Tag Archives: Family

Jan24

A Little Piece of Ground By Elizabeth Laird with Sonia Nimr

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A Little Piece of Ground By Elizabeth Laird with Sonia Nimr

img_2165-1There are so few Palestinian middle grade books, so on that premise alone this 216 page book has a lot of value.  Because I am not Palestinian, I do not live, nor have I ever lived under occupation, I can argue some of the concerns from a point of privilege, and I acknowledge that is not my right.  I have been asked numerous times about this book and how it frames the suicide bombing mentioned in the text and blurbed about on the back of the book. It honestly is not a large part of the story, that being said, in my outside privileged view, I do not know that a 10 year old in the west will have context to understand the act of this level of desperation from the oppression and humiliation mentioned in the book. This is why I have held off my review.  The truth does not need to be defended or explained, and I fear my reservations will be taken as such, which is not my intention.  Would I let me 8 year old read this, yes, but we will read it together and discuss.  My children are aware of what is going on in Palestine, but Karim, the 12-year-old protagonist supports the bomber, and that notion is not clearly pushed back on. With discussion, absolutely, I think readers, will truly get Karim’s perspective that something has to be done to change the status quo.  The fear when Karim is alone and the target of soldiers, the settlers forcibly seizing the family land, the humiliation of strip searching men at checkpoints, the curfews, and constant fear of attack and imprisonment are all presented through the main character’s eyes, and would also do better with some discussion, so that empathy and duas and action can result.  But, the commentary as to the suicide bombing are minimal, there is even a prank package bombing that is presented as rebellion by a side character, and I would worry how a young child, without guidance, would internalize it.   Additionally, this is yet another difficult book for me to review, primarily because it was first published in 2003, and because I don’t know how much comes from a western gaze and how much the Palestinian voice played into it. Islam is clear on the prohibition of suicide.  In the early 2000 the news out of Israel was often about such attacks, but as an outsider, I honestly do not know if it was simply Israeli propaganda and stereotypes amplifying the idea as part of their public relations strategy or reality, seeing as now that Palestinians have direct outlets to share their daily life under an oppressive occupation, there is rarely talk of suicide bombing attacks. The author states on her website:

“I first visited Israel in 1968, and enjoyed a warm welcome from many Israeli friends. Later, I lived in Beirut with my husband and son during the civil war there, and became aware for the first time of the tragedy of the Palestinian refugees. I visited both Gaza and Ramallah, in the occupied territories, in 2002, while leading workshops for Palestinian writers. I was appalled by the circumstances in which people were living, and became aware that we in the West know very little of what life is like for Palestinians living under military occupation.

I have written A Little Piece of Ground in collaboration with Sonia Nimr, a Palestinian archaeologist, storyteller, writer and translator, who lives in Ramallah. We have tried to make our story as true to life as we can.”

The book is a hard read at times, but the joy is there.  Just as we as adults scroll through the devastation, the humanity persists.  The world may try and forget that they are attempting to erase a rich culture, but even in this book, their is laughter, and crushes, and sibling squabbles, and soccer games and friendship, and food, and joy.  There is a little Islam, not much, the main character is Muslim, a best friend is Christian.  It isn’t present in their everyday thoughts and actions, more just in identifying their faith.

SYNOPSIS:

Karim and his friends are not so much different than 12-year-olds everywhere, he loves video games, playing sports, isn’t so sure what he wants to be in the future, wonders what he will look like as he grows up, and is often annoyed with his family who he loves dearly.  Karim’s life in Ramallah is also unique, he lives under curfew, he doesn’t have freedom of movement, opportunity, or equal rights, and a simple family outing can be life altering.

The book follows Karim and his group of friend as they discover a patch of land they decide to turn into a soccer field, to claim as their own.  They work on it on days they can sneak away after school, in windows of time between curfews, and before long start to take pride in what the land can be. Adopting cats, learning about new friends from the refugee camp next store, teasing siblings about their crushes is all in contrast to Karim watching his father be stripped searched at a check point, being chased off their family land when they are harvesting olives by settlers shooting at them, and pranking soldiers in desperation of fighting back against oppression.

When soldiers roll in and occupy the land the boys have claimed, symbolic of their whole country, Karim gets stuck barricaded in an old abandoned car for days, with soldiers aiming their sights on him, and wondering if he will survive.

FLAGS:

Suicide, systemic abuse, oppression, humiliation, dehumanization, killing, beating, apartheid, genocide, violence, stripping, lying, crushes, occupation, shootings, injuries.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

This book does not need tools to be discussed.  It itself is a tool, to help middle grade kids be aware that this cruelty has been occurring for 75 years, this book took place 20 years ago, and today we just have social media sharing these stories more widely.  InshaAllah soon, Palestine will be free.

You can purchase this book here at Crescent Moon Store where code ISL at checkout saves you 10%

Jan9

Zain and Mima Stand for Palestine by Eman Kourtam illustrated by Sophia Soliman

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I love this 57 page rhyming book from the perspective of a non Palestinian family pulling out their Palestine gear and taking to the streets to protest the occupation of Palestine.  Along the way the sibling duo, and thus the reader, learns about the history of Zionism, birth righters kicking people out of their homes, allyship with those on the side of Palestine, the crimes of Hitler, it shows maps of the occupation, details how movement is restricted, and even how to use BDS as a form of resistance from afar. All on an early elementary level.  There is a game at the end with an activity about resistance symbols, as well.

The book starts with Zain and Mima coming home from school tired and hungry.  They notice Mama is upset and glued to her phone, they then here noise outside and are encouraged by their mother to join the march as she hands them keffiyehs and explains that people are losing their homes in Palestine.

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The kids are not sure of what is going on, but notice the chanting and signs and diversity of people coming together to demand freedom for Palestine.  After the protest they head home and Mama explains the history of Palestine and answers their questions.  She explains who Theodore Herzl was and his idea of Zionism.  Why it is dangerous and evil.  She then explains how Hitler’s actions in WWII gave rise to Zionism in the aftermath. A two page spread of maps show 1947 Palestine/Israel, 1948, 1967 and 2005 in easy to understand visuals. Mama then explains, without identifying any specific country, that Israel has the best weapons and Palestinians use rocks and slingshots to defend their homes and families.  It shows walls and checkpoints controlling people’s movements, and the oppression that has resulted.  When Mima asks what we can do in addition to marching and chanting, Mama explains using our money wisely with the BDS movement.  The next day, the children empowered by knowledge, make signs and are ready to stand bravely for Palestine.

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This book was originally written in 2022, and sadly is still so on-point.  It is available again on Amazon after being temporarily blocked, but I hope you will purchase it from a small business such as Crescent Moon Store where my initials ISL will save you 10%.

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Oct6

Every Rising Sun by Jamilya Ahmed

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Every Rising Sun by Jamilya Ahmed

The lush writing and ever present threads of Islam captivated me from the first page of this Shaherazade retelling.  I truly could hear my own voice in my head reading each word, and falling into the masterful story-telling of the protagonist/author.  With about a third of the book left though, I was sadly stopped abruptly in my tracks.  I found myself annoyed by Shaherazade, and having to convince myself that even though this is an adult read, she is very much coming of age and finding herself, only she doesn’t evolve and grow, and doesn’t have a character arc, and by the end I felt deflated.  Is the book good? Yes.  Would I recommend it to readers 18 and up that enjoy OWN voice, strong female, historical fiction? Absolutely.  But I find myself frustrated, because when the book was good, it was so good, but as the end drew closer, I realized there were holes, big ones, that could so easily have been fixed.  The author has the skill, the knowledge, all the tools, but alas, I didn’t appreciate Dunyazade because she is largely absent.  I didn’t know the interworking of her assistants and friends so I didn’t care about them, side characters were so painfully underdeveloped. And with 50 pages left, I was for the first time perhaps ever, glad that the narrative moved from showing to telling (I know, who am I even). I needed the articulation to connect the dots particularly of Shahryar and Shaherazade’s relationship.  The 423 page book could have, and should have, been a hundred pages longer to not feel so rushed at the end, and there should have been a map.  The book has adult themes but they are handled in almost a YA manner.  The beheadings, affairs, wedding nights, battles, war, are not detailed, but rather identified and moved on from even though they are so central to the plot.

SYNOPSIS:

In twelfth-century Persia the daughter of the Malik’s adviser stumbles on the Khatoon and her lover, she anonymously alerts the King to the affair and the beheading of wives begins.  To keep the country from revolting at their mad king, Shaherazade offers to become his next wife, to assuage her guilt for what she set in motion, on the hope that her storytelling will keep her alive come morning.  Life doesn’t pause however, as Shaherazade spins her tales, but rather amplifies.  She accompanies her husband, Malik Shahryar as they join Saladin in the Third Crusade.  The caravan, the journey, the battles, the romance, all bring the climax of returning home to a Kirman under siege will test Shaherazade’s story-telling abilities to the brink and with it the Seljuk Empire.

WHY I LIKE IT:
The prose is on point, time stood still while getting lost in a world of history, imagination, and the author’s skill.  The constant presence of Islam in the characters life was incredible. It was not established and then left to the side: the times are marked by prayers, the athan is ever-present, the duas are heartfelt.  Yes the characters drink wine, and sleep around, but they also fast and treat their prisoners of war with compassion.

I really struggled with how little I cared about people dying, there should have been more connection and more emotion for the side characters, and as the story progressed, I became increasingly irritated that I wasn’t forced to care about them, to know them, to appreciate what they meant to Shaherazade.

I also felt that the majority of the story took place over one year.  How do you forget that you are telling stories to save your life and (SPOILER) start sneaking around with some other guy.  You have a guard detail that follows you everywhere, you are in a caravan and you live in a tent, everyone knows everything!  Shaherazade is also clueless a lot of the times asking soft questions and then told how intelligent she is and allowed to plot and scheme with various rulers.  I love that she has a voice, she isn’t silenced, that she is never apologetic for being opinionated and her very presence is never a kindness, she takes up space and doesn’t look back, but the inconsistencies in her judgement needed some smoothing out.  Show her understanding grow, and increase her intellect to wisdom, don’t have her charming and manipulating leaders one minute and then being so naive the next.  She should have been so much smarter by the end of the book than she was shown to be in her personal dealings.  Her political knowledge was strong, and she was a force, and that level of insight into her own life would have been a character arc to see.

The book is adult, but it almost reads YA and I’m not sure why, it is sourced, the historical presence is exciting, the words and flavors intoxicating.  I normally love when the characters are shown and the reader doesn’t have to be told things, but the only reason I finished to the end was honestly because I got some telling.  I was relieved to hear from Shahryar what he knew, what he felt, what he could own up to.  Perhaps had there been more showing of the intricacies of palace life with the side characters the book would not have gotten to that point, but the lush writing could only carry the book so far.

FLAGS:

Relationships. sex, kissing, fornication, killing, beheading, lying, hangings, war, battle, drinking wine, scheming, kidnapping, attempted rape, it is Adult, but nothing is overly detailed or glamorized.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I would love to chat about this book, I think I could be swayed to love it, or play the devils advocate and argue for the sake of arguing.  Being how highly recommended this book came to me from a dear friend, I’m ready to battle and anxious to discuss!

I got my copy from the library, but can be purchased here.

Oct2

We Know What to Say: Phrases Commonly Used by Muslims by Sabria Chao

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We Know What to Say: Phrases Commonly Used by Muslims by Sabria Chao

The concept behind this 42 book is really nothing new, but the presentation is wonderful.  The large hardback size, the clear inviting illustrations, and the repetition allow the book to be a delight at story time and bedtime alike.  Each Islamic term is introduced by a diverse character with a common Muslim name being asked if they know what to say in a situation.  The child gives the word, the following two-page spread restates the term and when to use it. All the terms are shown at the end in a two page spread along with a glossary and a Note to Parents.

I love the relatable scenarios: zoom calls, rain, getting sick, etc..  I also like the rhythm of the book, it reminds me a little bit of Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  The bright colors, the simple engaging illustrations and the big size make me ecstatic to share this at story time.  So many of the books that focus on Islamic terms for toddler to preschool level are small board books.  They serve a purpose, but we have long needed a large clear book for groups of children to learn, practice, and review together.

This book was nominated for the 2023 Muslim Bookstagram Awards, but you can purchase a copy here

Sep29

Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan

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Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan

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A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! SubhanAllah the subject matter is incredible, but the characters, writing, and Islamic inclusion really make this 327 page book a must read for all upper middle grade and lower middle school aged children everywhere. The book is historical fiction, set in Paris during WWII, the Nazis are invading and the Muslims at the Grand Mosque of Paris are covertly helping, hiding, and saving their Jewish neighbors.  Based on real facts, the book does not get lost in politics, or propaganda, or the enemy, the story stays on level for an MG reader with character arcs that are not confined to the atrocities at hand. The familial love, the friendships, the bravery of so many, really lingers long after the last page is read. Knowing that Muslims in France did this and that their stories have by-and-large been lost over time, makes this book all the more important to share with our own children.  This book fills such a void for children in Western countries wondering why WWII lessons in school never mention Muslims, and that this is traditionally published in the UK, soon to be in the USA, really is a benefit to us all.  I do wish the book was more strongly sourced, there are Historical Notes at the end, but I’d love to know where to go to get more facts about it all.  Little kid me would have been obsessed, adult me can’t wait to share this book with teachers and book clubs to discuss, teach, enjoy, and be inspired by, alhumdulillah.

SYNOPSIS:

Safiyyah lives in the apartments in the compound of the Grand Mosque and while Muslims are more-or-less safe from the imminent threat of the Nazi’s, because of their connections to North Africa, their world is still changing quickly. Safiyyah loves maps, helping run errands for her father, Ammo Kader, and Ammo Imam, and spending time with her Setti.  She also loves spending time with her best friend, Isabelle at school and on weekends.  When the Nazi presence is no longer avoidable, Isabelle and her family leave, errands are no longer safe and Setti’s beloved oranges are harder and harder to get. To top it all off, her father starts acting secretive and Safiyyah starts sneaking around to find out what is going on, unraveling a clandestine network helping those needing to get away.  Her family has no intention of involving her, but when soldiers start getting suspicious of the Muslims assisting the Jews, Safiyyah takes on dangerous roles that just maybe a young girl can accomplish without drawing too much attention to herself, the cause, and the Muslim community’s commitment to helping the innocent.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love that the book is fast paced and the fear of being caught is always present, yet the book is able to flesh out relationships, character growth, and religious understanding.  Little details weave in and out, and the confidence that the writer is in control of all the threads allows the reader to be swept away, completely. The interfaith aspects are not just check marks, the story shows the ease in which the communities work together and their connections are tangible.  There is no internalized Islamophobia or othering, and the way that Islam emboldens the characters’ actions is so beautiful: from the larger commitment for justice, to the personal internal reflections of wearing of hijab, praying, listening to the athan, making duas for the deceased, etc..  Spending time to ruminate on the idea that breaking an unjust law to save lives through an Islamic lens is empowering, and knowing that this is the risk that real Muslims in Paris took is so very humbling. I love that the conflict of France and Algeria is not left out as the Kabyle protagonist and her grandmother note that they are now supporting those wearing French uniforms to fight the Germans.

FLAGS:

Wish making, lying, death, fear, occupation, war, destruction, oath taking on a Quran, tasbeehs, working with wine barrels and smugglers.  There is a strong familiarity with Christian and Jewish holidays, some crossover celebration.  Some Christian angel imagery being used by Safiyyah for Ammo. Sneaking, hiding, forgery, skipping school.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

Having only ever read one other book on this topic, The Grand Mosque of Paris, that would definitely be a reference I would present when introducing the book.  Whether in a classroom, a library, a home, a book club, I hope this book gets read, passed around, shared, and discussed.  Muslims and non Muslims alike will fall in love with persistent over-eager Safiyyah and hopefully remember the resistance the characters in the book and real life sought with courage and dedication for the good of humanity.

I own my UK copy and have preordered US copies for myself, my mom, my teacher friends and hope you will do the same (you can preorder here).  Please also request your local public libraries to shelve this important book.

Sep25

Raisah and the Boat Trip by Nadia Ali illustrated by Fatma Zehra Köprülü

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Raisah and the Boat Trip by Nadia Ali illustrated by Fatma Zehra Köprülü

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I’ve seen this book reviewed and promoted on social media.  I’ve even read the reviews.  Yet for some reason I thought the book was a refugee story. It is not.  It is a family’s trip out on a boat interwoven with what they see and ayats from the Quran.  It can be read as a simple straight forward story, or the interspersed ayats can be paused for and discussed.  Honestly the book probably will not be asked for multiple times by young children, but as a teacher, librarian, parent, you are going to reach for this book quite often.  It is a book that can be used in story times about Allah’s creation, the ocean, science, experiences, and the signs that help us know Allah swt.  And for that reason I wish the book was larger.  It is great for bedtime, but the 9 x 9 size makes it cumbersome for story times, even for small groups.  Technology can help, but I really just wish it was a bit bigger to enjoy the simple illustrations and increase the sense of wonder Raisah feels upon the vast ocean.

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The book starts with Raisah, Mama, and Papa getting on a boat and heading out on the ocean.  They observe the water getting darker the further they go out, the saltiness of sea water compared to river and lake water, and then they turn off the engine and pull out their fishing rods.

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They joke about what they will catch while dropping the fact for readers about the blue whale being the biggest creature in the ocean, before a cargo ship catches their attention and they marvel at transportation opportunities on the sea.

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There are seven ayats from the Quran included in the 28 page book and the surah number and ayat are sourced.  The book can be ordered here from Crescent Moon where code ISL saves you 10% at checkout or here from Amazon.

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Sep18

If You See a Bluebird by Bahram Rahman illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard

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If You See a Bluebird by Bahram Rahman illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard

This cultural picture book shows life of an Afghan family before fleeing the country and after.  In the flashbacks the women are wearing hijab, now in the west they are not.  I debated if I should do a complete review or just a Muslim in the illustration tag, and ultimately decided to do a review so that I might document what I fear is a new trend.  In the last ten years most Afghan books addressed international involvement, the Taliban, and refugees, but seemed to still feature Islam and the characters as Muslim.  This book carries the refugee theme, but Islam is seen in the “before” illustrations only.  Another recently published book, The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story, similarly contained no Islam, but interestingly also kept it out of the illustrations.  Realistically, I know that two books don’t make a trend, but with the change of politics in Afghanistan, I think the OWN voice narratives are important to watch and be aware of.  In the past an Afghan book would be conflated with also being an Islamic rep book, and I don’t know if that will continue to be the case.  I also don’t know what the take away impression would be upon a kid if they were to pick the book off the shelf.  Would they find the head coverings in the unsafe country and the lack of hijabs in the safe country as a message about Islam, would they understand the politics, would they even notice?  The sweet story of a boy picking berries with his grandma involves music, wishing on birds, and reflecting on the violence that forced them to leave Afghanistan.

The book starts with Ali and his Nana waking up early to pick blackberries.  They don’t want to wake his exhausted parents, and quietly pack a lunch and get on their bikes and head out.  The blackberries are not as sweet as the mulberries he remembers from Afghanistan.  Suddenly he misses home.

The family left Kabul after soldiers came to their house and they knew it wasn’t safe anymore.  He couldn’t bring both of his stuffies and the family left on foot at night.  They rode a bus and waited behind a fence before they boarded a plane.

 

Back in the present the two eat their picnic, when a bluebird arrives, Nana tells Ali to make a wish before it flies away.  Nana says all her wishes have come true: the family is safe and together.  Ali is whisked back to sitting beneath the mulberry tree with his parents laughing and his toys around, he wishes for home.  Nana explains that home is not a place, it is the love you have.  The book concludes with Ali appreciating his loving family and his new “home.”

Sep15

Majdi Mansoor and the Book of Miracles by Anisa Bezak

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Majdi Mansoor and the Book of Miracles by Anisa Bezak

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I don’t think I have ever seen or even heard of any dystopian Islamic fiction reads, we have a handful of Islamic historical fiction, and dystopian with Muslim characters, but the genre made me curious, and with that motivation I began the 458 page book.  The beginning didn’t immediately grip me, but I told myself to read a hundred pages before deciding to DNF it or keep reading, and long before that arbitrary mark, I was intrigued by the story, invested in the characters, and impressed by the consistent writing, pacing, and role of Islam.  The book is preachy and idyllic, but that is to be expected, the way Islamic ideas and concepts and concerns were included as plot points though, is surprisingly well done.  For much of the story, I kept wondering who the target audience would be.  The vocabulary is a bit advanced, and the pages full of small text.  The book starts story wise-solid middle grade, but I think by the end I would recommend this book for advanced middle grade or early middle school Muslim readers.  I’ve heard from some adults that they read a chapter to their kids each night, and I think that aloud younger kids might also enjoy the story and be swept away to a future land run by a corporation where religion is banned, books are a thing of the past, a boy speaks only in Quranic ayats and hadith, and bullies of all sizes will have to be faced.

SYNOPSIS:

Twelve year old Jacob is an orphan in Tanas World and is unwillingly part of a gang.  One day in a boarded up old building he finds a book, a physical book, the Quran.  Religion is not allowed, Islam most of all, but he reads the book, and even though he doesn’t believe, he keeps rereading the pages.  When an attempt to steal some tech takes him outside the boundaries of the walled off city, he meets a small boy, Majdi Mansoor, who talks in a peculiar way. When threatened by the gang, Jacob decides to take Majdi’s side and that one act sets the two boys on a course that will change them forever.

I don’t want to give away too much, but Jacob is taken in by the Mansoor family who live in isolation and in hiding outside Tanas Corps patrols.  The parents are kidnapped, the children seek to save them and along the way meet smugglers, a Muslim community corrupted by bidah and djinn, Muslim Defense Unit rebels seeking revenge, and the executives who want the MEECA device to imprison the planet.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I was honestly impressed with the quality of writing, but I honestly don’t know if it was because my expectations were so low, or in fact was sufficiently edited and refined.  The characters have heart, the world building is believable, and the Islam is handled with an even hand.  At times members of the Mansoor family are too “good,” but Jacob has a sense of humor, is fallible, and curious which allows the story to stay moving and on task. There are some major plot points that are not resolved, and I’m assuming the political details will play out in the second book.  I’m hoping at least. The book doesn’t talk down to the reader, but older readers might find it too preachy.

I’m hoping my early teens who love Islamic fiction chapter books such as The Broken Kingdom series, The Adventure of Nur Al-Din books, and The Moon of Masarrah quartet will similarly enjoy this.

FLAGS:

Death, bullying, manipulation, assault, revenge, danger, whispers of shatan, bidah

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I would love to do this as a Middle School book club, I think it would be a bit too cheesy, but I think there would be some great discussions to be had about seeking, temptation, bidah, forgiveness, and the way that Majdi talks and Islam is woven in to the text.

Sep11

A Boy Named Ibrahim by Sitti Aminah “Flexi” Sarte illustrated by Aaron Asis

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A Boy Named Ibrahim by Sitti Aminah “Flexi” Sarte illustrated by Aaron Asis

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This 24 page Filipino book originally published in 2014 was republished with a new traditional publisher earlier this month and reads and feels like solid Islamic fiction.  The book focuses on the five daily prayers throughout the day of a young boy’s life, with the repetitive refrain being the steps of wudu. Ibrahim leaves his activities to pray, wakes up early to join his parents in salat, loves his mother, and listens to her reminder about prayer being an important way to remember Allah swt.  The book is preachy, religious, and unapologetic.  The timing of fajr is a bit questionable, but roosters do crow at all hours, and the light outside the window might be a street lamp and not the rising sun.  Islamic phrases are used, but it does say “Alaikum Salam” in response to “Assalamu Alaikum” which is a variation of the norm.  Overall, the book is a nice addition to share with young children highlighting the importance of prayer, it also works well to learn and review the steps of wudu, and the names and order of salat, alhumdulillah.

The sun is about to rise, Ibrahim says, “Bismillah,” makes wudu and joins his father for prayer.  It is the first day of school and Ibrahim is excited.  He spends half his day at school, then prays Dhuhr.  He makes wudu and prays.  While playing soccer in the afternoon, he leaves the game to pray his Asr, but first he makes wudu.

Once home he chats with his mother about prayer, and coming closer to Allah swt, while he enjoys a snack and then makes wudu and prays maghrib.  Baba then comes home, they eat and pray isha all together.

I enjoyed the illustrations and the simple story.  The book is straightforward, and the contentment and unapologetic portrayal of prayer in a person’s day is sweet and important to highlight. For preschool to early elementary this book would be a great addition to shelves, story time, and bedtime as well.

The book can be ordered on Amazon here

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Sep8

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley

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Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley

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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