Tag Archives: culture

Jun4

I’ll See You in Ijebu by Bunmi Emananjo illustrated by Dian Ejaita

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I’ll See You in Ijebu by Bunmi Emananjo illustrated by Dian Ejaita

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As a window into Nigerian life, this 32 page book is beautiful, celebratory, and an incredible resource to learn from and emerge yourself in, as the beautiful pages, and delightful language sweeps you away to Ijebu and Olu’s grandparent’s house for Eid al Adha.  As a Muslim, this book’s framing might require some conversation with little ones that may or may not be right for your family.  The protagonist in the book, Olu, is Catholic, her siblings and parents are as well, her mother’s family however, is Muslim.  The multi-faith family celebrate each others’ holidays, for example Olu goes to the mosque to pray after taking communion at church, and the cousins haven’t seen each other since they came to Lagos to celebrate Christmas.  Eid al Adha is celebrated with a big meal, prayers, and being together, but nothing specific about belief or doctrine is included in the text. The tender heart of the story is the subtle bond between Olu and her grandfather, Baba, even though language differences prevent them from talking. The writing style is as beautiful as the full page illustrations, with part of each page dedicated to more traditional story telling, and another complimentary part expressed in a more lyrical fashion that reads often like a song.  The backmatter is robust with information about Nigeria (including a map), Food, Fun, Faith and Family, Oriki, Fashion, an Author’s Note, a recipe for Puff Puff, an Illustrator’s Note, and a list of people who helped create the book. The book is OWN voice written and illustrated, but I do not think either are Muslim, and while the publisher lists the book as being for ages 4-10, it is a bit text heavy, so take that into consideration. 

The book starts with Mummy calling Olu and her brothers for breakfast.  Daddy is in America at their old home visiting his brother, and today they are going to Ijebu to visit Baba and Iya Akin for Eid.  This year Olu is eight and will finally get to help make the Sallah feast. The traffic is bad in the hot weather, with smells of vendors cooking filling the air.  The family listens to Afrobeats and 90s pop music until they are finally there.  When they arrive Baba is waiting and sings Olu’s oriki as they embrace.  Food is a big part of visits to Ijebu, as they pick ripe cashews, sugar cane, guavas, and mangoes on Baba’s farm.

When it is finally Eid the family walks to the nearby mosque for prayers in matching outfits.  Then it is time to cook the two rams for the Eid feast.  Olu is going to braid the ram intestines.  It is a lot to cook and a lot to eat. When the week is over, and it is time to leave, once again it is Olu and Baba’s hug that make the love tangible and the book emotional as they say their wordless goodbye.

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.

May21

Birthday Kunafa by Rifk Ebeid illustrated by Noor Alshalabi

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Birthday Kunafa by Rifk Ebeid illustrated by Noor Alshalabi

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This 50 page wordless picture book allows readers to make up their own words to describe the progression of what is shown in the illustrations. With no right or wrong, the backmatter helps give context and points out key images that allow the story to resonate on multiple levels.  On the surface it is a birthday girl who is upset she cannot have kunafa, but when you truly look at the pictures, and see what is preventing her from moving from Jerusalem to Nablus, the reader is shown, she is not just a child wanting something she can’t have, but that she is being denied basic rights by an occupying force.  I love that the little girl represents so much more than just herself, and that her determination to cross checkpoints, is not just about acquiring dessert.  The book starts with a little girl on her birthday that could represent a little girl with her friends and family anywhere, but as the pages are turned you witness how beautiful Palestinian joy is, how much we take for granted the freedom to move, and how desperately we need to stand up for a free Palestine.  With no words, Islamic representation is limited to two hijabis in the illustrations.  The author and illustrator are Muslim. The book centers a birthday, there is dancing dabkah and an oud shown leaning up against a wall.

So often when thinking about Palestine, not just since October, we all find ourselves speechless.  There are no words, only tears when watching the news, reading headlines, or scrolling, and I find it incredibly timely for a wordless picture book about Palestine to be published.  There are a few labels so to speak throughout the book that I didn’t particularly find necessary, but they do not distract from the story, so they didn’t bother me.  I like that the book showed restraint in terms of the oppression that could have been shown.  It allows for the story of the little girl and her family to maintain the narrative.

The story that I understood the images to be telling is that it is a little girl’s birthday, the family is having a party, they have a birthday cake, but she wants kunafa, she tries to get some and along the way sees joy everywhere, until the checkpoints turn the images gray, and prevent her from moving forward.  So mama and her problem solve, they try and make their own, but it is not the same, so they devise a plan, and they try again.  They do not give up. There is no giving up.

The backmatter provides a recipe for kunafa, a two page spread about “Why Wordless Picture Books,” another spread about “Context Matters” giving information about Zionism and Palestinian resistance.  It is then followed by four pages entitled “Did You See?” where symbols are shown that appear in the pages and described.  Warning there are numerous sweet and savory foods shown, and it will make you very hungry.

The book is available here from Crescent Moon or here from Amazon.

May10

Honk Honk, Beep Beep, Putter Putt! by Rukhsana Khan illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

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Honk Honk, Beep Beep, Putter Putt! by Rukhsana Khan illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

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This adorable 32 page book is noisy and colorful and forces you to smile.  Granted I had dreams as a child of being a rickshaw driver, and even as a teen my father tried to arrange for me to take one for a spin early one hot Karachi morning, but alas, my dreams never came to fruition.  Cue the power of books, to take you right back to those busy streets, boisterous noises, colorful vehicles, and happy memories.  Even if you have never ridden in a rickshaw, or heard of one, this book is a fun adventure for toddlers and up as they catch a ride with Ibraheem, his Baba, his cat Mitu, and learn the language of the road and how to make room for everyone.  “Big and small, short and tall, everyone shares the road.” The book is by a Muslim author, and their are visible Muslim women with their heads covered in the illustrations.  There is nothing religion, country, or city specific in the text. 

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The book starts with Ibraheem and Mitu joining Baba on an important mission.  Baba is a rickshaw driver and he reminds Ibraheem that everyone has to share the road.  With his little rickshaw going “putter put,” the trio are off.  With a  “beep, beep” Baba tries to turn, but a little car responds, “honk, honk,” and in a hurry speeds ahead.  

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Up hills and down, a big colorful bus joins the road with a “toot, toot” as they go over the bridge, under the bridge, through a cricket game, all sharing the road.  A big truck joins the fun with a “rumble, rumble” and it isn’t long before they all come to a screeching halt.

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“Big and small, short and tall, everyone shares the road,” really means everyone as the mission is completed.

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The backmatter is an author’s note about her experiences of vehicles “talking” to each other.  The book comes out in September and is available for preorder/order, here,

 

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.

Apr23

Awe-Samosas! by Marzieh Abbas illustrated by Bhagya Madanasighe

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Awe-Samosas! by Marzieh Abbas illustrated by Bhagya Madanasighe

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I was really enjoying this book about a determined young girl and her dad making samosas for friends, missing Dadijan, adapting and problem solving, an encouraging Urdu speaking parrot, a reference to Ramadan, and incredible illustrations… and then I froze.  On page 32 of the 40 page book it says the word “pepperoni” clearly affirming that the Muslim girl who’s dupatta wearing Dadijan wakes up at fajr to call her, has made pepperoni pizza samosas for her friends.  Perhaps I’m over reacting, it is one word, but I truly cannot get past it.  The first time I recall asserting myself as Muslim was in preschool making pizzas and me telling my teacher at three and half years old that I cannot eat pepperoni.  Sure as a middle aged adult, I know you can get beef or turkey or faux pepperoni, but the standard is pork, and this book does not clarify that it is not pork.  The word is intentional, the story would be exactly the same if it were just a cheesy pizza samosa, yet it articulates it as a peperoni pizza samosa. And I truly cannot fathom why.  Classrooms and libraries will shelve this book, teachers and librarians will read this book, little Muslim kids that look like Noor, are going to shrink when they get to that line: either they will question if we can have pepperoni (why else was it in Noor’s home), or have to now convince adults and classmates that the book is wrong in addition to explaining that Muslims do not eat pork, a big task for the intended audience of preschool to third grade.  If you omit that one word, the book is wonderful, layered, joyful, and a lot of fun.

Noor’s friends are coming over, two girls and a boy, for the first time and Noor wants to make samosas to eat with them.  It is too early to call Dadijaan in Pakistan, and Noor thinks she remembers how to make them.  Abbu offers to order pizza, but Noor is determined, even when she discovers they don’t have the necessary ingredients.  She puts on Dadijaan’s kitchen dupatta, and with her parrot, Mithoo, encouraging her every time she gets stuck with “Sab theek hai. Sab theek Hoga! Everything’s great, everything’s going to be okay!” Noor heads to plan B, Awe-Samosas, samosas with unique fillings.

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Noor gets Abbu onboard and helping and when her friends arrive, the turmeric colored pastries are ready for eating.  Some are apple-cinnamon filled, and remind Kaitlin of her grandma’s Fourth of July apple-pie, some are stuffed with honey and pistachio like baklava according to Layla, and Jonathan finds the cheesy peperoni samosa genius.  When Dadijaan sees the pictures Abbu has sent at fajr, she calls and praises Noor with the friends hoping to have another samosa party when she is visiting next.

The book concludes with Dadijaan’s Special Samosa Recipe, and a Glossary.  The book is widely available, including here on Amazon.

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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.

Mar31

Kareem Between By Shifa Saltagi Safadi

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Kareem Between By Shifa Saltagi Safadi

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It doesn’t matter how many Word documents you read, Goggle docs you add comments to, and screen shots you revise; to hold a physical book in your hands that you have been blessed to observe from the sidelines through numerous revisions, is mind blowing.  Reading the final version from page 1 to page 324, plus the backmatter, has left me at a loss for words with tears streaming down my cheeks. I truly cannot imagine the book any other way. All past drafts and storylines, were just stepping stones to get the book to this version, and as a fan of literature my whole life, to see this metamorphosis in real time has added to my respect and admiration of authors.  Enough about me though, this review is of the middle grade novel in verse that tells the story of Syrian American Kareem, a loveable boy caught in between choices, siblings, friends, labels, and global acts beyond his control.  He makes mistakes, he tries to make things right, and at the center of it all is his Islamic identity, love of football, and genuinely good heart.  I am biased in that I have self appointed Kareem as my nephew, but even after dozens of readings, I was moved to tears three times during the course of this reading.  I made my teens read the book and they loved it, and like them, we hope we get more Kareem in the future.

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SYNOPSIS:

Kareem loves football, particularly the Bears, and dreams of seeing his Arabic name on an American jersey one day in the NFL.  Unfortunately, he hasn’t made the school team, his best and only friend Adam has moved away, and the coach’s son is offering to talk to his dad for Kareem in exchange for some school help.  Add in a new Syrian kid at school, his mom going to Syria to take care of his grandfather, and the fruition of Executive Order 13769 aka the Muslim Ban, and seventh grade has Kareem scrambling on every down to say the least.

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WHY I LOVE IT:

The football framing, the literary inclusions, the Arabic, the Islam, all combine with such tangible heart to create a seamless read both as a compelling story and as an example of literary craft.  The language is on point and intentional, that even if you don’t know the character or novel referenced, the Arabic words included, or football terminology used, you will be invested in the characters and plot, and find yourself cheering for Kareem.  Often debut authors show promise, but their stories have plot holes, or pacing issues, or inconsistencies, that is not the case with this book.  The crumbs are there that tie everything together, the depth of the characters’ personalities reveal how developed they are, and the timeline keeps the book moving forward.  There are no dry or slow spots in the entire novel, it is easily read in one sitting as you find yourself nervous for Kareem, and curious how it will resolve.

Boys and girls, Muslims and non Muslims, Arabs and non Arabs, all will find themselves drawn to this book, and thinking about the characters, particularly Kareem, long after the final page is read.

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FLAGS:

Some stress and anxiety with missing parents.  Death, bullying, cheating, fighting, lying, racism.

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TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

The book is a solid middle grade, but the quality of writing and engaging plot makes it work for a middle school book club read as well.  I cannot wait to share this book widely.

Preorders speak volumes and I truly hope if you are able that you will preorder a copy, you can do so here.  Requesting your local public library to shelve the book is also a tremendous help to signal to publishers what type of stories and OWN voice authentic representation consumers will support.

Mar25

The Great Henna Party by Humera Malik illustrated by Sonali Zohra

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The Great Henna Party by Humera Malik illustrated by Sonali Zohra

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This 32 page story shares a desi family at a henna party before a wedding.  There is nothing Islamic in this book by a Muslim author, it is simply cultural.  The story on its own is fine.  It is sweet and joy filled, as a girl tries to decide who’s name to have hidden in her henna design.  I do wonder though, if the book is meant to be a window into desi culture, why the Urdu word “mehndi” isn’t used instead of henna.  It mentions it in the backmatter, that mehndi is the Urdu word, but it seems a little inauthentic and western gaze presenting throughout the story, and honestly I really struggled to get past it.

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The book starts with Noor entering the henna party, the night before her cousins wedding, to sing with the ladies of the family and have their hands painted.  Her mother asks her if she knows about the name game, where the bride hides the grooms name on her hands, and if he finds it, he wins, and if he does not, the bride wins. Noor asks if she can hide someone’s name and her mom says yes, just tell the artist.

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She watches her dad setting up decorations and wonders if she should have his name hidden.  She then sees her Mama playing the dholki and singing and wonders if she should hide her mother’s name.  She continues through various family members before making her decision.  Along the way the reader learns about the music, the food, the clothes, and how the paste dries and leaves a color.

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The page on food starts with spices, then talks of samosa and then they are eating ladoo, and while I’m glad there is not a glossary, I don’t know that the lacking context clues make any of those scrumptious foods known. I do like that her grandfather helped her pick out her lehenga, and her father is shown decorating to show full family involvement.

Ultimately, though I think the tricky thing about cultural weddings, is that every family has their own traditions, and while in a desi wedding some things might be widespread, when presenting them to readers outside your culture, it is hard to know how they will be perceived.  I almost feel like this book makes it seem that every family hides names in the mehndi as a staple of the festivities. And based on other reviews I’ve read, people seem to feel that this is insightful into the culture, or that hiding and finding names has more weight, a stress even, than just being fun.

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I could be over thinking it, but it feels like even the backmatter is trying to cast a wide net over every religion and culture that uses henna and ends up being oddly vague in this specific example.  Like I said the book is adequate, I like that the little protagonist Noor, loves so many people and solves her dilemma on her own, it has plot, and conflict and resolution, it just seems to lack the exciting tone and thus fails in immersing the reader into the henna party.