Tag Archives: desi

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

Posted on May 30, 2024 by islamicschoollibrarian

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.

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.

May11

This Book Won’t Burn by Samira Ahmed

Posted on May 11, 2024 by islamicschoollibrarian

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It is clear that this 384 page contemporary YA book is about the hot topic of burn banning in America, and I would imagine most are aware that the overwhelming number of books that have been recently banned or pulled because of objection, are by BIPOC and queer authors featuring BIPOC and queer themes and representation. So I read it not so much to see the author’s perspective, but more to see how the Muslim author had the Muslim identifying characters in the book approach the topic. The book is very black and white: book banning is wrong, Republican right wing MAGA members are fascist, and liberal freedom of speech supporters are LGBTQ+ identifying and allies and upholder of first amendment rights. Islam and the character’s Indian heritage is ingrained in the characters’ being, and a label they are comfortable with, unfortunately, it has no impact on how they act, think, or the lens in which they view their world. Every 50 pages or so some vague mention of Ramadan, or a tasbeeh, or mosque appears, only to disappear just as abruptly. The Muslim protagonist, Noor, likes two different boys, is often alone with one or the other, nearly kisses both, and with the support of her family attends prom. Her younger sister, Amal, is unsure if she wants a boyfriend or a girlfriend, it is not a major part of the story and is just mentioned in passing. A major side character is lesbian, and starts a bit of a relationship with another girl, they hold hands, and there are a few kisses on cheeks, nothing overly detailed. There is profanity in the book, arson, threats, racism, and stereotypes.

SYNOPSIS:
Noor and her family move to a small town from Chicago when her dad abruptly abandons the family. It is the end of Noor’s senior year, and with the grief, stress, and emotional upheaval of her family, Noor just wants to get to graduation. Quick friendships with Faiz and Juniper, and realizing that she is the daughter of her activist parents though, thrusts her into making enemies her first week in the conservative town by questioning the school’s book banning policies. Add in her strained relationship with her mom, her conflicting feelings for Andrew and Faiz, and her sisterly concern for Amal, and Noor has a lot on her plate as she shakes up a small town.

WHY I LIKE IT:
The first chapter is incredibly written, no doubt. I hated the dad, actually more than that, I was so disappointed in him, and so concerned for Noor, Amal and their mom. To feel such strong emotions for characters just introduced is a testament the author’s abilities. Sadly, insight into why their dad left never came, and perhaps no answers is something the characters had to grapple with, but as the reader, I felt it wasn’t really explored, or articulated, it just was unresolved, and I really wanted some closure. In terms of literary quality, the book went down hill pretty quick for me. The middle was slow and repetitive with the heavy handed views on book banning. Some shades of gray, or some discourse would have prodded the readers to maybe think about the implications of banning books, but the narrative never allowed for that. It is right vs wrong, us vs them from the start. There really is no growth of the protagonist, she doesn’t have much of a character arc, and the supporting cast is not fleshed out. I wanted to see more of Noor and her Mom, not just be told repetitively how absent she is, I wanted to see Faiz as a full person, not just the only other brown Muslim at the school and who likes to cook. Where are his parents, do they support his activism, that he is going to prom? Truly, there is no Islam in practice it is just a label that gets dropped when it furthers the notion of raging against an established bias system. I’m not saying they need to be praying and reading Quran on every page, but I don’t know that the story would be much different if the family was not Muslim Indian American. Really the catalyst is that they are a new family, and a visible minority.

FLAGS:

Straight and LGBTQ+ relationships, arson, threats, stereotypes, racism, bullying, cursing.

Mar25

The Great Henna Party by Humera Malik illustrated by Sonali Zohra

Posted on March 25, 2024 by islamicschoollibrarian

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The Great Henna Party by Humera Malik illustrated by Sonali Zohra

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mar8

Noura’s Crescent Moon by Zainab Khan illustrated by Nabila Adani

Posted on March 8, 2024 by islamicschoollibrarian

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Noura’s Crescent Moon by Zainab Khan illustrated by Nabila Adani

I know, I know, another Ramadan book about the moon and a little girl’s first fast, but this one is slightly different. The moon they are searching for is the Eid moon and the focus is on whether they will see it and Eid will begin, or if there is one more day of fasting. The story itself would not make sense if it wasn’t Ramadan and the characters Muslim, but the story only subtly sprinkles in bits of Islam, the backmatter though, is where the Islam really shines. The tone of the book with the lyrical text and full color illustrations is very relatable to Muslims that both want to see the moon and celebrate, while at the same time being sad the the blessed month of Ramadan is over. It comes from a Desi centric approach to the foods, and traditions, but their aren’t a lot of Urdu words used either, and those that are, are defined at the end. The book works for Muslims and non Muslims, and would benefit both groups with a bit of discussion. Overall, not a particularly memorable book, but one that stands out for focusing on the tradition of looking for the moon and being together as a family.

I love that the notes at the end do mention that Muslims fast to “show love and obedience for the Creator,” under the Ramadan header. The other backmatter headings are Eid ul-Fitr, Suhoor, Iftar, Chaand Raath, Pakora, Gulab Jamun, Sheer Khurma, and The Islamic Calendar and the New Moon. A lot of space is dedicated to food, explaining those mentioned in the story. It gets it right that Muslims begin fasting at dawn, it shows mom not wearing hijab at home, but wearing it when they go out, yet, it doesn’t just say the maghrib athan it refers to it as the “call for the twilight prayer.” And it doesn’t mention or show them praying, which would have been a nice inclusion.

The book starts with Noura playing outside and her tummy rumbling on this 29th day of Ramadan, and her first fast. Mama, Papa and Noura all help make and pack up iftar, as they get ready to go look for the Eid moon.

Before they go, Mama shows Noura her new dress, and they add some henna cones to the items they are taking, they then set out to the countryside. All along, Noura is hoping to see the moon and her parents are reminding her how rare it is to see it.

When they get to the hill there are other families already there, and Noura has done it, completed her first fast. Unfortunately the moon is not there as hoped, or is it?

I wish some duaas or Islamic expressions, and salat would have made it into the book, but the large hardback size makes this a good book to read at story times, and a nice way to explain why we don’t know when we will miss school to celebrate Eid, or how many days we will fast.

Sep8

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley

Posted on September 8, 2023 by islamicschoollibrarian

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Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley

I don’t think I have ever sat down and watched a complete Hallmark Channel holiday movie, but I know the stereotypes and I’ve caught enough scenes while hanging out with my grandma to know that reality has to be suspended, there will be a happy ending, and the snow and small town charm is going to be laid on pretty heavy as the wholesome romance plays out. This book is the literary equivalent of such a movie. So with that in mind, there are somethings I will concede can be overlooked, but religiously there are some things that need to be noted (see below). I also have to admit that I couldn’t put the book down and read the entire 384 page Adult book in two sittings. The book is told in alternating perspectives: Maryam and Anna. Maryam and her family are Muslim, the book takes place in 2000 when Ramadan/Eid, Christmas and Hanukkah all took place within days of each other. Anna celebrates Christmas, but grew up celebrating Hanukkah too. Even if a romance that has Muslims ok with adopting “Christmas-y” celebrations during the last ten nights of Ramadan no less. is not a book that appeals to you, it is worth noting that this book does an incredible job of not becoming performative. There is no internalized Islamophobia, self-othering, no over explaining, convincing, justifying or religious or cultural identity crisis. For a book co authored by a Muslim and a non Muslim and traditionally published, I am excited for the precedence this book sets.

SYNOPSIS:

Anna is in a perfect relationship, with the perfect guy, and accidently sees the perfect ring in her boyfriend’s luggage. With Christmas plans in Toronto to meet Nicks wealthy parents, it is clear that the perfect proposal is also going to happen. But Anna is not perfect, and who she seems to be to Nick is not who she is or wants to be. It feels so fake. With separate flights from Denver to Toronto, getting redirected and stranded in Snow Falls, Ontario gives her the pause she needs to decide what she wants. She meets Josh, someone in town visiting, which complicates things, and she sorts through her grief of loosing her father and the speed in which her ex step mother moved on, all why becoming good friends with Maryam and her family in this idyllic town that she doesn’t want to leave.

Maryam is the oldest daughter who shoulders the expectation so that her younger sister can live her best life. She became a pharmacist to carry on the family business, so Saima could be a physician with Doctors Without Borders. Now Saima has decided that she wants a wedding in Ramadan and Maryam has to plan it. The flight being diverted and the wedding party being stuck in Snow Falls has long ago crush Saif and Maryam sorting through their past and a possible future together.

The two protagonists, their past, future, love interests are all multiplied by a town full of love and holiday activities, a wedding that might be missed, a Holiday Hoopla show, a movie being filmed, fasting in Ramadan, and wise old Dadu, a former Bollywood director guiding the characters to a happy ending.

WHY I LIKE IT:

The book is an easy read, it really is a guilty pleasure escape from reality and that it comes from a place of- we are Muslim, we fast, we pray, we don’t/shouldn’t date without marriage in mind, and everyone in the book already knows all this makes you feel ok about indulging. It even has a thread of analyzing parental expectation and peeling back some of the assumptions regarding the disconnect worked in throughout the story.

It took a few chapters for me to stop fighting and accept that the snow is so bad that the airport is closed, but every store, restaurant, and the roads in the town are open. That the phones are out, no one has a charger, but the payphone works and food can be ordered and delivered. That Anna is strolling around in a cocktail dress and can find a sweater, but she can’t find pants, and holiday gifts for everyone were not a problem to obtain. The book notes the idyllic diversity and amazing payphone, but you really just have to let it go if you are to enjoy the book.

Some things I couldn’t let go though are the Islamic religious portrayals. The characters note that a wedding in Ramadan is a terrible idea, but for as authentic as the waking up for suhoor and fajr are every day and iftar is every evening, the Muslim wedding party spend the last 10 days and nights of Ramadan watching Bollywood movies, dancing at a music filled mehndi party, planning and performing in an interfaith holiday show, and listening to Christmas music. I know Ramadan staples of reading Quran, doing thikr, and praying, don’t fit the genre, but there are enough people to make jammat, one night it mentions they go to the musallah for taraweeh salat, but I really wish it was every night, and that more traditional Ramadan foundations were shared. I did love that why Dadu couldn’t fast was explored, and that when Saima was stressed she went to the musallah, but really Bollywood marathons and parties in Ramadan are uncomfortable even in fiction.

FLAGS:

For Adults and New Adults the book is remarkably clean. The romance is tame even for YA, the characters are all adults and it is more the Ramadan non worship and Christmas normalization that is more flag worthy to me if a Muslim teen were to read it, than the relationships. So take what you will from the flags: Anna and Nick seem to live together at the beginning, Anna and Josh hold hands, kiss. Maryam and Saif hold hands and hug. Saima and Miraj hug. There are some other hetero couples that kiss. Mention of Maryam’s prior relationship features her husbands infidelity, and Saif admits to having a girlfriend. There are a few LGBTQ+ couples in the town that own stores and the inn, but don’t seem to be Muslim, and their relationships are not significant plot points. Muslims joining in Christmas activities. Alcohol and a pub are mentioned, but Anna partakes, no Muslim characters.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I don’t think I could do this as an Islamic school book club choice for middle or high school. But I do want to gush about it with my Lit Sisters. You can preorder it here https://amzn.to/3L7K9wQ

Jul7

The Unlovable Alina Butt by Ambreen Butt-Hussain

Posted on July 7, 2023 by islamicschoollibrarian

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The Unlovable Alina Butt by Ambreen Butt-Hussain

This middle grade book in many ways reads like a memoir, it isn’t, it is OWN voice fiction, but the chapters often come across like short stories with their own climax or punchline. The lacking continuity of smaller threads being resolved means if you put the book down, you aren’t necessarily itching to pick it back up to see what happens next. There isn’t a larger pressing conflict driving much of the book, yes the girl is bullied, but by one kid, and she has a great group of friends and a supportive family, so the intensity is just not present. I do like the growth of the character toward self-acceptance, but I don’t know that the target audience will get the 90s references of Spice Girls, CDs, lava lamps, and gel pens. The book hits most of the stereotypical immigrant tropes of feeling othered by one’s name, clothes, food, and while she works through them to deal with the bully and find her own confidence, she unfortunately never deals with her internalized Islamophobia, which is disappointing. She puts Islam on her parents as something they practice, and only begrudgingly seems to acknowledge she too is Muslim when she doesn’t eat pizza with non halal meat. She is embarrassed when her friends see Islamic calligraphy at her house, hear the athan, she doesn’t reply to her parents salaams, she calls her mother “the most devout in our family” as the reason she has to wear tights under her skirt: she only seems to ok with being Muslim when outsiders give their approval. The book for me is mediocre, nothing to rush out and buy, nor anything to pull from shelves. I’ll send my copy to the Islamic school library shelves as the book is fairly clean: a few giggles about naked statues at the museum and very lightly hinted at boy/girl crushes. The older sister deals with a boy who wants to date her and harasses her to the point of affecting her personality, but I think if a 10 or 11 year old picked up the book and read it, they would be ok to see the characters finding their voice, good friends, and sibling support.

SYNOPSIS:

Eleven year old Alina Butt is in her fourth school in three years since arriving in England from Pakistan. She never fits in, and never has friends, but she is determined that if she can keep her last name a secret, she might have a chance. One the third day of 6th grade though, her last name becomes known and Adam Atkins has his eyes set on giving her a hard time. With encouragement from her older sister and love from her baby brother, Alina puts herself out there to make friends and when the teacher assigns her a new group, she finds herself among three girls happy to welcome her in. The new group also puts her sitting across from Adam, but at least now she doesn’t have to face him alone.

At home, she navigates life as an immigrant trying to blend her worlds. Her loving family lives above the grocery store they own and face Islamophobia and settling in together as they each have to find their strength and voice and resilience to drive, stand up to harassment, and for Alina, to love herself. Alina gets the courage to try out for the school play, but when she lands the part of Gus in Cinderella, she has to dig deep to be happy for her friend, forgive a bully, and step in to the spotlight.

WHY I LIKE IT:

Alina is likeable enough, and I love that she grows to love herself too, I’m not sure she was ever unlovable though as the title suggests. I don’t like that potentially really big plot points are mentioned and then abandoned. She cuts her bangs way too short, her mom says something and no one else ever mentions it, and she never brings it up again. Her dad is so sick he leaves the truck on the side of the road and sleeps and the mom takes care of everything, and what was wrong with the dad is never revisited. These are just two examples of rising action that present that they are going to be important that are seemingly undermined by the lack of follow through.

I love that she finds a way to stand up to the bully and she even helps her sister deal with the boy antagonizing her. It is strong and resonates with the reader, but it should also be noted that as soon as she has friends, they are gossiping and being rude to Adam too. I’m not saying it isn’t warranted, and he definitely is worse, but if she is modeling behavior she should perhaps at least feel bad teasing him even before she knows that he has a bit of a rocky home life. Plus he is one kid with two stereotypical sidekicks, yeah he is annoying and mean, but she has friends and family and teachers that are completely on her side too. And Adam bullies her about her name, but no one else even acknowledges it or asks her about it.

I didn’t quite get the schooling, but it is probably because I am American. She is in middle school, but she has one teacher all day and they play on the soccer fields at break and her kg aged brother does field day with her? The 90s references were fine for me, but I don’t know that the target audience will get some of them, and it might be a little annoying to get through for younger readers.

Ultimately, the way Islam was presented was really disappointing. It feels like we should be past the internalized othering of our faith. The culture was worked through and appreciated internally for Alina, but for some reason, religion was only ok when the outside influences deemed it acceptable, and I’m not sure that in 2023 this angle of narrative is doing anyone any favors. She loves her mom, and part of the character arc is seeing and appreciating her mother’s strength, but very early on mom is labeled as “devout” even though they are all Muslim. And this self othering to be the reason her mom is keeping her from dressing like everyone else left a bitter taste in my mouth. Never once does it feel that Alina has a connection to Allah swt, no matter what she is going through there is no bismillah, or prayer, or dua to ask for help, and strength, or show appreciation. I absolutely get that not every story will have that, but the way Islam is presented as something foreign and never circled back on or portrayed as something that she embodies, makes all the mentions of faith seem deliberately othering, and as a Muslim book reviewer, I feel it is an important point to mention about this book. I wonder if it was intentional or an oversight sensitivity reading would have helped resolve.

FLAGS:

Birthdays, music, bullying, harassment, teasing, othering, mention of naked statues, some sneaking and dishonesty.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I wouldn’t use this as a book club selection, and as stated above I wouldn’t rush out to buy the book to shelve at home, in a class or school library, but if it found its way to the shelves I would not remove it. The book has heart, I just feel like along the way the messaging of finding your voice and putting yourself out there to make friends, the book also hints that the Quran on your walls, modesty, the athaan, eating halal, are all things that are weird, unless your friends think it is cool, then it is ok- and that is not messaging I would really want to spread.

Jun2

When a Brown Girl Flees By Aamna Qureshi

Posted on June 2, 2023 by islamicschoollibrarian

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When a Brown Girl Flees By Aamna Qureshi

I was both nervous and excited to read this contemporary book having loved the author’s fantasy, but unsure how a Brown Muslim Pakistani American girl running away from home would be presented. Alhumdulillah, the author approached the story from a place of love. There is no internalized Islamophobia, self othering, or in broad strokes even an identity crisis. The protagonist has made decisions, drastic ones, and is trying to piece her life back together on her own terms, but the love of culture, family and faith, is always upheld. It reads like Islamic fiction, with very didactic passages and moral positioning, I’m still quite surprised that it is traditionally published. The version I read had grammar errors, so I’m hoping that they will be corrected when the book releases in a few weeks. The story is engaging, but the writing a bit monotone. Much of the story is telling, not showing, and because of the surface level spoon feeding of so much of the plot, when the catalyst or rationale is not provided, the book seems underdeveloped, or lacking, unfortunately. I would not recommend this book for the target audience of YA readers (12/13 and up) it contains sex, slut shaming, self harm, depression, suicidal thoughts, physical and emotional abuse, profanity, and mentions drug use. I do think though, early college age readers will enjoy and benefit from reading the book. At a time in the reader’s life when they are defining themselves on their own terms, owning up to their own mistakes and laying out a future path, this book will provide relatability amplified by religious and cultural touchstones. The heart of the story is the connection of a girl with Allah swt after she has sinned, the guilt and regret she feels, and how she finds herself, and returns to try and fix things with her family. The characters are flawed and the overall messaging beautiful, hopeful and uplifting. Unfortunately, it just reads like an early draft and I wish it had a bit more refinement. Keeping that in mind though, it does have a place, and I’m glad to see our “new adults” can find reflections of themselves in a piece of literature that amplifies their Islamic identity instead of criticizing or questioning it.

SYNOPSIS:

The book starts with Zahra deciding to run away from home. She parks her car, leaves her phone and catches a flight to New York from California. The reader doesn’t exactly know why she is running, only that a few days after high school graduation she is escaping a toxic home life, an impending wedding, and misery. As the story peels back layers we start to see some of the nuance of what she is running from as characters from her past find her and physical space allows her some perspective to see her own role in her “old” life. When she arrives in New York, it isn’t the city life that she seeks, but rather the nature and pace of Long Island that offers her a fresh start. She heads to the masjid, makes a friend, and starts to put her life together without parental obligation, outside interference, and self loathing. She cannot run forever though and she cannot escape herself. She must confront her past, own her mistakes, be honest with her new friends, and find peace with her family, not because she has to as a Brown daughter of immigrants, but because she trusts Allah, loves her family, and wants to “fix” things.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I’m a sucker for books that show redemption through the love and mercy of Allah (swt). Yeah her new friends were idyllic in their family life, relationships and worship, but we all want friends that make us better Muslims, so I let it slide. Islam is centered, she wears hijab, she reconnects with salat, it is her identity even when she is just going through the motions. The author at times conflated culture and faith, but it never issues blanket statements or falls into universal stereotypes for Desi culture or Muslims. She does a good job of keeping the negatives to the people and the critiques to the failure to push back on dangerous expectations. My issues weren’t the character flaws either, I’m onboard with the messiness of being human and the ability to seek and receive forgiveness from our creator. I just wanted to feel things more. So much was just told when it should have been shown. I wanted to see the stress and anguish of her family life, not simply told it was depressing. I wanted to see her cutting life long friends out and being isolated, not told she had lost her friends. The book focuses on her running, and why she ran, but a big plot point for why she ran, having sex, needed more fleshing out. Why was she driven to such an act? I know that she was depressed, I’m not belittling that, but what pushed her to such a strong stance, when she was already allowed on the school trip, she hadn’t yet been given the ultimatum and over and over the book says “I miss my family,”” I miss my home,” “I miss my mom.” I didn’t feel the connection or understand what she was feeling, thinking, and it seemed like a huge hole in the book. For all the themes of mental illness, faith, generational trauma, misogyny, abuse, expectation, depression, lying, culture, life choices, higher education, family dynamics, self harm. the book never quite felt rich with emotion or deeper than the surface level story. At the beginning the author says she first wrote the book when she was a senior in high school, and while that may have made the main character’s perspective and voice ring true, as a successful author now, I wish she would have added the nuance, the insight, the subtlety that would have drawn the reader in and allowed them to get inside Zahra’s head and heart to see her and perhaps even themselves.

FLAGS:

The author and book identify triggers in the book “please be mindful of TWs: depression, anxiety, emotional abuse, physical abuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation, slut-shaming, PTS.”

There is also music, boys and girls alone in cars together, lying, cursing, generational trauma, misogyny, abuse, expectation, depression, anxiety, guilt, life choices, higher education, family dynamics, cutting, a brother who is often high or smells like weed/pot, it mentions partying, a sexual event, deceit, physically assaulted by a parent. Nothing haram is glorified, but it is there and it is detailed, and not everything is resolved.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I would not be able to shelve or teach this book in an Islamic school library, but in a college MSA book club or a youth group of a similar age this book would be incredible to read and discuss.

Mar11

Nadia and Nadir Eid Surprise by Marzieh A. Ali illustrated by Lala Stellune

Posted on March 11, 2023 by islamicschoollibrarian

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Nadia and Nadir Eid Surprise by Marzieh A. Ali illustrated by Lala Stellune

This is another holiday book in the Nadia and Nadir series for early readers, this one focusing on Eid al Fitr, but also celebrating Muslim American athletes Ibtijaj Muhammad and Muhammad Ali, sadqa, and the love of grandparents. The 32 page book with four chapters shows Desi American siblings enjoying both their Pakistani and American cultures while consistently embodying their Islamic faith. They pray salat, wear hijab, discuss sadqa, and say Salam and Eid Mubarak. I am not sure why they pray Eid prayers at home, and not in a community congregation, no it is not a Covid set book, they then go to the mall, but the pride in their faith, culture, and family is enjoyable. Early readers will enjoy the colorful pages, large illustrations, and relatable story situations.

The book starts with the siblings hearing laughing downstairs, then seeing suitcases, and being surprised by their Nani and Nana coming from Pakistan to surprise them on Eid. The family eats paratha and chai together before praying and making duas.

After presents are passed out, the kids receive eidee and are off to the mall to pick out a toy. Nadia sees an Ibtihaj doll, and Nadir points out that she is wearing a hijab just like his sister. Nadia recognizes her and shares some facts since she has read her books. Nadir wonders if Ibtihaj knows it is Eid and the family reassures him that Muslims everywhere in the world are celebrating.

When it is Nadir’s turn to choose what to buy, he picks some boxing equipment with marketing images by Muhammad Ali. Nana fills him in on the activism and accomplishments of Ali and how impressive his fearlessness really was. When the change is given after paying, the kids and their grandparents discuss sadqa, charity, and this gives Nadia an idea.

The book concludes with a glossary of new words and information about the illustrator and author. You can purchase your copy at all major retails such as here at Amazon, or you can support small business owners like Crescent Moon store and purchase your here.

Mar7

Hunger Alert by Shazia Afzal illustrated by Sania Hussain

Posted on March 7, 2023 by islamicschoollibrarian

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Hunger Alert by Shazia Afzal illustrated by Sania Hussain

On my first read through, this book came across as a bit text heavy and the presentation didn’t quite fit with the content for the target audience, but when my seven year old read it, then reread it, and my 12 year old picked up and read it and both said, “it’s good,” I realized, the target audience is not little kids, nor is it adults, it is kids who have fasted and have felt the pangs of hunger. The character is getting through his first day, but the relatability is for kids everywhere fasting for the first time the hundredth time and everywhere in between. It is Islam centered, I appreciate the healthy food temptations and the unwavering that fasting needs to be done, but as an adult and an educator, so often I wanted to interject Islamic touchstone to getting through the day asking Allah for help, talking your self up and increasing your determination by knowing the Angels are recording your struggles and you will be rewarded in the akhira, and while Quran is read, and a surah loved, and Islamic phrases included, the focus of the book is a little boy in a very idyllic family trying to keep hungry thoughts away. The small 8 x 8 soft back book with 22 thick cardboard pages would be a bit hard to share at story time, but the simple concept story is fine in smaller groups and at bed time.

The books starts with Ahmed fasting for the first time in Ramadan, he has a list of things he needs to complete his fast: 1-Keep busy, 2- Don’t think about food, and 3-Stay away from the kitchen. I found when reading it to my younger kids I would pause here to discuss why we fast, and that we are doing it for the sake of Allah, so we need Him to be successful, not distractions.

Ahmed starts with reading his favorite book about a charitable boy, the illustrations though had baskets full of shiny, big, read apples. “Grr, Hunger Alert!” He runs to his brother’s room to keep busy with a soccer video game, but the prize on the screen are big, yellow bananas. “Grr, Hunger Alert!” This continues throughout the day, including while reading Surah Rahman, and the pomegranates trigger yet another Hunger Alert. When Grandpa asks him to take strawberries to his mom and his mom is in the kitchen, each of his rules will have to be broken.

With iftaar approaching and fruit chaat waiting, Ahmed will have to persevere to complete his fast. There is a glossary at the back and the book you can search online to find where the book is available near you http://www.compassbooks.ca

Mar2

Nadia and Nadir: Ramadan Cookies by Marzieh A. Ali illustrated by Lala Stellune

Posted on March 2, 2023 by islamicschoollibrarian

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Nadia and Nadir: Ramadan Cookies by Marzieh A. Ali illustrated by Lala Stellune

This 32 page early reader is part of the Nadia and Nadir series that can be read and purchased as a standalone. It shows the sibling duo problem solving, working together, sharing, and getting excited for Ramadan. With the theme of cookies, the book could work as a read aloud in a small group with an activity of making cookies following it, but the small leveled reader size and text volume would make it a hard selection for larger groups. The setting is Ramadan, the female characters wear hijab (even in the home with just family), but there is not a lot of religious beliefs or practices included in the story. It does detail the lunar calendar and phases of the moon, but thankfully does a decent job of inserting that knowledge from Nadia who has learned about the moon in science class. There are a few salams, and it mentions that Nadir isn’t fasting because he is young, Nadia gets up for their predawn meal, and snuggles back in to bed after saying her prayers. There is articulation that Ramadan is a month for Muslims and a time to share blessings when the kids share their cookies with the neighbors. There is a handful of Urdu words sprinkled in and a glossary at the end. The book shows a family’s traditions and radiates joy, it is a solid addition to Muslim and non Muslim book shelves in showing Ramadan cookie making and excitement in action, but would not inform a lot about the religious aspects, uniqueness, or basic practices about the month.

Nadia and Nadir start the book with their binoculars around their necks waiting for Abu to arrive home from work, Ammi is already on the roof and they are determined to spot the Ramadan moon. The kids are all sorts of confused where to even look in the vast night sky, but once Abu helps them out they find it and declare, “Chand Mubarak.”

Nadir wants to know why it isn’t a full moon, and his older sister Nadia explains the cycles, they are then off to make cookies as per their families Ramadan tradition. The dough is ready, the star cookie cutter has been found, but where is the moon cookie cutter? Nadia has an idea, and sure enough her problem solving skills allow crescent moons to be made.

The next morning Nadia has her predawn meal of cookies and milk and when Nadir wakes up he has the same. The kids pack up bags of cookies with their Ammi to pass to neighbors and friends, with only one left who will get it Nadia or Nadir?

The books are available widely at places such as Amazon but for the same price I hope you will support a small Muslim owned bookstore and purchase your copy at Crescent Moon, if you use my initials ISL (Islamic School Librarian) at checkout you will save 10%, link:

Nadia & Nadir Series