoor Raheem, whose school documentary project leads her to her grandmother’s childhood stories about the Partition of British India. The Strongest Heart is a children’s novel for ages 8–12 about Mohammed Mirza and his relationship with his father, whose mental illness affects their family life.

Faruqi has written graphic novels for young readers. Saving Sunshine, illustrated by Shazleen Khan, was published by First Second on 5 September 2023, is 224 pages long, and is for ages 8–12. Don’t Be Scared, illustrated by Shadia Amin, is a 208-page graphic novel from First Second with an on-sale date of 8 September 2026.

Her work for older readers includes Ms. Marvel: Remnants of the Past, a young adult adventure about Kamala Khan that moves between Jersey City and Lahore, Pakistan. The hardcover edition was published by Random House/Marvel on 6 January 2026 and has 384 pages.