Early in 2015, three Bethnal Green schoolgirls fled to Syria to join the self-proclaimed Islamic State. I Am Thunder is a response to that event, written by secondary school teacher Khan to explore the lives of young British Muslims.

His 15-year-old protagonist, Muzna, dreams of being a writer; her friend’s response, that “you don’t hear of many Muslim authors, do you?”, seems only too fair considering the dearth of non-white voices in UK publishing. Muzna feels invisible; her life is a jumble of teenage angst, stifled by loving but controlling parents and the sharp edge of racism everywhere.

When the charismatic Arif takes a sudden interest in her, she is easily tempted and he and his brother, Saleem, begin to guide her down a dark path towards radicalisation. Then, once she uncovers a terrible secret, can Muzna find her inner thunder?

On paper, this sounds like a gritty “issues” book and, yes, such subjects as Islamaphobia and terrorism are intrinsic to the plot. Yet it’s testament to Khan’s skill as a writer that this is an uplifting, empowering novel with hope at its heart. Drawing on his experience as a teacher, he has a real ear for dialogue, fresh, funny and colloquial, making his teenagers real and relatable. However, it is the rooting of the narrative in Muzna’s coming-of-age that is the masterstroke. She’s a warm, vulnerable, complex heroine, and while her experiences offer a much-needed perspective on growing up as a Muslim teenager, her search for identity is a universal one.

• I Am Thunder by Muhammad Khan is published by Macmillan (£7.99). To order a copy for £6.79 go to guardianbookshop.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99