Category Archives: OWN Voice

Nov5

Allah Hears You and Me byZaheer Khatri and Yasmin Mussa illustrated by Fatima Zahur

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Allah Hears You and Me byZaheer Khatri and Yasmin Mussa illustrated by Fatima Zahur

With 24 thick pages, this 6 x 7.5 inch board sound book follows a young boy on his search for his missing bird. Audio buttons compliment the rhyming lines, with some giving Islamic phrases, In-sh-Allah, Subhan-Allah, and Al-hamdu-lillah, and others animal sounds, as the young boy asks various animals if they have seen his beloved Birdie.  The active searching while trusting Allah swt and knowing that Allah swt hears us, the book, spoiler, has a happy ending, as more duas are made.   I like that the structure is intentional, so our littlest Muslims can appreciate the pattern, repetition, and anticipate when to push the button for the sound. With solid messaging, fun illustrations, and mercifully an on/off switch for the book’s audio, this book will quickly be a favorite for little Toddlers and their big people alike.

 

 

Nov3

Just Like Ammi: Short Stories by Jawaad Khan

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Just Like Ammi: Short Stories by Jawaad Khan

This 93 page collection of 20 short stories is clever and heartfelt as the voice of each piece feels unique in its presentation of something rooted in Islamic culture without any explanation or apology. I appreciated that this book is by a Muslim for Muslims, and the humor didn’t rely on any harsh criticism or judgement to evoke the desired effect. From game show formats to reflective pieces, retellings and even a spotlight on ‘The World’s Best Quranic English Reader,'” my personal favorites are “Istikhara Khala,” “InshaAllah is Now Illegal,” “30 Days Hath Shawwal,” and “How the 28th Night of Ramadan Must Feel.” Undoubtedly anytime a book is comprised of a collection of individual stories, even when by a single author, some will resonate more than others, and some I feel tried a little too hard, but even if you don’t giggle at every story, there is something for everyone.  I’d say this work bests for teens and up, there is nothing haram if younger kids want to read.  Possible flag would only be that Halloween is mentioned, but not clear if the Muslim character is participating in dressing up, or if due to her Spiderman mask hijab, the day is easier for her to blend in on at school. I’m also unsure how to feel about the fortune cookie framing of the final piece, they aren’t really “fortunes,” just formatted in that way with tongue and check Islamic leaning advice.

 

Oct23

The Kaabah Cat by Shifa Saltagi Safadi illustrated by Nabila Adani

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The Kaabah Cat by Shifa Saltagi Safadi illustrated by Nabila Adani

If you only pre-order one book this year, it should be this one. If you have never pre-ordered a book, this book should be your first. If you regularly pre-order, don’t miss out on this one, even if you do not have young children, but especially if you do. Am I biased? Absolutely, but the story, the illustrations, the theme, the heart…40 pages fly by and leave readers of ALL ages wanting to dive back in, to be close to the Kaabah, to be searching for cats, and to journey for Umrah in real life.  This is why I love Islamic fiction. This is the power of stories, to entertain and educate, but also bring us closer to our creator. SubhanAllah, this book is truly a gift to us all, and that it is traditionally published and widely available just another example of Allah swt being the writer or our rizq and that no dua is too big of an ask, Alhumdulillah.

Zayd and his parents are heading to Mecca for Umrah, and with the knowledge that duas are answered, he cannot wait to ask for a cat.  When one appears before the words are even out of his mouth, Zayd is delighted to chase his new Kaabah cat down to take home and play with.  Dad has to deflate the dream with a dose of reality though, and as the steps of Umrah carry the story along, we see him work through his emotions and have his duas answered in a way better than he ever imagined.


I love that Muslim kids will see themselves so clearly and unapologetically in this book, and non Muslims will relate to wanting something with their whole heart and realizing that there might be something better than they ever even considered waiting for them.  Additionally, with a solid three page backmatter opening the book up to educational avenues, author connection, and insight, sweeping illustrations complete with Palestine, Syria and Sudan flag rep in the crowds, and Shaykh Abdul Rahman Chao named at the start as verifying the Islamic accuracy, this book is a must have to share and enjoy over and over again.

Oct21

That Counts! A Wudu Story by Jenny Molendyk Divleli illustrated by Ava Haghighi

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I love funny books for our little Muslims and this one manages to take the kid giggling topic of passing gas and combine it with the educational element of making wudu and what breaks it, in an adorably illustrated way.  Mercifully it does not get too “gross” with discussing fluctuance and I absolutely adore that the imam is so patient and kind.  Over 32 pages we see Hamza and his friends make wudu, Hamza break his wudu and have to make it again and Imam Mustafa field questions about what counts as breaking wudu and what doesn’t.  Perfect for toddlers and early elementary kids learning the basics and reviewing the infractions, my only criticism is the wasting of paper towels.  The book is not a manual, and feels like a story, not a fictionalized how-to, but part of wudu is not wasting water, and the amount of paper towels Hamza appears to use in the illustrations is wasteful.  The book works great on its own, but I hope if discussion about wudu and manners and bodily functions does take place around the sharing of this story, that not wasting will also be part of the discussion.  Perhaps if the author sees this, she might even consider adding a line to balance the Imam telling Hamza to use a paper towel after the first making of wudu, and reminding him not to waste paper, and water, after the second trip to the wudu station.  And while I’m making imaginary requests, a pullout wudu poster like the one in Hamza’s masjid would also be a great addition in the future.

Oct20

Golden Flight: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S.K. Ali

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Golden Flight: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S.K. Ali

I had preordered this book, but there was a delay, so I purchased the audio book and started there. When the book was delivered, I switched to it and admittedly got a bit stuck. I didn’t recall the details of book 1, Fledgling, and was struggling with the six or seven alternating points of view, alhumdulillah, a massive road trip had me returning to the audio book (which has different voices for each pov), and the rest as they say, was history.  I was sucked in, caught up, and truly invested in the heist, the characters, the fate of the world, and how it would all come together, or not, in the 514 pages of this concluding book of the YA duology.  The best part for me was the coded Islam sprinkled in, like squeal worthy inclusions of doing right by the One, multiple Ahraar principals such as how to treat prisoners, saving a person is like saving humanity, and the “fictional” political dynamics mirroring those here in our reality are truly chef’s kiss. The book juggles a lot of characters, plots, science-y details and while I won’t win an argument with seasoned sci fi dystopian readers, from my perspective, I was satisfied that character arcs, relationships, reveals, and logic were all accounted for by the last page, and my heart felt content with the outcome, those that survived, those that were lost, and the fate of the Aerd moving forward.

I don’t normally write up reviews for second books in series, add in that I would not want to spoil the fates of Raisa, Nayf, Musaid, Devon, Eyas, Khalda, Lein, Kizuwanda, Salwe, Hasuf, Jansu, Dr A, One-One-Eight, and Aeon, and this is all you are going to get out of me.  For those still considering if they should read the book: if you cannot recall book one, I think by the midpoint of this it will come back, and if you are struggling with keeping everyone straight while reading, I would highly recommend the audio version.  There is some romance, and death and destruction, nothing high school and up will find jarring, and while I hope everyone will read the series, I particularly hope Muslims will support the book, the author, and the political and societal commentary threaded through action story at hand.

Oct8

The Steinway Seven: A Novel by Badees Nouiouat

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The Steinway Seven: A Novel by Badees Nouiouat

This 308 page book is classified as a YA read for content, but it plays out in dual points of view by adults.  Years ago I would have classified it as, “Islamic fiction,” but those lines have been blurred in recent years, and the author mercifully doesn’t get overly preachy or didactic with the ample Islamic references and framing- it is who the characters are, or strive to be, and part of their world.  I’ll admit by the fourth chapter, I was nervous.  The author does not shy away from positioning his characters in rough spots from the get go: an escaped convict and non practicing young Muslim man joining the NYPD, and I didn’t know if he would be able to keep it believable and engaging, but alhumdulillah he did, and I enjoyed the book. In very much a YA framing, the self awareness and character arcs of realization is the underlying heart for the surface story of being on the run and attempts to capture and avoid being caught.  With heavy themes of understanding and coming to peace with one’s past, the reader is shown historical turmoil in Algeria, insight into motives and struggles of undocumented immigration, and given plenty to ponder about forgiveness, laws, faith, kindness, and second chances.  This book would be an easy recommendation for all readers 14/15 or up, there is crime, drugs, racism, gun violence, killing, arson etc., but nothing is overly graphic or dwelled upon. The characters are “good,” but exist in situations where gray surrounds them and would offer a lot to discuss in classrooms or book clubs.

SUMMARY (from the back of the book):

The night before 22-year old Saif Belkacem starts his new job as an NYPD officer, seven convicts escape a prison van and disappear into the streets of New York City.

Among them is Yasin Bamba, a wrongfully imprisoned Guinean immigrant who decides to seize the opportunity to find freedom.

While Saif and his colleagues race to find the seven fugitives, Saif slowly uncovers the story of his father’s death in Algeria, and his life starts to intertwine with Yasin’s in more ways than he could have imagined.

WHY I LIKE IT:
It is clear the author understands craft and storytelling, and I really think if he dug a little deeper and fleshed out some of the tension and rising action, this book could be traditionally published if he wanted to pursue it.  I’m not critiquing it to be picky for the potential readers, but rather for the author (a first for everything, forgive me if I’m overstepping), as I have a feeling he has been waiting for this review. Nonetheless here I go, voice: Saif’s voice is too immature at times, and his mother’s underdeveloped and non existent. Yasin, should be a bit wiser and hardened as a result of his circumstances and lived experience, he seems to just float from encounter to the next, not moving around like someone who has been in his own head since leaving home and mulled over some of his perceived truths.  Pacing: raise the stakes at every turn, keep the reader on the edge of their seat, for the surface story but also show the turmoil of Saif uncovering his past, at the 200 page mark it breaks from the story to info dump the historical and personal past in a way that really takes Saif out of the action. Weave it in, provide tension and motive of why his mother so easily now gives up all the information and why Saif never Googled it on his own.  The ending is beautiful and truly I wanted to know which way and what choices Yasin and Saif would make, but you didn’t really make me, the reader, work for it, and I think some twists and turns and emotional pain for the reader rather than just resolving it all for us, would give the book more depth and excitement. Show us the internal struggles, the temptation, the uncertainty raging inside them.  The heart and character arcs are there, they just feel a little too easy and surface at times, and yes I say this because I think the writing has a lot of potential and the author can do it.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I would love to do this as a book club read, high school for sure, possibly middle school, depending on the kids.  There is a lot to ponder and unpack, discuss and consider.  Muslim kids particularly will have some stereotypes to grapple with and hopefully think over as the book doesn’t make the characters and their situations black and white, haram and halal.

 

Sep4

You Only Live Twice by Autumn Allen

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You Only Live Twice by Autumn Allen

Your rizq is written by Allah swt, and this book is such an easy to see example of that, in a time when Islamophobia, DEI, book bans, and diverse stories are not being published, this 368 page YA book has more Islam than the majority of self-pubbed Islamic fiction reads I’ve EVER read, and it is traditionally published, SubhanAllah! it is a halal romance, that features niqabi (why doesn’t she have her niqabi on on the cover?), Black Muslims, supportive friends and family, it is written for everyone, but teenage Muslim girls are going to love this. If you are waiting on the but, here it is, I loved a lot about the book, but- it required me to accept the premise and I just don’t. I don’t have anything against getting married young, but I never really felt I understood the protagonist and her motives from the start: why did she all of a sudden just quit high school, why all of a sudden want to get married, and why were her reasonings told and not shown. Had high school been awful maybe I’d get it, but just because she missed the focus of deen that Ramadan held and now feels high school cuts in to, seems weak to me. Wants to get married because she sees a couple on the bus, but doesn’t really know what she wants in a spouse and why, seems unfortunate. Why couldn’t she be done with high school and then be looking to get married, would have definitely made the positioning craftwise less cumbersome, and perhaps would have allowed Zakiyyah to be seen as a more thought out and defined character.  Readers would have seen her determination, her stubbornness, her backstory and why we should be cheering her on and hoping she is making good choices, as is, I didn’t support her leaving school, she had at least one really good friend, she still will need to learn how to balance deen and duniya and Islamphobes, so what does it accomplish?  Also in many ways the book is a roadmap for young people looking to get married (intentional or not), what should be considered and discussed, but the protagonists age and the initial plot point I think will limit potential readers from engaging with the book, and thus miss out on a fun and informative read.  Ok back to the positives, I can imagine the emails, and post-it notes, and convo bubbles didn’t work for everyone, but I enjoyed them, and thought they added some levity and cuteness to the story. The book is YA, I think 15-16 and up will enjoy it, the Islam holds the halalness at it’s core, the focus is marriage, there is some conversations that younger readers might not be ready for, birth control pops in my head, and the Boston Marathon tragedy happens in the story and could be a potential flag for some readers, I hope mature readers though, will spend extra time reading those parts and understanding the author’s perspective and commentary from the mc’s perspective as I found them to be powerful and important.

SYNOPSIS: As provided by the publisher

An unforgettable, heartwarming, hilarious coming-of-age story about faith, family, all kinds of love, and a Black Muslim teen pursuing an ordinary goal in an extraordinary time.

Barely one week into senior year of high school, Boston native Zakiyyah is making her 2012-2013 Get Free Plan.

Step one: quit high school. (PSA: There are other ways to get to college!)

Step two: live like it’s Ramadan year-round.

As she gets deeper into her Plan, she starts to wonder if there’s someone out there who would be a good companion. To everyone’s surprise, Zakiyyah decides she wants to get married. But there are some complications.

Problem one: she’s never met a guy she liked. Zakiyyah’s family (reluctantly) and friends (eagerly) agree to support the search.

Problem two: what’s the secret to choosing a good life partner?

Enter Musa, by way of mutual friends. With marriage in mind, Zakiyyah and Musa get to know each other, progressing from email to instant messaging to phone calls. Things are going well… thrillingly well… until tragedy strikes Boston. In a moment of heightened emotion and stress, Zakiyyah and Musa have their first major disagreement.

Zakiyyah can call the whole thing off. But with or without Musa, what does it mean to live on her own terms?

WHY I LIKE IT:
I love the unapologetic Islam. I love the normalization of going to the masjid and watching baseball games, getting married over dating, and parents being kind and not toxic, and good solid friendships, and community support- like truly this book offers so much reality and insight that all Muslims long for living in the west particularly. I love how easy the read is, and that it honestly stays halal.

Also I love that grandma is not Muslim but so supportive, I have two non Muslim grandmas and one is super supportive of my choices, and one not so much, and I love seeing the supportive rep in books, alhumdulillah.

FLAGS:

relationships, terrorism, racism, stereotypes, hate crimes, talk about societal pressures, I think there were some discussions about birth control.

*Disclaimer, I read the book a while ago and was unable to write up the review immediately after, please forgive any errors, or oversights.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
Oh this book needs to be discussed in classrooms, book clubs, masjids, friend circles, it will be read, no doubt, but the discussion and putting it into practice will be such a gift to the youth group, moms, aunties, and community leaders already doing the work with our youth to get them aware of what marriage and looking for a life partner should look like.

 

Sep2

Never Again, For Anyone by Stacy Friedman illustrated by Elly Stern

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Never Again, For Anyone by Stacy Friedman illustrated by Elly Stern

I am not Palestinian and I am not Jewish. I am human with a heart and have known and spoken out from a very early age that the treatment of Palestinians at the hands of Zionists is a genocide, but that does not make me able to decide how to evaluate anything but the literary elements of this book, and I definitely can’t tell Palestinians or Jews how it should be received.  The 40 page picture book is OWN voice by a Jewish author that “supports Palestinian liberation” and is illustrated by an “anti-Zionist Jew from Israel-Palestine.” It is framed as a conversation between a young boy and his mom after school, as they see a Pro Palestinian rally, prepare for Shabbat, recall what Lev’s great grandmother Bubbie experienced during the Holocaust, establish the parallels between that time and the plight of the Palestinians, and decide that “Never Again, for Anyone” means they need to join the movement for a free Palestine.  I like that the reader is taken along the journey from awareness to activism, I think most young readers though, will need some assistance in connecting some of the dots, and some additional understanding about the Holocaust.

I understand the framing is under the famous pledge and the controversy of, if it means never again for anyone or just never again for Jews, but I still struggle to understand why even with the more expansive view, the recognizing of the atrocities happening to Palestinians is built on the fact that because it happened to us, it shouldn’t happen to others.  Why isn’t it enough that we are all human and shouldn’t treat people like this period?  That being said, I don’t pretend to know the societal, religious, cultural and ingrained norms that have to be overcome for a Jewish person to denounce Zionism and openly speak up and speak out on behalf of Palestine.

A common discourse about speaking on Palestine is why do we listen more to non Palestinians than to the Palestinians themselves, and to this I can only offer that I did not take this as trying to take away from that voice, but rather offer why Jews should speak up against Zionism in support of freedom and life.  Am I glad this book exists? Absolutely. Do I pray that the more awareness, the more allies, and the more normative we can make it that the call for a Free Palestine is not against Jews but against Zionism the better, yes, but my opinion is only my own, and my thoughts on this are not those of a Palestinian or a Jew.

Aug31

Sisters Alone by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

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Sisters Alone by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

It is known from my public postings that I am friends with the author and I love this book, (see previous posts to read my gushings about the process, the challenges, and the fact that I think it should win the Newberry) so I will try and write an objective review, but I’m clearly biased.

This novel in verse told from two perspectives is best targeted for mature middle grade readers and up that can handle grief, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, survival situations, and injury.  The lyrical writing, quick pace and normalization of Islam into the characters make the pages fly by and it impossible to put down. Do not let the sparse words on the page make you assume the story is simple, the crafting of this book, is nothing short of spectacular. The numerous entry points allow the story to work on the surface, and I can promise you each reading will provide new details and connections to be discovered. From the color motifs, the weight of tragedy, the devastation of loss, the desperation, the self doubting amplified by the past, their girls’ ages, and their present predicament, are expertly balanced with the relatability of friend troubles, school trips, grades, comparisons, expectations, and family dynamics.  The heaviness is felt, but the pacing keeps the themes from bogging down the story and allows it to flow effortlessly. The only thing difficult about this book is: one: not spoiling it, hence the minimal amount of inside pages being shared, and  two: not staying up late to read it in one sitting.

This book would work wonderfully for a book club reading, even for middle school, and allow intuitive discussions about mental health to take place.  The personal backmatter into the author’s relationship to both a storm and intrusive thoughts and worries normalize that help is available, that talking to people about our challenges is not weakness, and that understanding and empathy for our ourselves and others are important skills to develop.

Aug30

Minecraft: Battle of the Block by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

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Minecraft: Battle of the Block by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Before I ever opened the book and read the first words, this book in my heart had already accomplished so much. Not only is it an official Mojang studios official product written by a Muslim woman of color but the characters are unapologetically Muslim, neurodivergent, and burgeoning activists battling gentrification and noise pollution. I must confess I have not read a lot of Minecraft IP literature, so I don’t know where the requirements and parameters start and stop or even overlap with the author’s own style and vision. I mention this because the Islam at times feels a little overly explained, which is not typical of the author’s other work, the heartfelt cathartic release at the end though, is very much all the feels that you would expect if you are a long time fan of the author, or a sweet surprise tug-on-the heart if this is your first read of hers.  I do worry that many kids might not get to the climax though, as the pacing of this 268 page middle grade read is very slow. Perhaps the lack of movement is meant to add to the tension, and build relatability to Nzinga’s feelings of isolation and need, not just enjoyment for Minecraft, but for me it ultimately made it feel like a lot of telling and not showing, frustration with the side characters, and annoyance at inconsistencies. Yes, I contradict myself a lot in the above sentences, and I own that, I loved the ending and to get there all the threads throughout must have been intentional. I loved the Islam but felt at times it was over explained, I’m reviewing a book in a specific genre that I have not read before, focused in a world I only know about through a movie, and listening and watching my kids interact with, so this review is probably useless. Maybe the only worthwhile take away is: the book is clean, it has amazing messaging about activism, community, and speaking out, and if your kids want to read it, let them, if they can finish it they will be better for it.

SYNOPSIS: Summary taken from publisher’s blurb:

A young girl learns how to make a difference both in the real world and in the world of Minecraft in this exciting original novel!

Ever since her family moved to the suburbs and Nzinga started middle school, she’s been really lonely. Her only consolation has been working on Phantasy Philly, a special build she and her team will present at a huge Minecraft convention in just a few weeks. Nzinga, her brother Samir, and her cousin Jannah have decided to recreate and reimagine a blocky version of their old Philadelphia street. Now that summer is here, Nzinga can’t wait to return to the old neighborhood and finish their build.

But when Nzinga and Samir arrive at their grandmom’s house, things aren’t how she pictured. Jannah, usually a design whiz, seems distracted and unwilling to work on their project. Incessant drilling can be heard all hours of the day as new apartments are constructed, replacing beloved parts of their street. The constant noise makes it hard to think straight, let alone get anything done.

Nzinga sees how noise pollution and redevelopment are hurting the street, but what can she do about it? And how is she supposed to fight that battle while also inspiring her team to build their ideal Minecraft neighborhood? As Nzinga struggles to answer these questions, she may just learn how even the quietest voices can have the biggest impact.

WHY I LIKE IT:
I love a lot about this book, even aside from just the positioning and all mentioned in the opening paragraph.  I love the perspective of  the protagonist, Zing, a neurodivergent character that isn’t steeped in pity or woe is me, she offers really great insight for readers to see themselves and/or have some understanding for those around them.  Same for how Mir’s autism is presented as who he is and part of the story, not his whole identity and the point of the book.  I also love Grandmom and her modeling how the systems work to have your voice heard, to speak at a city council meeting, how to fight and get through the red tape and how exhausting that can be.  The imam is also pretty great, which is great rep to see.
I don’t like Jannah, I don’t find her arc redeeming, I don’t know why, but I just found her pretentious and mean. Her mom and Grandmom needed to sit her down and have a good conversations with her and Nzinga and help them sort through their issues as soon as they all realized that Mir and Zing have come back to the neighborhood and the two cousins are not spending time together, at all.

I think ultimately for me the problem with the characters and the pacing came down to telling not showing aspects which seemed to reveal inconsistencies as well.  Why does Nzinga want to come back so bad, all the stories of connection and community are non existent when she returns, the kids are mean to her or ignore her, the neighbors seem distant as well, and I get that it is to show the effects of the noise pollution, but it makes it feel like a huge disconnect, is she just being extra in her memories?

The Minecraft elements as well seem a bit far fetched in why Zing so desperately wants to do well at Phantasy Philly, wants to have a crew, but seems consistently waiting for someone to tell her what to build or green light her builds, at some point she should show off her abilities. We see her ability to destruct, we see Jannah and Mir’s skill, but to cheer her on, the reader needs to know what we know she is capable of, and then see her rise up.  I didn’t really feel her understanding of the noise pollution and the gentrification was properly explained either, she truly was in agreement at one point with the developers and the transition was a bit too quick. I think she needed to see the manipulation and thus the readers could also grow in their understanding of how the systems and corporations position themselves to harm society  while making the image and messaging seem like they are doing something beneficial.
FLAGS:
Lying
*Disclaimer I read this book months ago and was unable to write up a review while memories and thoughts were fresh, hence the condensed review. Forgive me for any errors.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I think the political and activism threads about gentrification and community is incredible to start discussions about, I also think the idea of Phantasy Philly could and should become a reality.