The Rise Up Trilogy

Maryam connects Alex with Chloe, an animal rights warrior, while Hashim faces rejection because of his sexual orientation. Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Alex makes the connection of Merry Farm and his mother’s tragic death and decides to investigate further after witnessing strange things happening in the egg farm.   Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

After Alex tells them he’s not going to come back to New York after summer, Maryam gets a message through an animal rights group that something heinous is going on in a nearby egg farm.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Visiting Sandy Hook lighthouse with his best friends, Alex turns sad as it reminds him of the time when his mother was still alive while in the nearby egg farm, Merry Farm is working hard to cover up an outbreak.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Young immigrant worker is killed in an egg farm while Alex, Hashim and Maryam spend the last days in New York before leaving back home to Midwest to spend their summer vacation there.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Hashim’s mom goes on a journey to accept her son’s sexual orientation.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

As Hashim gains new understanding of his predicament, his father offers to pay for his studies in the East Coast.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Hashim’s dad comes to visit Hashim at Alex’s place and reveals some surprising facts about the history of homosexuality in the Arab world.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

In shock, Hashim trudges to the lake shore. Reciting ninety-nine names of Allah, he walks into the lake. After finding his location through his SIM card, Alex and Marry rush to the lake shore. Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Sick of lying, Hashim tells his mom he’s gay, as returns from the gay club. In her rage, she throws him out and disinherits him. Now suddenly very worried about his friend, Alex asks Maryam to help him to find Hashim in the middle of the night. Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Full of despair and longing for his dead mother, Alex stumbles home. His dad finds him crying in the kitchen and for the first time ever, they are able to share their grief and find some peace. Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

A self-destructive gear kicks in as Alex cannot handle what has happened. Hashim takes first steps in a new world, apart from Alex.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Maryam comes to rescue as Hashim lies in ruins, finding the right words to help him to open a door to a brave new world.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Alex throws the eighteenth birthday party for Hashim and but after a good start, the worst thing ever happens.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

In his despair, Hashim finds hope in his faith.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

With Alex’s plan in motion, things start to look up for Hashim until they crash when Hashim reveal to his best friend where he’s going to enroll.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Alex puts his master plan in motion.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Alex plots how to stop the engagement from happening, but Hashim sinks deeper in despair as he mulls over all the things that could go wrong.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Hashim squirms in his seat during the Friday sermon afraid of his terrible secret being discovered. Afterwards, he tells Alex and Maryam in despair about the engagement but leaves out some key facts.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

Hashim hears that his engagement deal to a girl he hasn’t seen yet is going to be signed the following day. Alex avoids bumping into Maryam’s dad as he visits her.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info. 

For his eighteenth birthday, Hashim gets a secret present from his dad. An idea what to give to his best friend for birthday comes to Alex from an unlikely source.  Please go to henrikwilenius.com for more info.