Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero

Mel throws Yusuf’s backpack onto the football field, which is muddy from last night’s rain. The fire alarm goes off, and students pour out of the building. Officer Strickland arrives, and Yusuf explains that the beeping is his virtual cat that requires feeding. Officer Strickland asks Yusuf if it’s possible to code the computer to act as a control for a bomb, and Yusuf gives an ambiguous answer.

Officer Strickland leaves Yusuf, and Jared comes over and gives him a painting of two cats. Underneath, Jared writes, “Happy birthday to my friend” (326). The handwriting matches the handwriting of the notes, so Yusuf confronts Jared. Jared claims Ethan forced him to write the notes, but Yusuf isn’t interested in his excuses. Officer Strickland comes back, handcuffs Yusuf, and takes him to the police station.

Rahman’s 11th journal entry is dated December 11, 2001. Authorities declare Jonathan’s uncle dead, and Jonathan blames Rahman’s “people.” Later, Silky appears on Rahman’s doorstep, and she’s dead.

The police hold Yusuf in a small room. Alone, Yusuf thinks of Muhammad Ali and prays. Yusuf tells himself not to act like “a baby,” and some police officers give him donuts. Near midnight, the door opens: Abba and Amma come in and take him home.

The next day, people visit Yusuf in his bedroom. Saba didn’t admit that Ethan pulled off her hijab, but Yusuf doesn’t think she’s a coward. Danial thinks Yusuf is a “gangster,” and Cameron praises him as a “bad boy.” Yusuf doesn’t tell Danial and Cameron about his fear. He realizes no officer read him his Miranda rights or listened to his side.

Mr. Parker brings pizza and tells Yusuf that he can stay home until after winter break, giving everyone time to sort out the “situation.” Yusuf seizes on the word “situation,” which means people think he brought a bomb to school and is a criminal. Mr. Parker calls Yusuf a role model and reminds him about the TRC.

Yusuf plays with Aleena before he and Amma have a phone call with Principal Williamson. Amma becomes angry when Principal Williamson uses words like “false alarm” and “concern.” Amma wonders why Ethan didn’t go to the police station. Principal Williamson suggests that Yusuf share his story with the media, and Amma ridicules the man for suggesting that love defeats hate. Abba believes people can curb hatred and “choose love,” but Yusuf, too, is skeptical about the impact of love.

At Dairy Queen, Yusuf tells Cameron, Danial, and Madison that Jared wrote the anti-Muslim notes. Cameron believes Ethan forced Jared. Ethan also tried to get Cameron to write the notes, offering to pay him, but Cameron refused. A city council member stops by their table. He recognizes Yusuf from the news and The Frey Weekly. The council member promises to do something, and he starts an investigation into the incident.

The parishioners from New Horizons Church arrive at the restaurant after their service. Due to a “passionate speech” from Jared, Pastor Nielson gave a sermon about Jesus’s belief in loving neighbors and fighting hate. Jared’s uncle walked out. Pastor Nielson invites Abba to speak at his church, and the churchgoers help build the mosque. They tell jokes and sing Christmas songs.

Abba tells Yusuf about being bullied as a middle school student in Pakistan. His bully, Imtiaz, was the son of a government minister, and he flicked ink on Abba’s uniform. Abba says people have to “avoid” bullies and stick with their friends.

Rahman’s 12th journal entry is dated Christmas, 2001. Pastor Hancock invites Rahman’s family to his church. They eat plenty of food and hear Pastor Hancock give a speech about combating prejudice through correct information and familiarity.

On the last day before winter break, Mr. Parker throws a party for Team Freybots. Yusuf stays away from Jared, but they conduct a practice run for Miss Trashy, who completes the challenge in three minutes.

On Christmas, Abba gathers practical items from his dollar store and brings them to the New Horizons Church. Yusuf’s family and the churchgoers eat crackers and socialize with each other. Abba mentions the TRC and a churchgoer jokes that Frey could use an activity besides football. Yusuf feels comfortable in the church because people don’t reduce him to a religion or skin color.

On Sunday, the mosque construction resumes. The community lays the tile floor and installs fixtures. Mr. Grant and the Patriot Sons protest. Mr. Khan says they’re using their “constitutional rights,” and Pastor Nielson tells the Patriot Sons that they need to go home. The churchgoers support him, and the Patriot Sons depart.

On the first day back from winter break, Principal Williamson calls an assembly and apologizes to Yusuf for not protecting him. He also announces a zero-tolerance bullying policy. If there’s a bullying incident, the teachers won’t wait until someone files a complaint—they’ll act. After three bullying complaints, the school will suspend the student, and a committee will investigate them. Principal Williamson’s policy makes Yusuf feel that words matter—it’s as if someone removed a load of rocks from his back.

Principal Williamson then spotlights the TRC, and the cheer team performs a cheer for Team Freybots. On Saturday morning, students come by to watch the final practice for Miss Trashy, and a crew from TNN covers the event. Yusuf tells the news network that he isn’t focused on the past. He wants to win the TRC. He’s a member of Frey, and a win for Team Freybots is a victory for the town.

The TRC is in Conroe, a city near Houston, in a crowded gym. There are 93 teams. Only 10 teams will advance to the next round, and only five will make it to the finals. Team Freybots faces Team Jaguars, whose members wear jeans and matching shirts featuring the names of corporate sponsors. Miss Trashy gets stuck in five places, but Yusuf adjusts the code, and the Freybots win. They then beat two robots, Drake Junior and SuperGirl II, making it to the finals.

Rahman’s 13th journal entry is dated New Year’s Day, 2002. He goes to Jonathan’s house to wish him a happy New Year, and Jonathan apologizes for pushing him—but Jonathan still can’t be friends with Rahman, who understands. He, too, has a “wound” that won’t ever heal.

In the finals, the Freybots win by 15 points. During a break, Yusuf talks to his uncle about the journal, and Yusuf says Rahman sounded lonely, but the entries helped Yusuf understand his “enemies.” Team Freybots earns third place. Yusuf doesn’t want him and Jared to be like Jonathan and Rahman, so they reconcile and focus on winning the TRC nationals.