Category Archives: middle grades

Jul24

Tales from Cabin 23: Night of the Living Head by Hanna Alkaf

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Tales from Cabin 23: Night of the Living Head by Hanna Alkaf

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I was genuinely pulled in to this story within a story, 244 page middle grade scary read.  I was not expecting Islamic representation from the Muslim Author, I’m not sure why, but I was happily surprised all the main characters are Muslim and unapologetic, praying, reciting ayats when the fear mounts, and seeing the world through their Malaysian and Islamic perspectives. It was really well done, engaging, spooky, and then it came to a screeching halt, like slam on the breaks, story is over now we are going to talk and explain and make it about family and forgiveness.  I admittedly don’t read much “horror” if any, so perhaps the over explanation at the end is formulaic to put the target audience reader at ease, and prevent lingering nightmares.  Even if that is the case however, the climax in the book came way too early making the explanation way too long.  I would imagine most target readers don’t expect the same literary refinement in a scary book as they would in other genres, but the more “explaining” the book tried to do, the more holes were revealed. By the end, the book made no sense and I wished I would have stopped reading halfway through and had the unknown lingering vibes be the ultimate takeaway.

SYNOPSIS:

It starts at Camp Apple Hill Farm where Melur is for a two week summer camp, when she chooses “dare” and is forced into the woods alone to find the witch that tells stories in Cabin 23.  When she finds herself at the cabin, the story she is told is about Alia, her missing sister who has returned, and a penanggalan that is terrorizing the town.  Twelve year old Alia has moved from Kuala Lumpur to the city of her birth, she doesn’t have a lot of friends, and her missing sister has unexpectedly returned.  Something is off with her sister, she smells weird, and is too perfect.  Alia’s parents don’t seem to want to discuss it, and what is the whooshing sound that seems to follow Alia everywhere.  When kids at school start whispering about seeing things and hearing things, Alia is worried that her sister and the sightings, might be related. Yep no further spoilers here, sorry.

WHY I LIKE IT:
I love that the characters are Muslim and it is just who they are, it isn’t othering or explanatory, it is just part of the characters, that comes out as they try to figure out what is going on.  I really enjoyed the first half, I know that often in scary movies, at least the ones I can handle, the build up is usually fun, and the resolution a little bit of a let down, so I was anticipating that, but this book really seemed to fall apart as it tried to wrap up all the threads.  It ultimately ended up being rather disappointing and I’m honestly kind of mad about it. Despite it all, I will still shelve it for middle graders to read.  We need Islamic rep in all genres for all ages and this one I think is the first I have seen, and for that alone I do appreciate what it offers.

FLAGS:

It is “scary”, there is gore, abandonment, possession, creepiness, no one will accidently pick it up and be surprised.  The cover has a head with its entrails hanging out and the title is “the living head.”

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
As stated above I would shelve the book, I think fans of creepy book will be delighted to see a Muslim protagonist, and the Malaysian rep is nice to see as well.

Jul16

Amir and the Jinn Princess by M.T. Khan

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Amir and the Jinn Princess by M.T. Khan

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This 304 page middle grade fantasy book is a quick fun read.  There is no religion in this Muslim authored book, jinn are not portrayed as creatures from Islamic doctrine, and with the exception of Quranic decorations hanging in a room and Zam Zam water being mentioned, once each, in passing, there is nothing hinting or signaling religion.  Even the jinn come across as characters who just happen to be jinn, who have control over fire and live in an alternate world, the book uses their fantasy elements to create an added layer, but the heart of the story is making choices, doing what’s right, being a good friend, and changing injustice when you can. This is a companion book to Nura and the Immortal Palace, and even with the lacking religion, I think I enjoyed this book more.  The plot is clearer, the characters are relatable, the thread of the missing mother is emotional, and the commentary on corporations and labor practices are awesome to see in a middle grade book.  

SYNOPSIS:
Amir is wealthy, really wealthy, and arrogant, and unlikeable, and yet, the over the top framing of him being all these things, makes even the target audience reader realize, that he is also a 12-year-old little boy who is grieving his missing mother, longing for friends, wanting to be seen in his competitive family, and ultimately smarter and more emotionally intelligent than he will ever force himself to admit.  Until, a cat, or rather a jinn princess in the shape of a cat, shakes up his world, by convincing him to come to hers.

Shamsa strikes a deal with Amir, she will help him look for his mother, if he helps her battle against her siblings to be the next heir of the Kagra Kingdom.  Amir knows she is a trickster, it is her nature, but he wants, no needs, to find his mother, so he is willing to pose as her slave and do her bidding.  There are three tasks to test the future heirs physicality, artistry, and diplomacy, and the irony that Amir does not want to be heir to his own fortune, while helping Shamsa claim hers, is not lost on him and will in fact force him to make choices about who he wants to be and what he wants to stand for.

WHY I LIKE IT:
I like that the book discusses monopolies and business and corporations and systemic gatekeeping.  It stays on level and articulates the points it wants the reader to explore with Amir, but does so without taking away from the story.  Also the ability to see all that Amir has, because he is wealthy, also allows the reader to see what he is also missing, and this is done with a little more subtly, some self-awareness, and some quality writing which results in making Amir a little more relatable.

I do wish there was some Islam, jinn are Islamic based and to not have any signaling seems a bit lacking.  Perhaps it kept it so that accuracy or rep was not a factor, I don’t know, but when Amir says that he thought only the uneducated believe in such creatures, it rubbed me the wrong way, just like when he makes a comment that, “those are the kinds of games God like to play with me.” The lines are minor, but when that is the only religion mentioned and it is done in a negative trivial, dismissive way, they carry more weight than perhaps intended.

I like that the characters and plot are solid.  It doesn’t feel like Amir is free-falling through a crazy chaotic world, there is direction and purpose.  There really isn’t a lot of world building or even Pakistani culture, it really is about the characters and their arc of growth and coming in to their own.

FLAGS:

Fantasy, jinn, lying, sneaking, death, abuse, manipulation, plotting, casinos, fears of water, abandonment, abuse.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
Probably wouldn’t do it as a book club, there are teachable moments and concepts that would be fun to discuss perhaps with economic or business tie-ins, but I don’t know that there is that much to discuss outside of what the book offers.  I do plan to shelve this though, so my own kids have easy access to pick it up and read and hope teachers, librarians, and parents will as well.

 

Jul12

Kicked Out by A.M. Dassu

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Kicked Out by A.M. Dassu

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The first few chapters of this 336 page middle grade book were rough. It is a stand-alone companion novel, and I have read the previous works, so I don’t know if my expectation of myself to know the characters being introduced, was additionally muddled because the memories were faint, or as I actually suspect, the writing at the beginning is just weak. Like really weak, but I’m stubborn, and I kept reading, and I was rewarded, alhumdulillah. The book found its voice, its pacing, its heart, its relatability, its layers and I am so glad that I didn’t dnf it. The characters, their community, their tenacity, the exploration of family really stays on level with providing the reader insight and messaging to make them reflect on their own lives, without feeling preached to. The focus of football (soccer) keeps the book light and hopeful, while the difficult themes of deportation, Islamophobia, refugees, theft, absent parents, self doubt, forgiveness and second chances with adults, thread in and out. Many of the characters are Muslim, halal food is normalized as is saying salam, it isn’t focused on Islam but the kids make duas before they start a sting operation and when life changes are presented, also they consider Qadr of Allah when things occur. It feels authentic, and Muslim kids will enjoy that the focus isn’t a religious or cultural identity crisis, but just part of who they are as they take on this next chapter of their lives, non Muslims will feel the same.

SYNOPSIS:
Ali, Mark, and Sami are living it up since Mark’s mom won the lottery and they move in to a mansion with a pool. Sami’s brother Aadam starts doing the lawns to help pay for his lawyer fees to appeal his deportation, and things are looking up, expect for Mark’s mom’s new boyfriend though, he seems to be a bit of a racist. It all comes pouring down when Aadam is accused of stealing money, the boys are no longer allowed at the house, and Mark is prevented from hang out with his friends. Ali and Sami are not about to take this treatment without a fight, they have an idea to raise some money for Aadam with a charity football match, and Mark knows his mom is being influenced by her boyfriend and doesn’t abandon his friends. Ali though, is preoccupied, his absent father shows back up, and his step-brother has just been enrolled in their school. It is a lot but together Ali, Sami, and Mark support each other, stand up for what they believe in, and find ways to make sure they and Aadam are not “kicked out.”

WHY I LIKE IT:
I love the commentary on refugees, that it isn’t a political issue, but a human one. The exploration of found family and born family, and giving family second chances impressed me in a middle grade book. I also liked the kids hyping up the community and getting creative to solve a problem, rather than wait for the adults to step in. Whether it was to raise money for legal fees, or solve a mystery and clear someone’s name, these kids really have each other’s backs while dealing with a lot of heavy stresses. They mess up and make mistakes, but the book spending time to show them come back from them is a level of emotional intelligence and maturity that I think readers will benefit from.

I was thrown at a passage that mentioned that Ali can’t go to the mosque because he doesn’t have his dad around. Which made no sense to me as the kid goes to restaurants, parks, stores, on buses, on his bike alone throughout the book. Alhumdulillah, I have wiser folks I can ask concerns to, and my Lit Sister Zainab explained that in fact in the UK some masjids don’t allow women all the time and kids are not encouraged to come unsupervised, so if that stands out to you as well for being completely off, recognize it doesn’t mean it is wrong, like I did.

Truly the book is terrible at the beginning. The barrage of character names, the unlikability of Ali because of how he treats his brother, and the stress of how winning the lottery has made Mark’s life better, is all over the place. I must have read the first three chapters at least four times, before I just decided to plow through and see if the pieces fell in to place, which alhumdulillah, they did.

FLAGS:
Lying, stereotypes, racism, Islamophobia, accusations, theft, lottery, Mark has a crush on Grace, but it is subtle, anger, jealousy.

SPOILER: Ali’s dad was in love with a lady before he married Ali’s mom. His parent’s had him marry Ali’s mom to tame their “wild son” and at some point in the marriage, the dad had a nikkah with the first lady and eventually left Ali, his mom, and two siblings for his other family. The focus is how Ali feels about having his dad leave their family, being jealous of his step brother, and dealing with his return. It doesn’t make it a religious issue or judge if this was permissible, it really stays focused on the parent children relationship and the emotions involved in the leaving, not staying in touch, and the returning. I think middle grade can handle it.


Jul5

We Are Big Time by Hena Khan Illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui

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We Are Big Time by Hena Khan Illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui

With themes of being new in school, balancing sports and school, teamwork, focusing on the positive and pushing back on media stereotypes, this 240 page middle grade graphic novel inspired by a true story is a feel good story that can be enjoyed by all.  The all hijab wearing Muslim high school girls’ basketball team is researched and noted in the backmatter, and while often Hena Khan books feel performative, the tone of this is not identity based. The characters are Muslim, they are not questioning their religion, and in fact push back on the media who try and make it about what they have to overcome by practicing their faith, rather than on their abilities on the court.  That isn’t to say that the Islamic representation is strong.  For characters in an Islamic school, a whole page is dedicated to being the new kid in each class, but only one “salaam” is offered.  The team informs their non Muslim coach when they need to pray which is nice, but surprisingly with a Muslim author and Muslim illustrator when the protagonist prays at home with her family, the men and women erroneously stand together.  The framing, the setup, the accomplishments are all Muslim centered, but the book is not particularly Islam centered. The take away of teamwork, hard work, and normalizing Muslim hijabi women in sports is well done, and I think an easy book for kids to identify with as they read the panels of Aliya dealing with stresses and changes, on and off the court. This book releases next month, and I encourage you to consider for yourself if you feel the author has done enough with her platform to speak about Palestine before supporting or not supporting the book.

SYNOPSIS:
The book starts with Aliya, her two brothers and parents stuck in a car headed from Tampa to Milwaukee.  They are relocating to be closer to her grandparents, and the kids are not excited.  The first day for the trio at Peace Academy stands out because the school is big.  Aliya who has played rec basketball in the past, now decides to try out for the school team.  Tryouts are a bust, only nine girls show, so they all make the team.  With hopes of turning a failing program around, the school has hired a new coach, a non Muslim who used to play Division 1 ball.  It seems Aliya might start to make friends with her teammates, but then she is named co-captain which ruffles some feathers, her grades start slipping, and the team still isn’t winning. When the media takes an interest in the team, the pressure mounts to represent themselves, their school, their faith, and show what they can do on the court.

WHY I LIKE IT:
I love that identity is not in question and that the characters articulate the worries they have about their representation in the media, not because of something they’ve said or even Islamophobia, but just based on the framing of the questions, and assumptions that abound.

I read a black and white arc, so at times I didn’t know who was the dad and who was the older brother, but even with that confusion, the beginning is a bit stilted.  The dad doesn’t know if his daughter was any good at basketball, and the dialogue is so flat to set the stage, that I was glad it only lasted a few pages.  I appreciated that the parents were stressing grades, but were not overly narrow minded, they were presented in a very level headed supportive way as to not fall into a common desi/immigrant stereotype.

I don’t know why the prayer scene is wrong, but the more I try and tell myself it was just a mistake, the more mad I get.  This is why beta reading is so important, Muslim kids will notice, it will make the book feel just that much less authentic, and it so easily could/should have been fixed.

FLAGS:

None, a little bit of Islamophobia, but it is pretty clean

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

The graphic novel format makes the book a pretty quick read, and most of the discussion points are handled in the text, so I don’t know that a book club would benefit.  I do think having it on the shelf for kids to pick up and read, will keep the book bouncing from one reader to the next.  I know my kids have all read it…that’s the beauty of graphic novels, just having it around means it gets picked up, read, and often finished, despite the readers age or even interest.

Jun5

Sam(ira)’s (Worst) Best Summer by Nina Hamza

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Sam(ira)’s (Worst) Best Summer by Nina Hamza

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The first 15% of this 336 page book were rough, the internalized Islamophobia/othering, the excessive discussion of Halloween and being toilet papered, but then I don’t know, something suddenly changed, and I was hooked.  There really is no plot, the reader just spends the summer with Samira, the highs the lows, you see it all through her tween eyes, which worked great for me because I truly loved her voice.  Her dry witty humor, the short choppy chapters, once the forced Islamic rep faded (I know, the irony is not lost on me), the book was hard to put down.  It has Muslamic flags: music is a HUGE part of the book, there is lying, mention of beer, parties with boys, Halloween, dancing, bullying, racism, ageism, Islamophobia, stereotypes, but it also has a lot of heart, finding yourself and voice, amazing sibling support, community, a super grandma, a little brother who is on the spectrum and absolutely a star who holds his own. It is very idyllic even for middle grade, but I think if you are ok with the aforementioned flags and have a middle grader trying to find their place or has had some friend trouble, this book will resonate and be well loved.

SYNOPSIS:
Sam/Sammy/Samira is wrapping up a school year that did not go as planned even though she found she loved being a photographer for the yearbook. She had a huge falling out with her best friend Keira, and she cannot wait for a summer of never leaving her room.  Her parents and older sister are heading to India, leaving her with her little brother Imran, and Umma, their Grandma who came from India to watch them. The end of school culminates with the yearbooks being delayed, her house being toilet papered, the talent show performance that she quit- being completely changed and incredibly racist, Keira spreading lies, and a new girl moving in to the neighborhood.  It is a lot for Samira, and summer is just getting started.  Umma knows the whole neighborhood before the week is out, and starts building a community that rallies around the three of them.  Samira becomes a roadie for a band, Imran gets an old artist to teach him to paint, parties are planned, voices are found, friendships are established, and videos are made celebrating the success and obstacles of it all.  Every time they call the rest of the family in India, even the reader realizes just how much they all have grown.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I just love Samira, she is relatable, funny, and you just cheer for her. I wish her lens though was Islamic.  She doesn’t wear a swimsuit because she misread the dress code, but had no Islamic perspective hesitation of going to a swimming party with boys.  She gets blamed for sneaking beer to a gathering and it says she doesn’t drink, but doesn’t stress, that it would be a huge, huge deal Islamically, not just because she is underage.  Music and dancing aren’t even blips on the radar. Umma prays, Sammy finds it annoying that her prayers seem to take longer when Sammy is waiting for her.  Once it mentions that Sammy was told to pray, but it never shows her praying.  Islam seems very forced, just enough for the character to mention Islamophobia in other instances where the label creates stress for the family.

The character development of Imran and Umma, even though they don’t change at all, has depth and grounds the story. I read a digital copy that doesn’t have any backmatter, but I do hope that the autistic rep is accurate.  Imran’s perspective and heart are so engaging and his and Samira’s relationship is very tender.  There is no pity, or looking down, he legit is fully fleshed out and awesome.  Umma is incredible too, her magic network of getting things done really is a super power.  She connects with people, has a huge heart, and picks her battles.  I wish I could take an internship from Umma.

I can’t figure out if the resolution to the “climax” is intentionally understated because Samira has moved on and grown, and having a big explosion doesn’t fit her character, or if it was just not written strong enough.  That is why I put climax in quotations, because there really isn’t a lead up, or rising action, it is a progression, but it is like the rest of the smaller ups and downs, it is just a stress of the day-to-day living of the protagonist.  The other thread of the “climax” being Alice’s grandma coming home from the hospital, really just seemed weak.  She should have come to the party in her wheelchair, I really didn’t get why it centered the party for being for her, but then let her leave.

I like that Keira wasn’t given redeeming qualities, and her treatment of Samira was never justified.  Often the bullies are shown to have hard lives, which is fine, but sometimes they are just mean.  Samira really takes the high road in handling Keira and what she wants their interactions to look like in the future, which is much better messaging than most books about bullies contain, and I really appreciate that.  

FLAGS:

Bullying, racism, stereotypes, lying, Islamophobia, agism, mocking, teasing, music, dancing, vandalism, mention of Halloween and beer.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION: It wouldn’t be possible to do this as a book club selection in an Islamic school because of the music element, but depending on the school, it might still be ok to shelve in classrooms and the library.

May30

The Door Is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices: Hena Khan (Editor), Sayantani DasGupta, Reem Faruqi, Veera Hiranandani, Simran Jeet Singh, Supriya Kelkar, Rajani LaRocca, Maulik Pancholy, Mitali Perkins, Aisha Saeed, N.H. Senzai

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The Door Is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices: Hena Khan (Editor), Sayantani DasGupta, Reem Faruqi, Veera Hiranandani, Simran Jeet Singh, Supriya Kelkar, Rajani LaRocca, Maulik Pancholy, Mitali Perkins, Aisha Saeed, N.H. Senzai

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I cannot in good conscience at the current time support this book as a whole, as many of the contributing authors have not used their platform to speak up, spread awareness, and draw attention to the genocide occurring in Palestine. As recent South Asian history involves colonization, I find this silence deplorable, disappointing and shameful, we need to do better. That being said, I am reviewing the book none-the-less because a few of the authors have spoken out, some quite a lot, and I hope those that have remained silent, will speak out. Our voices have power, and while it feels like it might be too late to take a stand, it is not. Lives might yet be saved.

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The 328 page middle grade book is a collection of 11 Desi voices, four of which are Muslim (Hena Khan, Reem Faruqi, Aisha Saeed, and N.H. Senzai). All 11 are threaded together by a fictional community center that houses badminton games, ameens, cooking classes, dancing for Navratri, chess tournaments, spelling bees, celebrating an aqiqah, and everything in between. The majority of the stories are joyful with threads of overcoming stereotypes being a frequent mention in a book filled with different cultures, religions, and perspectives. Potential flags and triggers: there is mention in one story of domestic violence, there are a few hetero crushes and one same sex identifying boy who isn’t ready to discuss his attractions, there is ostracizing of a single woman choosing to adopt, and a few mentions of divorce. As with all anthologies some are better written than others, but as a whole the book is pretty consistent in spotlighting something specific to religion or Desi culture, and having a hobby or family conflict push the character to problem solve, find their voice, and then be supported in a happy ending.

My favorite story is N.H. Senzai’s piece, I might be bias seeing as I check her Instagram numerous times a day for Palestine updates, but her story, with the domestic violence mom and daughter surviving and flourishing, is powerful, on level, and memorable. Framed around a mom’s prayers, duaas, she named her daughter Duaa. Duaa is a gamer that tries to make her mom happy by helping with her catering business. When she helps set up for a domestic abuse banquet at the community center she faces what her and her mom overcame by leaving in the middle of the night, and starting over.

I’m not going to review each story, but I will highlight the remaining Muslim authored ones. Aisha Saeed’s story doesn’t have any Islam specific mentions, her story is set during a mehndi at the community center. Her khala is getting married to Brian and moving to Kenya, and she is not happy, throw in cousins who are still mad at her for ruining their furniture with chocolate last year, and Maha just wants to hide in the back and pout.

Reem Faruqi brings her characters together through old fashioned letter writing. Orchestrated by Rahma’s nani, second cousins who will be meeting for the first time at an aqiqah at the community center, start corresponding to get to know one another, and gripe about siblings. When they finally do meet, in matching outfits no less, the girls decide their siblings, like their favorite candy, can be both sweet and sour.

Hena Khan’s story brings everyone together for an ameen six years in the making. Halima has finally finished the Quran and the family is throwing a party. Halima wanted a carnival type party, mom wants a formal affair, but when the community center is on the brink of being closed down, the family decides to invite everyone to show what the center offers the community.

May2

Call Me Al by Wali Shah and Eric Walters

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Call Me Al by Wali Shah and Eric Walters

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I feel like I should have really liked this 264 page book: OWN voice, Muslim, MG, Pakistani, author is poet laureate for the City of Mississauga, Ontario, co authored by a prolific YA writer, but it unfortunately reads inconsistent and unpolished.  The characters at the beginning and their relationships with one another don’t read consistent with who they are in the middle.  Sure the character arcs from the middle to the end are nice, but it feels really disjointed from the first quarter of the book.  There are parts that feel so rushed, and other parts that are heavy handed with the preaching and the moral lessoning that I found myself skimming whole pages.  He says his family isn’t that “religious,” but Islam is centered with quotes from “the Prophet” (no salawat given, only a few times Prophet Muhammad is mentioned to identify which Prophet is being quoted) and “Imam Ali” (who the protagonist is named after), yet Al telling a girl he likes her is no problem at all.  He fasts because he has to, but tells his younger brother it is ok to sneak food, and the grandfather gives a whole speech on how the purpose of fasting is to feel empathy for the poor (face palm, in case you don’t know, it is a commandment of Allah swt).  I really struggled with how “Whites” are seen as opposites to “Muslims,” there is some push back with quotes from Malcom X on his hajj experience, but I didn’t feel like the character really ever accepted that Islam is a religion for all people, and White is a skin color.  Honestly the book reads like an early 2000 memoir.  I know it is fiction, but the cultural be-a-doctor-nothing-else-matters-stereotypes, and Islamophobic talking points that feel performative for a Western gaze, combine with a very unlikable arrogant protagonist, and result in a book that was difficult to connect with and get through.

SYNOPSIS:
Al, short for Ali does everything perfect, he has perfect grades, always listens to his parents, and respects the rules.  The book opens with him sneaking off campus with friends for lunch at the mall where he is caught by his grandfather, who seems incredibly strict, but later is the soft spot in a firm family.  His parents have moved to Canada from Pakistan, his mom used to be a teacher, but now takes care of their apartment building, his father was a physician and now drives a taxi.  It is non negotiable that Al will be a physician when he grows up.  The middle child of all brothers, his older brother Sam, short for Osama, has set the bar very high with his valedictorian status in high school, scholarships to start college, and student of the year award in middle school.  Al is in 8th grade and is expected to follow in his footsteps.  When Al’s crush on Melissa results in him writing a poem about her, he realizes he likes the written word to express himself.  His father thinks poetry is a waste of time. With a teacher that encourages creative writing, Islamophobia and hate crimes hitting close to home, and Al coming of age, the story focuses on Al’s 8th grade year as he discovers his own identity, with some help from his friends and the month of Ramadan.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I like that his friends really pushed back on him to own some of his internalized Islamophobia.  Zach is probably the most fleshed out character, and his humor, his teacher crush, his ability to apologize and make things right, is really the heart of the book.  It contrasts so greatly to how I feel about Al.  By the end he was ok, but at the beginning, his arrogance is obnoxious. I get that he is bright and a hard worker, but, yikes, he needs some humbleness.  The supporting characters are rather flat.  Al’s crush Melissa is shallow and only desired for her appearance, Dad is strict and demanding, not in an abusive way, but in a cold undeveloped way, mom is idyllic and supportive, and Ms. McIntosh is the driving motivator for Al. The other characters do little to flesh out the main players which is unfortunate.  I think some depth would have shown Al more rounded. His so called friends don’t know he is Muslim or what he eats, but they are friends, not just classmates, seems off and lacking.  The grandfather gives all the teachable moments, he starts off stern, and then is not, and the transition is jarring.  He speaks in quotes and lessons, and if it were quirky, it might help the flow of the book, but he really is the Islamic conscience of the book so to speak, but we know so little about him and his relationship with Al.

I didn’t like how fasting and Ramadan were presented. Al is embarrassed by fasting and being different.  I like that it says the family goes to the mosque, not sure why masjid wasn’t used, but there are no Muslim friends and no praying, so it has no real impact, which furthers the feeling that it is performative.  Al doesn’t seem to consider faith or culture until others question him about it, which is a missed opportunity to give Muslim kids a mirror to see themselves in the characters.  There are chapters of the book that really are wonderfully written, they just are sadly too far and few between.

FLAGS:

Crushes, Islamophobia, physical and verbal assault, racism, classism, bullying, lying, sneaking out, discussion of partition violence including great grandfather being killed. The book though, aside from the crush thread at the start and end, is quite clean, and the crush is pretty innocent.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I wouldn’t seek out this book for a classroom shelf, but if it was in the library I would leave it.  I don’t think most kids would pick it up and make it past the first 25 pages though, Al is really unlikeable at the start.

Apr26

Three Summers: A Memoir of Sisterhood, Summer Crushes, and Growing Up on the Eve of the Bosnian Genocide by Amra Sabic-El-Reyess with Laura L. Sullivan

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Three Summers: A Memoir of Sisterhood, Summer Crushes, and Growing Up on the Eve of the Bosnian Genocide by Amra Sabic-El-Reyess with Laura L. Sullivan

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It is difficult and probably rather inappropriate for me to offer a “review” of a memoir, after all who am I to have opinions on someone’s lived experience.  And this non fiction book in particular is so desperately needed and important, as OWN voice middle grade literature about Bosnia is fairly non existent. So continue reading my thoughts with a grain of salt, suffice it to say, that I enjoyed the book, and loved the author’s YA book The Cat I Never Named, but ultimately I struggle to suggest this for the intended audience of 8-12 year olds.  As a child my family was involved with Bosnian refugees in the 90s, as an adult I understand that Islam, and being Muslim, is not a monolith, as someone who can empathize with loss and heartache, I couldn’t put the book down.  Yet, I truly doubt that many fourth graders will feel the emotional climaxes that are not shown, but told.  That they will understand the timeline and what is about to happen if the book were to continue.  That they will feel a connection to the characters who read so much older than them.  If the book was fiction, I would say the characters read YA, with the bikinis and details of body growth, kissing, making out, having boyfriends, and dancing at the discotheque, cigarette smoking, backless dresses, noting which neighbors are having affairs, and trying to become their “truest self,” but the book is a memoir, this is the author’s life when she was 11, 12, and 13.  In an environment where her maturity is noted as being heightened because of the loss of her brother and her personality, the book shows cultural norms, that will still strike contemporary reader as being much more adult in nature. Islamically, the label of Muslim and Bosniaks, is ever present.  Bosniaks were massacred for being Muslim, period.  The book never shows them praying, or mentions Allah swt or the Quran, covering is something only the older generations did, they do drink alcohol on occasion, but they have a cow slaughtered Islamically and burials are done in accordance with Islamic principles.  There is kissing, having boyfriends is not problematic unless they are Serb, the only imam mentioned does weird black magic type things.  So while the label of “Muslim” may feel to Muslims readers more like a cultural marker at times, it is none-the-less incredibly empowering to see that Amra takes pride in her Bosniak identity and doesn’t shy away from it. Other flags/triggers are domestic abuse, bullying, physical violence, attempted drowning, accidental drowning, death of a sibling, kidnapping, imprisonment, threat of war, racism, Islamophobia, music, fortune tellers, lying, threatening.  The backmatter offers a timeline and thus gives some information about the rape, torture, genocide, abuse, and destruction.

SYNOPSIS:

The book starts with a visiting fortune teller giving Amra and her family hope that her older brother Amar will be pain free soon. Amar suffers from Marfan syndrome, and is frequently weak, teased, and in pain.  But he is also wise and patient, brilliant and gentle, and beloved by so many, and Amra is broken when he passes away.  To help break her from her debilitating grief, her parents reach out to a cousin in Belgrade, who has long been estranged for marrying a Serb, to come visit for the summer.  Zana and her younger sister Vedrana, engulf Amra in warmth and adventure and the summer on the River Una is just what Amra needs.  The next summer Zana and Amra resume their idyllic adventures of swimming, make-up, crushes, and coming of age, with only a hint of fracture based on religious lines creeping in the final days.  The following summer Amra is starting to mature on her own and understand the world around her.  Her father has lost his job, been kidnapped essentially and tortured, and while nights dancing at the discotheque give laughter and light, the girls final summer, is the end of peace, and innocence for all Bosniaks.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love the end, that there are real life updates of the people in the book.  It made me cry.  It is also so timely to what is occurring in Gaza and how no matter how clear it is that it is genocide, and it is oppression, and it is racism, some just cannot see it.  The book is joyful, but the reality of the backmatter is heavy, and real, and important.

I like that the book shows Bosnia and the culture and the traditions, the few books I’ve read focus on the war, and the rich culture and deep history doesn’t get to shine like it does here.

I do wish the book was more showing than telling.  I know it is a memoir, but at times it was just too advanced commentary and insight.  I fully believe the author is brilliant, and at 11 years old was pondering her life, but most readers just aren’t at that age, and the tangents keep the readers at arms length.  The book says it is about crushes, so I don’t want to keep harping on it, but it really is Amra and Zana and a gaggle of other female cousins quite often worrying about boys, and crushes, and kissing.  It doesn’t get obnoxious, but it isn’t a line here or there, it is the bulk of the book.

FLAGS:

Domestic abuse, bullying, physical violence, attempted drowning, accidental drowning, death of a sibling, kidnapping, imprisonment, threat of war, racism, Islamophobia, music, fortune tellers, lying, threatening, death, loss, grief, affairs, cheating, racism, bare bodies, crude jokes, crushes, kissing, making out, sneaking out, smoking, drinking, developing bodies, bullying, internalized Islamophobia, kidnapping, imprisonment, dancing, black magic imams.  The backmatter offers a timeline and thus gives some information about the rape, torture, genocide, abuse, starvation, and destruction during the Bosnian genocide.

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TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I think with some context about war, about communism, the Ottoman empire even, this book could be used in a teaching setting to allow the time frame to be seen from those living it, but, for more mature middle school to early high school readers.  It is a lot for MG and that it is non fiction makes me want it to be understood and appreciated and I don’t know that for the intended demographic, even with context and guidance it would be achieved. There really isn’t a plot, it is a memoir, and the pacing and assumed context knowledge I feel like, just wouldn’t be there for the typical western middle grade reader.

Apr20

The Magical Moroccan Rug by Naveed Mir illustrated by Anisa Mohammad

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The Magical Moroccan Rug by Naveed Mir illustrated by Anisa Mohammad

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I really like the premise of the book, a Muslim Magic Tree House so to speak, two kids that magically go back in time, in this case to Andalucía. At times the book did make me smile, but really it feels like a missed opportunity.  The writing needs tightening, it feels early reader at 94 pages long with a few full page illustrations, but the vocabulary and text filled pages support the suggested reading level of middle grade.  It takes way too long to build up to the “action,” and when it gets to the plot it doesn’t seem to know what to do with itself.  It is a lot of walking this way only to turn around and walk back for no development, character growth, or enriching reason.  As an adult I had to force myself to keep reading, my eight year old who loves Magic Tree House books had basic foundational questions and couldn’t’ get past page 24.  Honestly it just needed some proof reading and some trimming, which is why I found it so frustrating; it really had so much potential.  Example, if the little boy is so excited to see his grandfather after 8 years, why didn’t he go with his dad to the airport, why did his elderly tired grandfather immediately go to a community event after arriving in the UK from Morocco, why wouldn’t Yusuf go with his beloved grandfather to the masjid.  And this is all within the first few pages.  If the logic isn’t there for the mundane set-up, it is hard to get on board for the fantasy aspect of a flying carpet going back in time.  The historical figures are introduced in passing and don’t leave much of an impression, so yes it is good to give readers a bit of information on people they may not have heard of before, but it doesn’t give them enough connection to make them memorable.  The backmatter sadly is not more information about the three historical figures presented: Abdur Rahman (The Falcon of Andalus), Lubna of Cordoba, and Abbas Ibn Firnas, it is a glossary and a Quick Quiz.  The answers to the quiz are not provided, there are additional facts shared but no sources given, and there is urging to find out more about Muslim Spain, but no directions, links, or book suggestions are provided.  The publisher should have proofed the book, it reads like a pitch, maybe a first draft, and our children and their purchasing adults deserve better.  We have growing options of stories with historical Islamic OWN voice framing, and unfortunately this book had a lot of potential, a few pages of interest, but not ultimately enough intrigue to win me, or my kids over.

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SYNOPSIS:

Yusuf and his friend Jack live in the same neighborhood, but don’t go to the same school.  They spend a lot of time together though, and have known each other since they were babies.  When Yusuf’s grandfather comes to visit from Morocco, he brings an old carpet and gifts it to his 10 year old grandson.  Unsure what to do with it, Yusuf puts it in his room, and feigns gratitude.  With a history project looming, and a dislike for historical study, Yusuf and Jack find themselves heading on a magic carpet ride into the past.

They arrive in Cordoba in 856 CE, disoriented and dizzy, Omar, their guide, greets them, walks them through the mosque answers one question then walks them back to the carpet to take them to a different time, 786 CE and they see diverse people living together peacefully.  They first observe “one of the greatest rulers that Andalus ever had,” The Falcon of Andalus, aka Abdur Rahman.  He is a humble leader that freely interacts with his subjects.  They then head to the 10th century to see Lubna with a crowd of scholars in Cordoba  learning from her in the library.

When Yusuf remembers his history project about flight, Umar guides them to 875 CE with a pit stop in CE 852 to see Abbas Ibn Firnas take flight, well fail and then eventually take flight in 875.  The boys then say their goodbyes and are whisked away home. Where they can’t believe what transpired, and are determined to figure out how to make it happen again.

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WHY I LIKE IT:

I like the concept, and that Jack is not Muslim, and Yusuf is unapologetically Muslim.  Seeing the two interact is enjoyable and both good modeling, and mirroring.  The heart of the book is truly not bad, it is the tangents that get long winded for no advancement of the story that take away from the flow.  As stated above the relationship between Yusuf and his grandfather doesn’t align with what is said and what is shown.  The end suffers the same lack of editing.  How can grandpa and Yusuf live in the same home, but they can never find a moment to talk.  Nothing is gained by delaying their conversation, so why delay it, and go on and on about delaying it?

If the point is to share not just with Yusuf and Jack about key historical figures, but with also the reader.  Then there needs to be more interaction with the characters, not just watching them from afar.  Interact with other observers or students or colleagues, convey information from a “personal level” not just drop a snippet here or there from what feels like a vague Wikipedia page.  If the book is not sourced, why not take some fictional liberties and flesh out Abbas, Lubna and Abdur Rahman, so that they are remembered. Include more information about the three real characters in the backmatter, reinforce the idea that a magic carpet is not real, but these remarkable people were, and they changed the world.

I don’t know that kids will have issues with how the carpet worked, but because the set up was so weak, I had a hard time going along with any of it.  I wanted to know why it had to be a grandson, not a son or daughter, how grandpa or his grandpa figured that out when it wasn’t a relative that gave the first Yusuf the carpet, but a storyteller.  How Umar knew to look for them at that moment.  Why did they go to 856 CE and then go to 786 CE why couldn’t they just meet Umar on the first stop? Seems unnecessarily dragged out, for no reason.  When was grandpa’s last trip? Could you get stuck out of your time? If no one can see or feel the rug, why do they keep hiding it? Can people see and hear them, or only their guide?

I like that Yusuf prays and Jack knows that Yusuf prays, and what a mosque is.   I didn’t like that they hear the athan, and went with everyone to pray, but then just left without praying.  The book seemed to do that a few times.  Have the kids walk through a crowd presumably toward something or for some purpose only to turn around and return to the place of origin having gained nothing, learned nothing, or seen anything, again just drags the book out and frustrates readers.

There really is not conflict in the book, no climax either, there is no really stress about getting back, stress about figuring out how to go on the next adventure, it is there, but not heightened, and it is unfortunate, because the book really could be adventure filled, and it just isn’t.

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FLAGS:
None

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TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
If you are learning about Abbas Ibn Firnas, or Lubna, or The Falcon of Andalus or Spain, and have access to supplemental material, the book has value.  I don’t know that if a kid picked it up off the shelf even with interest in history, that they would finish reading the book.  It doesn’t provide a solid feeling of learning or understanding about the time and place and people seen in the time travels, nor is it action packed on its own.  So if you can motivate a child to read it and then look further into it, the book would help connect the past as being interesting and engaging, but on its own, the book does not achieve that.

Apr12

Shiny Misfits by Maysoon Zayid and Shadia Amin

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Shiny Misfits by Maysoon Zayid and Shadia Amin

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I admittedly wanted to read this book because the author is of Palestinian descent. I have seen clips of her standup and I’m not a huge fan, although I do appreciate that she doesn’t deny her culture and Islam, doesn’t let her cerebral palsy keep her from working toward her dreams, and that she is successful.  All good messages for a 256 page middle grade graphic novel that is not autobiographical, but draws on her life none-the-less.  I was surprised, though, that there are no Palestinian references in the book, very few Arab cultural touchstones either, and yet swearing on the Quran and not eating pork are presented fairly often, almost as “bits” to be laughed at.  I truly understand that the character is presented as culturally Muslim more than centering Islam in her identity, but perhaps because the protagonist, Bay Ann, is rather unlikeable, it just rubbed me the wrong way.  I love that the people in Bay Ann’s life do not caudle her, and that she is fierce and dramatic and driven, but she is an awful friend, her obsession with Alyee Maq (yes full names are used throughout) gets annoying, and I worry that some of the humor will be missed for the younger target audience and be taken as Muslim or Arab norms.  The presentation of a disability in a well illustrated graphic novel is empowering, an amazing Arab dad is nice to see, a divorced family co-parenting is important, but the foundation for much of the story is Bay Ann’s crush on Alyee Maq, he does kiss her on the cheek for social media likes, the book starts with Halloween Idol, features dancing throughout, and concludes with a Nondenominational Holiday Spectacular.  Bay Ann’s mom is not very kind or involved, and Alyee Maq’s mom, the only hijabi in the book, also is rather rough.  This is a book where I acknowledge my own overthinking, as both an adult reader and reviewer.  If you are ok with the (random) Islamic rep, kids will benefit from seeing Bay Ann as a fully capable person who happens to have a disability.  I’d suggest seeing if your local library has the book and looking through it first to see if you are comfortable passing it on to your kids.

SYNOPSIS:

Bay Ann is a tap dancer and with Halloween Idol coming up, she plans to win.  Her best friend Michelle is going to do her make-up as a zombie bride, and be her zombie bridesmaid with Davey Matt, the third in their trio, being the dead ring-bearer dog.  They can’t be her backup dancers because she is a one woman show, but she needs them to cheer her on.  When she wins, she has the spotlight stolen from her by Alyee Maq kissing her claiming he is making “a sick girls dream come true.” The clip goes viral, as Alyee Maq is a bit of a celebrity and the competition is on.  Whether it is science fair, social media posts, or the class debate, Bay Ann is determined to knock Alyee Maq down, claim the online spotlight, and  prove her talent is more than her disability.  With each attempt failing, her resolve grows stronger and her tunnel vision pushes those closest to her away, as she joins Alyee Maq with the hopes that if she can’t beat him, she will join him and achieve the fame she seeks.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I know the book is rather intentionally ridiculous, but I wanted to cheer for Bay Ann, and I never really liked her.  I don’t like how she treats Davey Matt, or even Michelle.  If she was better to them at the beginning, I think it would have shown how disconnected her mom Malak is as well as the school administrators, and made it more funny, but it truly just makes her seem like she is awful to everyone, and thus you don’t really find yourself invested in her stardom, her friendships, or her defining her own narrative.

I wish their was some Arab rep, not just a few Arabic words tossed in here and there.  I also wish there was more Islamic centering, or honestly even less. The swearing on the Quran really bothered me, Friday prayer is mentioned in passing, but there is no impact on the characters or the story, so it seemed misplaced.

The pacing of the story is rushed, and at times a bit chaotic.  I think it is intentional, but it makes it hard to connect to the characters or to grasp their motivations.  I don’t know that I truly ever understood why Bay Ann wants the spotlight, or why Alyee Maq is famous, or why Davey Matt hangs around Michelle and Bay Ann when they belittle him. It doesn’t need to be thoroughly explained, but when you finish the book, and feel exhausted, but can’t even articulate what the book was really about other than a girl that wants to be famous for her talent not her shaking, and won’t let anything or anyone get in her way, it seems like some opportunities were missed.

FLAGS:

Close male and female friendships with touching, an unwanted kiss, lying, manipulation.  Swearing on a Quran, disrespect. Using people.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I don’t know that I would seek this book out to own, but in an Islamic school library if it found its way in, I would probably not object to it being shelved.