Tag Archives: 2025

Jan15

Yours, Eventually by Nura Maznavi

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Yours, Eventually by Nura Maznavi

It has been a while since I’ve read Austen’s Persuasion, and I should probably remedy that, but alas, here I am reviewing another adult, Desi-fied, Muslim tinged retelling, and am embarrassed to admit I was absorbed and invested, as if I had no idea how it would play out. Sure there were author liberties, but the heart of the story hits the same beats (that I recall) and works so well when adapted for our faith and culture. It isn’t halal halal, nor is it Muslim focused, the culture and cultural expectations are definitely more centered for the Pakistani American Muslim cast. The characters are all Muslim, a few wear hijab, they abstain from alcohol, date with intent to marry, attend Bismillahs, but they aren’t shown praying, or viewing life through an Islamic lens, or Muslim conscience. There are a few kisses and hand holds, and male/female close friendships, but for an adult read, the Muslim authored 400 page novel is pretty notably clean.

SYNOPSIS:
Asma is in her final year of Emergency Medicine residency and the pressure to get married is ever mounting. With her father making poor financial choices, he and Asma’s oldest sister Iman, are moving out of their Palo Alto mansion and heading back to Sacramento. Culture won’t let Asma live alone, so she is forced to crash on an air mattress at her youngest sister, Maryam’s house in the room of her three year old twin nephews. Asma feels it is her responsibility to take care of everyone since her mother passed away, but with the family splitting up, she has to decide for once, what she wants. Eight years ago she did what she was told and broke off her engagement with Farook. Unfortunately, she has regretted it every day since and never moved on. When of all people, Farook’s sister moves into Asma’s old house, a chance encounter brings the two face to face. When Farook starts courting Maryam’s sister in law, things get particularly tense. Throw in a dozen or more side characters, amp up the drama, and settle in to see how it all unfolds.

WHY I LIKE IT:

If my recollection of the original source material holds, it takes a while to get all the characters in their desired place and position for the story to sweep the reader away, and this version does the same. At times I worried that threads and characters were being overlooked, but by the end, most everything felt resolved. I did feel Fatima’s story was underdeveloped and showed Asma as being a bit of a bad friend, and there is no way three year olds would recognize someone from a picture taken 8 years earlier, but I know, romance books require some suspension of reality to work. The premise of the plot is even a bit shaky, but once you are rooting for the characters you aren’t too worried about why they need a second chance. For the most part the writing is fairly smooth, a fair amount of characters the author managed to keep annoying, but not completely unredeemable, and I appreciated the restraint. The pacing at times was a little sluggish, with a lot of characters that the reader needed to connect with resulting in telling and not showing, so I was a bit disappointed that end felt rushed. I wanted to bask in the resolution of all that angst, longing looks, and obstacles being overcome.

There is quite a bit of commentary about pushing back on stereotypes, expectations, and cultural weight. There are aunties doing the match making and gossiping, and plenty of folks chasing wealth above all else, it doesn’t weigh down the storyline, but it at times does get a bit repetitive and shallow.

FLAGS:

Romance, kissing, hugging, holding hands, lying, death, pyramid scheme, alcohol, consumerism,

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I might let this be in a school library, it is clearly adult with the characters nearly 30 years old, but high school romance lovers will enjoy this, and it isn’t overly mature for ages 16 and up.

Jan1

Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Saltagi Safadi illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

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Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Saltagi Safadi illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

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I have five children, I have taught second grade, I have shelved, recommended, and read aloud a number of early chapter books for the better part of the last 20 years, so when I say that this book changes the standard of what a book (series) for this demographic can and should be, I do not say it lightly. Yes, I am bias, the author is a dear friend, but Amina has layers, growth, insight, struggles, warmth, heart, and all the other glowing adjectives normally associated with beloved books and characters for older readers. This book is the first in a series of four, and each book is somehow better than the previous. At 126 pages with a robust backmatter that includes scientific extensions, a recipe for ful mdamas, and a note from the author, I am confident that children of all ages, everywhere, caregivers, parents and educators alike will all fall in love with Amina, cheer for her, laugh with her, and be enamored with her attitude, perseverance, and joy.

SYNOPSIS:
Amina loves having a plan, a formula in fact, and when she arrives in Indiana as a refugee from Syria she is determined to make friends in 3rd grade.  Things don’t always go as expected, but alhumdulillah Amina doesn’t stay down: classmates, family, and determination combine to help the clever, yellow-loving protagonist find a way to rework her experiments, accept what she can and cannot control, and succeed in making this new country feel a little bit like home.

WHY I LOVE IT:
I adore the humor, unapologetic Islam, the rich Syrian culture woven in, and Amina’s approach to life.  So often early chapter book protagonists are obnoxious, annoying, crude almost, bratty, arrogant, and repetitive, Amina is none of those things.  She is vulnerable and strong, confident, yet nervous, hopeful, but worried, she is tangibly real in a way that readers will see themselves and relate.  I love the humor of idioms being confusing, and the heart of seeing what the parents have sacrificed and are willing to sacrifice by starting over in a new place.  The illustrations add to the experience of drawing reluctant readers in and will help those transitioning from picture books to chapter books be immersed by the story.  As always the author’s writing is impeccable and the story well-crafted.

FLAGS:

There is some teasing, reflections on why Syria was left, the journey to America, and hardship.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
This book is ideal for classroom, library, and home shelves.  It would be a wonderful classroom read aloud and works equally as well at bedtime.  My children college to elementary have all read and loved Amina, and I highly encourage preordering so that your children will get a chance to fall in love with her too.

 

Dec10

Dear Moon: Inspiration from the Beautiful Wisdom of the Qur’an by Zayneb Haleem

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Dear Moon: Inspiration from the Beautiful Wisdom of the Qur’an by Zayneb Haleem

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At 128 pages, this hard back 7.5 x 8.5 inch book is a beautiful book from start to finish.  If you follow the artist online (@idotdoodle), you know her style and her incorporation of an ayat from the Qur’an or an Islamic sentiment with her signature young girl and nature embellished scenes.  But holding the book in your hands, and pausing on the two page spreads to reflect, and ponder, and be reminded to connect with the love of your creator, is truly a treat. Whether you read it from start to finish, or dip in and spend time with just a few pages at a time, the book will capture the attention of all ages and be enjoyed over and over again, alhumdulillah.

The book starts with a welcome to the reader from the artist, introducing herself, her connection to Islam, her love of art, her expression of emotions through her illustrations, how she picked the verses, where her own thoughts and reflections emerged from, and what she hopes the book will accomplish. 

The book releases in February 2025 and is available wherever you purchase your books.  I hope you will consider preordering to show your support.

Aug22

Hilwa’s Gift by Safa Suleiman illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan

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Hilwa’s Gift by Safa Suleiman illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan

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I’ve read a few children’s picture books about harvesting olives, and even some about Palestine’s olives, but this one really stands out because it is just so very joyful.  There is information about picking the fruit, processing, and making soap and oil with olives, but the book’s take away is just sore cheeks from smiling, and a full heart from feeling the importance, love, and tradition of olives, family, and being together.  The text and illustrations combine beautifully allowing the story of Hilwa, the olive tree, Ali and his Seedo to say a lot without having to spell it all out. And that it is traditionally published at such a critical time, is truly a gift.  There is nothing religious in the text, there are a few #Muslimsintheillustrations, and the author is Muslim. Additionally there is nothing about the current situation, the politics, the upheaval, or the occupation. The book follows Ali as he arrives after a long journey to his Grandparent’s home, it is harvesting season and  he is about to see all of the gifts that come from olives with the guidance of his grandfather, the cheering of his cousins, and the offerings of his beloved Hilwa.

The book starts with Ali and his parents arriving exhausted after their long flight to Palestine.  Greeted by Seedo, when Ali sees Hilwa, the olive tree his grandfather planted with his grandfather, the tiredness disappears.  When he hears Sitty whacking the trees and his cousins singing, “Zaytoon, ya zaytoon.”  He is ready to help harvest.  But, he doesn’t want to hurt Hilwa and decides to pick the olives one by one.  After his arms are tired and the basket is empty, he gently tries the traditional method and makes the zaytoon rain down with his grandparents and cousins cheering him on.

Hilwa has many gifts, and the next day they load up the olives to be taken to the press, they then prepare and enjoy the olives being pressed in to oil.  They bring the oil home to cook with, eat, turn in to soap, and the pulp is used to build the fire.  The best gift of all however, is the family, friends, and neighbors gathering to share and be together.

I read an early copy, and hope that the beginning will be smoothed out a bit.  It actually read as if a page was missing.  If the family had just arrived from overseas, and the grandfather was so excited, why wouldn’t the grandmother and cousins also leave what they are doing to great the just arrived family? It seemed a bit off, but once the story recovered, the text and story flowed without incident, so perhaps the disjointedness has been resolved.

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It is so important to show the richness of cultures to those that might be unaware, for a culture that is relentlessly villainized, even more so.  This 40 page picture book is great for ages 3 and up, and while it doesn’t detail Palestinian culture, it highlights a central component and shows the vibrancy and warmth of a people and their relationship to the land and the importance of olives and olive trees.  There is a glossary at the end with words in English and written in Arabic scripts as well as an Author’s Note.