Far Away from Here
United States

Far Away from Here

by Ambata Kazi

Identity & Belonging Contemporary Fiction Fiction 2025

Summary

Five years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, three young Black American Muslims find themselves confronting the losses, choices, and secrets that have shaped their lives. Fatima returns to the city she fled after the murder of her fiancé, reluctantly taking on the care of his dying mother. Tahani, a single mother who has struggled to reconcile her independence with her religious upbringing, longs for a life that leaves room for her own ambitions. Meanwhile, Saif must face his troubled past and the role he played in his cousin’s death. As their lives intertwine once more, all three must reckon with grief, faith, and the possibility of a different future. A tender, thought-provoking novel about community, belonging, and the courage to reclaim your own story.

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Country
United States
North America
About the author
Ambata Kazi
Ambata Kazi

Ambata Kazi is a writer, editor, and teacher born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She holds a Master of Arts in English and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of New Orleans. Her short fiction has appeared in literary journals and anthologies, including Carve, CRAFT, midnight & indigo, and Muslim American Writers at Home. Kazi is also the senior editor at Sapelo Square, an online publication dedicated to Black Muslim histories and contemporary experiences. Her debut novel, Far Away from Here, explores the lives of three young Black American Muslims navigating faith, grief, family expectations, and personal responsibility in post-Katrina New Orleans. Through her work, Kazi brings nuanced Black Muslim perspectives to contemporary fiction, examining the complexities of identity, community, and belonging.

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Details
Published
2025
Author
Ambata Kazi