Category Archives: Muslim Character

Sep18

Odd Girl Out by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid

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Odd Girl Out by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid

At 368 pages this identity centered mature YA book really hooked me and had me invested, which is impressive because Islamophobia stereotypes and being the new kid in a new place tropes are pretty frequently done, and often after a while, feel repetitive.  For me the charm of this book is actually not Maaryah and her peers/friends/bullies storylines, but the protagonist’s relationship with her parents and what caused her mom and dad to divorce.  Obviously as a mom of teens, I’m not in the target audience, but I feel like I benefited from the Muslim authored, Islam centered book, and think older teens, perhaps 17 and up, will also find the book enjoyable and reflective of views they have, challenges they face, and boundaries they have to establish.  I don’t want to spoil it, but SPOILER, had my dear friends that have read the book clued me in that the book will toe and slightly cross the haram lines, but ultimately show Maaryah deciding to re-establish her boundaries after being tempted not to, i.e. making a poor choice to attend a party with boys and alcohol present, and dressed in a way not typical to her hijabi style, I wouldn’t have read the last hundred and twenty pages or so with my jaw clenched in fear. The book shows a lot of Islam in practice, salat, duas, discussions about hijab, but not everyone will agree with decisions Maaryah makes or the rationale behind them as they vacillate between culture, religion, and family expectations.  I love that Maaryah is fallible and never abandons her faith, and that who we are is more than a singular mistake or instance of poor judgement. The book is not preachy, most will just take it as a girl finding her place in her new family dynamic in a new country, who happens to Muslim.  I think, an assumption really, based on what the author has said about her previous adult books, something along the lines that they are not meant to be Islamic fiction, but are stories with Muslim characters, and I think this book should probably be viewed the same.  There is swearing, hand holding, a side hug, normalized boy girl friendships, lying, running away, deceit, cheating, alcohol, mention of hookups, dating, vaping, music, flirting, hijab questioning, bullying, physical assault.  My biggest concern about the book is that it brings up Palestine, but doesn’t discuss Palestine. A side character is a non practicing Jew that visits Tel Aviv and Maaryah wants to discuss the occupation with her, but hesitates and the moment passes.  It is never revisited which I really wish it would have.  It could have modeled a bit how to have those conversations, I know it isn’t that type of book, but Maaryah mentions repurposing kaffiyehs in her designs and so it hints that it matters to her, but never pulls on that thread.  At one point it also mentions another character posted something pro Isr@*l during the genocide, which I can only assume the author thought that by the time of publication would have ended.  SubhanAllah ya Raab.

SYNOPSIS:
The tag line on the cover “From Dubai Girl to London Nobody…” very succinctly summarizes the plot.  Maaryah had an idyllic life in Dubai with her parents and close friends, spending her holidays with her mom’s family in London, and securing an internship with a famous designer.  All is going well until her parents get divorced, her mom moves her to the UK, not near her extended family, and the lack of Muslims, let alone hijabis, at her high school has her bullied with no friends to have her back.  With her mom in survival mode, their once close relationship is non-existent, and the 15 year old is left to sort through it all on her own.

WHY I LIKE IT:

There is a little pulling of punches so to speak of asserting that the boundaries are Islamic, but for the most part I think Muslim readers will see that Maaryah does view a lot of what she experiences through an Islamic lens which I appreciate. I also like that the protagonist’s connection to salat and faith is hers, it isn’t forced on her and I think for this demographic that is good micro messaging and framing.

I was very grateful that the book answered the questions about Maaryah’s family dynamic, so often parental problems are pushed to the void and let to be resolved or understood off the page. And while in the first half it was teased a little as we aren’t having that conversation right now, I did ultimately by the end feel like it was sufficiently resolved.  I also felt the mom was blaringly absent at weird times and I get that it was a plot device to get her out of the way, but if you are dragging at the 100 page mark, I do encourage you to keep reading, it does pick up.

This book isn’t meant to be didactic, and I recognize I’m putting that on it a bit, but I do think the Gaza framing missed an opportunity to show readers how to navigate that very real scenario through the power of fictional characters.

FLAGS:

Copied from above: There is swearing, hand holding, a side hug, normalized boy girl friendships, lying, running away, deceit, cheating, alcohol, mention of hookups, dating, vaping, music, flirting, hijab questioning, bullying, physical assault.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I would shelve this in an upper high school classroom, I think that decision to be at the party is clearly shown to be a mistake, to put herself in that situation is something she regrets, and I think showing that she comes out from it offers a lot to be discussed.

Sep14

All the Ways to be Pretty by Shamaila Khan illustrated by Reyhana Ismail

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All the Ways to be Pretty by Shamaila Khan illustrated by Reyhana Ismail

The premise of this book is fabulous, an Islamic approach to internal beauty to counter the societal emphasis on external appearance, by drawing on the examples of Ai’shah (RA), Khadija (RA), Sumayyah (RA), Maryam (RA), Hajar (RA), and Rufaidah (RA), may Allah swt be pleased with them all.  The illustrations are decent, focusing on the girl understanding what her mother is saying and her imaging herself with those qualities.  The part that I struggled with, is I flipped through it before I started reading it, and the pages are often walls of text.  Additionally, I didn’t realize it is rhyming text over 34 pages.  SubhanAllah though, somehow, it works.  I can see this book being shared at preteen gatherings in masajids, homes, and schools everywhere.  The rhyme at times is forced and lacking, but the flow makes the walls of text zoom by and the information shared is not overwhelming and Alhumdulillah, it doesn’t stray too far from the central messaging. You could share it with younger readers, but I think it works best if the audience knows some of the women and facts highlighted, and the information shared is a mix of reminder and new tidbits urging further exploration. The publisher lists the reading age at 7-10 which is probably a good fit based on the amount of text, but the rhyme, mirrors at the end, and starting point of battling beauty standards on the screen and “Princess” messaging is a bit of a target audience disconnect, which is why I point it out so consumers are aware.

The book starts with a lengthy author’s note before the rhyming scene of a mother and daughter walking to school and discussing what the daughter would like to be.  The girl doesn’t answer a profession, but rather responds that she wants to be pretty, and gives some justifications.  The mother gently then encourages her not to just want to be pretty, but rather pretty smart, pretty wise, pretty brave, pretty pious, pretty resilient, and pretty kind, before concluding with the girl throughout the day thinking of how to be like them, and her mother, to earn Allah’s pleasure.  Each attribute is a two page spread with one of the historical women featured.  The book ends with a hadith and six mirrors with the characteristics beneath them.

I like that the book does not try to give an entire biography about the women featured.  I also like that Islamic references are also brought in, some explained some not. It is “Islamic fictionalized non fiction” it is meant for Muslims with Islamic framing, not just Muslim characters, and it has substance.  Lately so many self published or even Islamic published books seem to not feature Islamic foundational themes, and I realize how much I have missed reading books that do.  Yes, I normally would have a solution to offer as to how to make the pages less text filled and I know I should say that maybe it shouldn’t rhyme, because it makes for some awkward phrasing, over explaining, and useless lines, but alas, I have no suggestions.  We need books that present our Sahabas and Prophets in a manner that allow our kids to know them and think of them and emulate them. Alhumdulillah, I can see this book being read and shared and discussed, and that to me is a “pretty “good thing.

Sep10

The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood: School Trip by Farhana Islam illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh

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The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood: School Trip by Farhana Islam illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh

The illustrations in this book, by a Muslim author featuring Muslim characters, are impressively fun and complimentary to the story.  Yes, the 184 page book is highly illustrated.  The publisher says it is MG, and I can see that based on the length, but I think it is a solid second grade to fourth grade read.  The storyline is singular and surface level, and the scary silly bits are just meant to be funny and not taken too seriously.  I enjoyed the book, the normalizing of the Muslim kids in a non Muslim setting just living their life, and the main character’s voice had me smiling throughout.  A school camping trip is overshadowed by bullies and then consumed by the ever growing out of control scary story of Bertie Blackteeth.  An epic laser tag battle, quad adventures, and the comical banter of Mina and her friends, Mobeen and Reema, make for a light engaging read.  Sensitive kids might find the fright to be too much, but I think most will finish and be glad to learn there are more books to come in the series.

SYNOPSIS:

Mina Mahmood and her friends are ecstatic, it is finally their turn to head off on the annual camping trip to Shiremoor Oaks.  A weekend of laser tag, orienteering, archery, and quad biking without adults, well teachers, but no parents.  All Mina has to do before the fun begins is get through a family dinner with Auntie Selma and her cousins.  Mina doesn’t believe anything her cousin Abbas says, so when he mentions he went camping in school to Shiremoor Oaks and heard about a girl, Bertie Blackteeth who vanished there, Mina pays him no mind.  When her older sister Affa, also mentions that she heard the story, Mina starts to wonder if there could be some truth.  The next morning on the bus, when Bilal the Bully and his minions Owen and Brodie are also talking about Bertie Blackteeth and her need for a new body, Mina and the rest of the class are properly spooked. The fear hangs over all the activities, ruins the midnight snack extravaganza, and makes this a camping trip they will never forget.

WHY I LIKE IT:
I enjoy when Muslim kids drop mention of Eid and Ayatul Kursi in their adventures. When a character wears hijab, but she is the teacher, so the book isn’t about her identity, it is just a part of who she is.  I also really like when books are funny, characters are snarky, there is a plot, a climax and a resolution.  The book doesn’t have layers and heavy themes, sure you could discuss bullying, and fear and friendship.  At times Mina is tasked with saving Mobeen and other times advised to sacrifice him.  But considering he feels to young to be a father if the spider that just landed on him lays eggs in his eyebrows, it is probably best to just enjoy the story for what it is and not look to make it more.

FLAGS:
Could be a little scary, it is a little imaginative in the lies and embellishments of Bertie Blackteeth.  Bully and dealing with bullies.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I handed it to my 10 year old and said enjoy, not much more than that is needed. A fun addition to elementary shelves, and one that will be picked up often.

Sep5

The Prince of Stars: Ulugh Beg’s Quest to Map the Stars and Seasons by M.O. Yuksel illustrated by Zelma Firdauzia

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The Prince of Stars: Ulugh Beg’s Quest to Map the Stars and Seasons by M.O. Yuksel illustrated by Zelma Firdauzia

This gorgeous 40 page picture book biography is both flowing in its storytelling and informative in its sourced details of a fairly unknown, underappreciated figure.  I was humbled reading this book and learning about the accomplishments of someone I had never heard of before.  Truly this book, bringing to the attention of our young and old ones alike, such a remarkable figure, is a much needed gift.  The publisher suggests the book for 4-8 year olds, but I think it also will appeal to older readers familiar with Copernicus, Galileo, and Ptolemy and who will appreciate the efforts driven by curiosity from someone so long ago. The diction in a few lines did give me pause, but nothing that overshadows how well the author has once again proven to master the storytelling of non fiction Muslim accomplishments in an engaging, accessible, exciting way for today’s audiences.

The book opens with a map of the Timurid Empire in 1405, before showing the reader a young prince, Ulugh Beg, gazing out and the stars and wondering how many there are.  The next spread makes no sense to me, but I acknowledge others might not be bothered, how can the young boy be watching days fade into weeks, into months, into years, and then wonder how many days are in a year? Seems that either those terms weren’t yet around, or some details about the generalized meaning made him curious about the specifics.  Either way, him wanting to know how many days in a year and the changing of seasons, along with counting the stars are the questions he wonders about as a child and works to answer throughout his life.

The king of the Timurid Empire, Ulugh Beg’s grandfather, insured his intelligent grandson had the best teachers and was allowed to travel, learn, and follow him curiosity.  At 15, when Ulugh Beg became the ruler of Turkistan, he built a madrasa and invited scholars, artists, students, philosophers, and inventors to attend making Turkistan “a mecca of learning.”  Yes, the usage of mecca here made me laugh.  I know it is appropriate, but it seemed a little on the noise in a book where Mecca, the direction we pray is also mentioned.  The book then details the controversy of studying the stars, as astrology and astronomy at the time, were seen as one and the same.  And with only God knowing the future, he had to assert that he was curious about the science of the stars and planets.

I love that faith and Islam is centered and that the inscription on his school is “Seeking knowledge is the duty of every Muslim man and woman.” But it alludes that this is a hadith, and while I agree it is inspired by a saying of Prophet Muhammad (saw), I think adding the man and woman part, where to the best of my knowledge the hadith is just “every Muslim,” is something that should be clarified. None-the-less, that it was Ulugh Beg’s motto, so to speak, and that he made a point to articulate “woman” is remarkable.  He determined the exact time of the five daily prayers, the direction to Mecca, and the dates of holidays.

He also built the world’s largest observatory, and numerous tools, including the Fakhri sextant to measure the location of the stars and movement of planets.  He encouraged being challenged and challenging others’ findings, and over 17 years wrote a star catalog of more than 1,000 stars. He answered how many days in a year, down to the seconds, why the seasons change, and inspired future astronomers and scientists.

As incredible as the story is, the backmatter is equally impressive with an Author’s Note, Ulugh Beg’s Biography, a Glossary, Astronomical Timeline, Bibliography, Further Reading, and Acknowledgements.

The illustrations are the cherry on top, somehow I don’t love the cover, but the inside spreads are nice and match the tone of the words and the detail of what he was accomplishing.  The book is on preorder and I hope, teachers, librarian, and families will prioritize learning about him, and giving him credit for what he helped us to understand, about our world.

Sep4

Dark Nights and Light Hearts: A Muslim Book of Opposites by Hena Khan illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini

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Dark Nights and Light Hearts: A Muslim Book of Opposites by Hena Khan illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini

Every few years, for the last 13 or so, we get a new title in this series, and each one warms my cynical heart with its unapologetic Islamic representation and vibrancy.  The heartfelt rhyming lines, the Islam centering, and the enveloping illustration make these books timeless, sought after, and beloved.  This installment covers opposites, previous books in the series focused on colors, shapes, and numbers. From the BIG ummah to a SMALL baby’s aqiqah, HOT oud to COLD rain bringing barakah, SLOW honey full of shifa to FAST cars heading to Jummah, the book uses two page spreads per each term in the opposite pair with rhyming couplets in large clear font to introduce/remind, describe, and highlight an Islamic tradition.  As both opposites and Islam are conveyed, the cadence and illustrations pull Muslim and non Muslim children in and make the book delightful at storytime, in small groups, at bedtime, and for kids to look through on their own, over and over again.  Alhumdulillah.

The book is 36 pages with a Glossary of Islamic words at the end with an Author’s Note.  It is available wherever books are sold and a great reminder that well done Islamic books can make it from traditional publishers.

 

Sep2

My Perfect Family by Khadijah VanBrakle

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My Perfect Family by Khadijah VanBrakle

Oh Dear. The very premise alone of this book requires the author to expertly thread the needle of numerous pitfalls, which in my opinion did not occur.  A girl, Leena, learns about family members at age 16, who are Muslim, and the practice of Islam being the “reason” her mother ran away from her family when she herself was 16, means that for Muslim readers the representation needs to be clear that the family’s interpretation is to blame and not the religion itself.  It also means that as Leena learns the reader learns, and non Muslims (or honestly even Muslims) are not going to want a heavy handed preachy 256 page YA book. The Islam “taught” to Leena has to align with the readers interpretation or show why the characters believe as they do, and the conclusion regarding religion and identity needs to make sense for the character aside from what reader wants to have happen.  Unfortunately the copy I read contained numerous errors, repetitive paragraphs, a weak resolution, dropped plot threads, and had me cringing at how harsh Islam was being presented through the great aunt character, that honestly if Islam was just presented as no dating and dressing modestly, or else you will get married off, I can see why one would run away.  The book contains a lot of cursing, and features dating, having a child out of wedlock, death, and gambling by non Muslim characters.

SYNOPSIS:
Leena has always wanted a big family, but her and her single mom, Asiyah tackle life together.  Leena and her best friend Deidre are employed by Asiyah’s in home daycare and are as close as sisters, but she wants more.  When Asiyah finds out her father has had a heart attack, Leena learns she has a grandfather and great aunt that live an hour away, in Santa Fe.  From the moment Leena sets foot in the hospital, under the gaze of her Aunt Samira, the judgmental overtones begin regarding clothing, education, food choices, and dating.  As a result Asiyah is reassured that she made the right decision all those years ago to leave Islam and her family.  Leena however, has had her entire world changed, and is willing to endure the abrasive Samira to get to know her grandfather Tariq.

WHY I LIKE IT:
I like that family drama and secrets were teased, even if I didn’t think that they were presented and resolved well. I wish they took more of the focus and that Islam being a reason for the animosity was downplayed.  I think religion could and should have been one of many factors, having it be the ONLY factor put a lot of pressure on the presentation, which fell short.  It also means that the resolution needed to resolve the Islam hanging in the air, SPOILER,  it didn’t.  The conclusion has Asiyah realizing her father never stopped loving her, but how did that resolve the relationship with her and Samira? And suddenly Samira just backed off her singular Islamic identity? A bit of whiplash with it all happening off the page, left me unsatisfied.  Speaking of pages, the book spends a lot of page space having characters drive the one hour one way to have conversations that are less than 15 minutes and could have been done over the phone or even texted.  Nothing exciting or revealing comes from these drives, they just make the story drag. Tariq should have ridden along, so we could see why he was “such a great man,” see why Leena kept enduring the harshness of her Aunt to get to know him, and have the family she always dreamed of.

Islam is presented through the harshest of harsh characters, a few side characters are brought in that make Islam more realistic in practice and fleshed out, but it really feels like it is too little too late.  I think a non Muslim would feel Islam is just modest dress, no interacting with boys, marrying early, and rigid rules.  Leena is harassed from the first moment she meets her family, no easing in to it, she is even handed brochures on her first visit to her grandfather’s home.  Yet, Leena never shows any interest in learning about Islam, she could Google it if she was curious, even when at the masjid, she doesn’t go and watch them pray, no connection to Allah is ever discussed, it is just dos and do nots.  Consistently throughout it feels like Islam is weaponized and perhaps that is the author’s experience or intent, but it is odd coming from a Muslim writer in a fictional setting.  We get enough of that stereotyping from the non Muslim real world.

The emphasis on Islam being the only thing that matters for these characters means that whether they are religious or not, the characters are painted very one dimensional. Leena is a terrible friend, she counts on Deidre to drive her around, she never follows up on asking about her dates or reciprocating the effort for her other than feeding her.  Asiyah has an ex-boyfriend show up, and then goes out with a friend, but there is no context for their abrupt arrivals and then departures from the story, they do not serve as a foil to reveal any pertinent information or connection. A plot device used quite often in the book, and one I am not a fan of, is when things can be solved by characters simply having a conversation.  It is never the right time, they will talk later, even the fruition that started the family fracturing could have been eased by, you guessed it, the characters talking, not even agreeing, just talking.  While I’m running through my top gripes, might I add, that I have spent a few too many minutes on the cover as well.  Presumably Leena is in the middle, her young single mom Asiyah on the right, but who is the young hijabi? Her aunt does not read young at all, and she would not have her neck showing, that would go against her core characterization. So before you come at me that I have no right to my opinions and that I’m too mean, please solve the mystery of who is on the cover, thank you.

I read an ARC so I am aware that changes could have occurred, I’ve requested the book from my library and it is on order, and I will come back and correct this paragraph if needed.  The story of tae kwon do is repeated in two different spots almost word for word as if the information that Asiyah was good at tae kwon do both times is news to Leena.  Clearly it is in error.  It also has Deidre’s grandmother getting their house with the insurance money from Deidre’s parents dying and then a few lines later saying how the grandma doesn’t let Diedre forget that the spare room was changed to a bedroom for Diedre when she moved in.  A friend, Rheem, is brought in guide Leena academically, and is described as being homeschooled and changing to an online program for her senior year to also take dual enrollment classes, a few chapters later they are going to her Islamic High School for a party.  Side note, the sign on the high school says, “ALHIDAAYAH ISLAMIC SCHOOL: Grades sixth through twelfth.  We want our children learning it’s okay to be both American and Muslim.” The last page of the book also has a “Sharifa” in the back seat, and there is no Sharifa previously mentioned in the book.

FLAGS:
Cursing, judgement, dating, running away from home, anger, death, loss, lying, flirting, gambling, child out of wedlock, cutting family ties, clothing shaming, music, othering.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I wouldn’t shelve or use this book for a book club read.  I think Muslim kids would be annoyed by the way Islam is presented.  I think they would be ok that Leena SPOILER didn’t take an interest in Islam, but I think they would be bothered by the flat, angry portrayal that it has in the book.

Aug14

Zeyna Lost and Found by Shafaq Khan

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Zeyna Lost and Found by Shafaq Khan

I think I needed this 336 page middle grade book that gets parents out of the way and lets a trio of kids  hop from country to country to solve a mystery, track down the bad guys and save the day. Set in the 1970s in the UK and on the Hippie Trail between Lahore, Pakistan and Istanbul, Turkey, the book is a fast paced read with humor, heart, and adventure.  I absolutely love Zeyna’s snark and voice, and her relationship with her brother and cousin, ground the story and make you cheer for them even when their antics are incredibly dangerous and improbable.  As an Islamic school librarian, my one critique with the book is that I wish there was more/any Islam. I, at one point considered that they are not Muslim, and I’m not sure what the author identifies as, but she does thank “Al-Barr, for all that is good” in the acknowledgements, and Zeyna does mention an Eid party in passing, so while I’m still on the fence, I’m going to assume they are all Muslim.  Major beats in the plot are meeting at both the Badshahi and Blue Mosque, but none of the characters ever pray, or mention the names of prayers when the athan is heard.  When they see women in burkas and chadors, Zeyna stares, not connecting the clothing to hijab, that one would hope she would know. There is only one salaam in the whole book, and the story is predominately set in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey. Granted I am sensitive, but it almost feels like a deliberate exclusion to the point of going out of the way to not let those details be present.  There are plenty of Urdu and Punjabi words and titles and cultural commentary, so it doesn’t seem that the author was concerned about watering down authenticity, a theme of the book infact is finding your place and accepting yourself.  All that aside I really enjoyed pickpocketing, imaginative, determined, sarcastic, loyal detective Zeyna, and I think kids will join me in hoping this is the first in a series.

SYNOPSIS:
Zeyna is 12, and likes to imagine she is a detective on a case, sneaking and snooping, and roping her inventing younger brother Mahir to be her Watson. The city is on edge with the theft of the Shirin Jewel, a large Persian ruby, a case involving the 15, that Zeyna would love to solve.  When she sees a man with knife in London, who later seems to be following her and her mum, and then drops a paper with their street name on it, Zeyna is convinced this her chance to prove her self. A sudden trip to Pakistan though dampens her mood as the clues to the case will be left in the UK. She doesn’t stay down long though, as her parents start acting peculiar in Lahore, meeting with strange people, lying about why they suddenly made the trip at all, and when the police show up at the familial home to arrest her parents, they all discover that her parents have vanished.  Zeyna realizes her parents and the events in London are tied to the missing ruby, and with the help of Mahir and their cousin Amina they set off to solve the case and find her parents.

WHY I LIKE IT:
It’s hard to review a book like this without giving the twists and climax and resolution away, but more than once I gasped in delight when something happened on the page, and it crystalized where the book was going in my head.  Sure there were some particularly outlandish connections and a few plot holes, I even Googled when fax machines were invented, but I had a blast reading the book.  I loved the historical backmatter discussing the events in post partition Pakistan, a year before Bangladesh was independent, Soviet Union and UK competing over influence in Afghanistan, the discontent voices in Iran toward the shah, and the role of the Pudding House for messages in Turkey.  There are also discussion questions, a glossary, acknowledgements, and about the author at the end.

One tiny concern was the assumption that money could be stolen because the people around them are poor, it is just one paragraph, it isn’t a constant in the book, but it struck me as odd and stereotypical, and really not needed.

FLAGS:

Lying, stealing,  deception, pretending to be someone you are not, breaking and entering, eavesdropping, snooping, its a heist book!

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
This would be an awesome book club book or novel study read, I can’t wait for it to be released in a few weeks so that I can have my kids read it.

Jul22

Aarzu All Around by Marzieh Abbas

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Aarzu All Around by Marzieh Abbas

I was hesitant starting this 384 page middle grade novel in verse, because the stereotype of having to disguise yourself as a boy to make things happen, seems like a western performative troupe that reinforces stereotypes, and has been done a fair amount in literature.  Pushing down my disdain, I opened the book to numerous pages of cricket terminology and rules, which further served as a barrier.  I do not understand the info dumping, literally, at the start of the book, and to top it all off it is not needed.  The book is blurbed as being a cricket loving, girl dressing as a boy in a patriarchal society, but really those are the most forced aspects of the all over the place narrative.  Cricket is underdeveloped and her actually playing is very minimal and lacking. Aarzu disguising herself as a boy is a blip that she admits to a few pages after she gets the job, and thus the story that remains is an orphaned girl with a mean uncle trying to find a way to help pay for her younger sister’s medical bills. Which isn’t a bad story it is all just so very disjointed.  And the verse is not written well, there are no beats or flow, it just seems to be a few decent poems in a sea of jumbled ones.  About 40% when the Islam starts to shine, I felt a brief connection to the book and the characters, but the loose threads and telling over showing, found skimming the pages to find out if the sister survived, if Aarzu got in trouble, and how cricket fit into it all.  The weak climax and sloppy resolution, combined with the premise, marketing, and info dumping, makes me recognize that I am not the target audience as a cynical Pakistani American reader, but truly makes me wonder who is.  I don’t know that the words on the page or the story at hand are going to resonate with middle graders.  I appreciate that Islam and culture are separated, that the mean uncle is confined to him and him alone, not a label on Pakistani men, but it feels like the editor took a day off or didn’t want to help the author make the story cohesive, which is unfortunate.

SYNOPSIS:

Aarzu and her younger sister have come to live with her poor maternal aunt’s family in Karachi after her parents are killed in an earthquake.  She is treated like a servant by the family, not allowed to watch cricket let alone play, and her government public school is hardly a challenge.  When Sukoon’s kidney failure worsens and dialysis is needed, as they wait for a kidney transplant match, Aarzu decides to find a way to make money.  She starts frying onions and selling them at the local market, the labor intensive and odorous job helps, but not enough.  When a nearby bungalow preparing for a wedding, needs laborers, her friend Nazia encourages her to cut her hair to look like a boy and apply.  Lying to her aunt about where she is, she spends her time after school getting to know the kids that live at the bungalow, confessing that she is a girl, and playing cricket.  The money helps her sister and things are starting to look up, until the truth comes out, Sakoons health worsens, finances at home hit rock bottom, and friendships frazzle.  Luckily though SPOILER the wealthy family likes her and solves all her problems and bribes the right people for her to make the cricket team.

WHY I LIKED IT:

Some parts, mostly the Islam, really spoke to me. I love that distinctions were made between religion and culture, that she taught the wealthy girl how to pray, that Aarzu is Muslim and loves her faith and relies on her relationship to Allah swt in handling every aspect of her life. The rep feels real and sincere and while it made me force a friend to read the book, it also highlighted how weak the other aspects were.  We, the reader, see so little of what Aarzu’s world is, we are just told. There are no flashbacks to her life with her parents juxtaposing her current situation that would have connected us to her.  The poverty, the mean uncle, the cricket, the sick sibling, they all just seem like plot points, not pieces to this girl. She compartmentalizes them in a way that make it hard for the reader to see the overlap, or that she is keeping all of these parts close to her heart at all times.

The resolution was disappointing, it felt half hearted. Why have wealthy saviorism? Dreams coming true from bribery? It took the grit out, and made the messaging fall less on hard work and perseverance, and more on, don’t be poor.

I did appreciate the kidney disease representation, having seen a loved one endure failure and daily dialysis, I appreciated the mention of dietary changes, and swelling, and lethargy, it was well done.  I wish the emotional impact, though not just the sibling love, but the fear of demise, could have come through stronger.

FLAGS:
Lying, physical abuse, theft, fear, illness

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I don’t know of a kid I would recommend the book to, but I would shelve it, let nine and up read it, and happily discuss with whoever wants to chat about it.

Jul17

Sabrena Swept Away by Karuna Riazi

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Sabrena Swept Away by Karuna Riazi

The gorgeous cover of this 205 page middle grade fantasy is a great motivation for kids to pick up the book and dive into a story filled with characters from the One Thousand and One Nights. Descendant from Sinbad, Sabrena’s ailing grandma is sometimes present, and sometimes suffering from dementia, but her stories have power, they always have. As Sabrena battles her own self doubt at her new Islamic school, her ability to find her voice and speak up, and her desire to protect her grandma from being taken from her home, she will be swept off to a world far away, where she must be the hero of her own story to help her new friends and find her way back.  I was nervous to embark on an Alice in Wonderland world building framed story, but the short book, the enjoyable characters, and the consistent presence of Islamic representation actually made me forget that I don’t like that style, until the text itself drew the correlation.  In many ways the story and the predictability should also have been a turn off for me, but I absolutely loved the writing of the prologue and the first two chapters, and then I switched to the audio book, and the story just pulled me in and flew by.  The characters pray, call out to Allah swt when scared, greet one another with salaam, discuss qadr, encounter jinn and ifrits, the women wear hijab, there are mentions of Bangladeshi foods and clothes, but the book is for everyone, it isn’t preachy, it is just who Sabrena is, and in the quick paced fairytale like adventure, you will be glad you spent time with her on her adventure in both worlds.

SYNOPSIS:

The Bhuiyan family loves stories, Sabrena’s grandma spins them, and her father studies and teaches them.  Sabrena feels connected to them, but when water keeps appearing, calling out to her, and showing her visions of palaces and gates, she starts to wonder what is truth and what is just family lore about Sinbad the Sailor.  As grandma’s memory slips, Sabrena and her parents move to be closer, the new Islamic school is nice, but Sabrena seems to get tongue tied when her kind classmates try and include her.  When her mom and aunt fight about what to do about grandma, she hides away dreading their arguments.  When the sea sweeps Sabrena to a new world though, she finds herself “so alone” and forced to step up.  With new friends, a longing to return to her family, and her growing confidence, Sabrena is swept away, but determined to find her voice, save the day, and find her way home.

WHY I LIKE IT:

There weren’t really any twists or surprises for me, other than the beautiful Islamic rep inclusion and the cleanliness of the book.  I think I’ve become so cynical that the bar has dropped, and it was nice to read a tale that was decently written, with characters owning their Islam in way that made them just part of who they are and how they view the world.  Sabrena doesn’t have an identity crisis, or internalized Islamophobia, everyone is just Muslim doing their things and living their lives.  I also felt the voice and tone of the grandmother dealing with her dementia was accurate.  Having my father-in-law in our home battling memory issues, I often find rep in children’s books to be performative and saccharine, this felt grounded and used to serve an important plot point in the text, which I appreciated.

The adventure was ok, honestly nothing super memorable, but I really enjoyed the voice actor on the audio book, and was not worried if the holes were big, or adequately overcome, or probable. I was just enjoying being in the story.

FLAGS:

Mention of music, there is magic, jinn, ifrit, a talking head, some trickery and deceit, and it uses the word harem a few time without going into detail.  Disclaimer with audio books I may have missed something, but I think for the genre there is nothing too ,red flag, it is a fantasy adventure.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I think discussion and maybe reading of the original One Thousand and One Nights, and then talking reading, and discussing some of the retellings, and character inspirations of Aladdin, Ali Baba, Scheherazade, Sinbad, Marjana, Duban, etc would be a delightful class or book club plan.  This book is solid middle grade, but depending on the framing, could be used for discussion in broader conversations and enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Jun27

Tyger by SF Said illustrated by Dave McKean

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Tyger by SF Said illustrated by Dave McKean

I don’t know that I’ve ever read a book like this 304 page middle grade fantasy, dystopian, highly illustrated adventure. It delves into philosophy, alternate universes, slavery, racism, politics, magic, identity, friendship, betrayal, human rights, education, following your dreams, saving the world, and a talking immortal tiger. It started a little stilted for me, but as the book progressed, I began to see that a lot of detail about all the above mentioned threads would make for a very adult, very lengthy read, and this is meant for 9-12 year olds, albeit they would need to be able to handle the darkness of the book at times, and caregivers, be aware there is a public hanging of a child. The author is Muslim, and the protagonist and a side character identify as Muslim.  There is not much about Islam, or shown in practice, but that they are afraid to learn and practice their faith is mentioned briefly. I think kids will enjoy the read, and not get hung up on threads unexplored as I did.  The illustrations really make it a book that feels exciting to spend time with, and one that will linger with the reader.  I look forward to sharing it when it releases soon in the US, as it was published in 2022 in the UK.

SYNOPSIS:

In short the book is about a boy, Adam, living “in an alternate London where the British Empire hasn’t ended and slavery was never abolished.” In a partitioned off Ghetto as a minority from the vague “Middle East,” who is unable to go to school, or even draw, he makes deliveries for his family to help keep them afloat. During one such delivery he encounters a tiger, an animal like so many others that is extinct, her name is Tyger, and she speaks.  She is an immortal searching for Guardians to help her heal and open a portal to the city.  When Adam, who is immediately connected to her, cannot find a Guardian, she begins to train him, time is short and when he discovers his friend Zadie, short for Scheherazade, has some training from her father, the two set out to open the doors of perception, imagination, creation, and  revelation, to save the day.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I really like that this book opens up larger discussions about society, self, literature, imagination etc, and can really be adapted to mean different things depending on what the reader brings to it. The book addresses these themes in a way that doesn’t talk down to the reader, and in many ways allows the simple bad guy of the story to not be the takeaway point, but rather the journey of understanding perspective, points of view, empathy, creating something, and hope to be far more important.

The identity of the characters being Muslim initially was just a label, one that just made Adam and Zadie more “other,” but a few cleverly crafted sentences about hiding their names, their skin color, and whether it worked or not, allow the reader to reflect on if denying yourself to appease others is effective or not, or rather more importantly knowing when and in which situations it could be a benefit or a selling out of who you are.  Zadie and her father seem to practice, and one point Solomon ( Suleiman), offers his prayers, he says Assalamualaikum and Bismilliah. Adam and his family on the other hand, have hidden their faith so as to fit in better, and thus it is simply an identity label.

I liked that the illustrations weren’t just stunning in their own right, but also highlighted the mood, and metaphysical elements of the story.  I feel like I could teach not just a few lessons on this book, but dozens, and who knows if they would be correct, but I think this book would be fantastic as a read aloud in a classroom for the story at hand and for the discussions.  The darkness, the excitement, the hope, really gripped me, and while I could opine on plot holes and lack of articulation, in some key scenes, I appreciate that over explanation would take away from all that the book gets right.

FLAGS:

Racism, oppression, colonialism, slavery, hanging, power imbalance, betrayal, lying, sneaking, fighting, killing, magic, fantasy elements.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

Where to even start, this book needs an educators guide, stat. I looked online and couldn’t find one and I hope that will be corrected soon because if you read my thought above, you know there is a lot to discuss.