Multicultural teen Samantha Selim is a high school freshman finding her way. While she is a good girl by many standards, Sammy will test the boundaries drawn by her strict South Asian father. Sometimes, she crosses these boundaries with the help of her American-born mother.
When she is asked out by a senior boy (and an ocean lifeguard at that), Sammy finds herself caught between what she should do versus what she could do.
From date nights at the beach with her boyfriend to cat fights on the quad with her so-called "friends," Sammy shares her unique perspective with her readers, as a product of a multicultural household, as well as a rule follower with observations that transcend teen girl meanness, amidst the backdrop of an affluent beachside town.
Ultimately, Sammy needs to figure out what she wants, and what she will sacrifice to get it. What will make her happy, she wonders. What will make the people she cares about – her parents, her new love, her friends – happy? Will she choose them, or will she choose herself?
If Water Were Fire is told from Sammy's point of view, offering a relatable perspective to high school teens and young adults alike about how difficult growing up can be and the choices we are faced with. This #ownvoices novel also includes original poetry, written by author Sara Salam during her own high school years. If Water Were Fire challenges boundaries across many dimensions, including with peers, with parents, within ourselves.
