Khadijah

VanBrakle

Award-Winning Author

Young Adult Novelist

Travels from: Albuquerque, NM

“VanBrakle realistically shows how religion can alienate, separate, and unite people. . . . An engrossing, emotionally rich meditation on faith, family, and the courage it takes to create your own story.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Khadijah VanBrakle is a Muslim woman of color, born and raised in Canada to American parents. She’s an alumni of the Highlights Foundation Muslim Storytellers fellowship. Her debut Young Adult novel, Fatima Tate Takes The Cake, was a 2024 NAACP Image Award finalist for Outstanding Youth/Teen Literature, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and was awarded Best YA novel in the 2025 New Mexico Book Awards.

Khadijah writes coming-of-age stories about Black American Muslim teens with universal themes so those who share her dual marginalization will finally see themselves on the printed pate.

Her sophomore YA novel, My Perfect Family, released in August 2025. It’s received starred trade reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Kirkus. Both of her books are set in New Mexico.

Khadijah's Featured Titles

Drafting & Revising: Do Authors Have To Love Both

As a traditionally-published, young adult author, Khadijah will discuss how she writers her novels when struggling through parts of the process.

Black & American & Muslim: The Contemporary YA Stories Never Told

Khadijah will discuss how the lack of representation in contemporary YA fiction led her to begin writing about teens that share her dual marginalization. She strives to incorporate universal themes in her books, to show how coming-of-age narratives can bridge differences and highlight commonalities.

Going Beyond Stereotypes: Weaving Faith & Other Controversial Topics into Your Stories

Khadijah will discuss how to decide if incorporating life’s more challenging topics is a good decision for both the writer and the story being told.

The Importance of Characterization in Novels

A Fully-fleshed out protagonist is essential for readers to connect to your story. Khadijah will address the importance of knowing your main character before the drafting process begins.

“Skillful examinations of the intersections between culture, gender, and religion, as well as nuanced perceptions of one Black Muslim community, round out VanBrakle’s searing debut.” — Publishers Weekly Review

“A captivating portrayal of Black American Muslim girlhood. Fatima Tate Takes the Cake reflects the challenges of navigating parental and communal expectations while staying to one own’s dreams.” — Laila Sabreen, author of You Truly Assumed

“The book explores the intersections of religion, grief, parental choices, and religious trauma with naunce. Leena and her family are Black; the narrative highlights some of the unique challenges African American Muslims face, adding a critical, often-overlooked layer to the narrative. Relatable, page-turning, and honest, this story will leave readers wishing for more and thankful for the space it dares to create.” — Kirkus reviews, starred review

My Perfect Family’s Reader/Book Club Guide

Fatima Tate Takes the Cake’s Reader Guide

Honors, Awards & Recognition

Fatima Tate Takes The Cake (June 2023):
2025 New Mexico Book award winner for YA/High School Fiction
2024 NAACP Image Award Finalist for Outstanding Youth/Teen Literature
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
1st place Young Adult fiction – National Federation of Press Women 2024
1st place Young Adult fiction – NM Press Women 2024
A 2024 SW Book Design Awards finalist
Reading The West Book Awards, 2024 longlisted title
School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Favorite YA reads of 2023

My Perfect Family (Aug. 2025):
Publishers Weekly starred review
Kirkus starred review