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.
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.
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%.
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.
This is the second Alan Gratz multi-perspective historical fiction novel I’m reviewing for its inclusion of a Muslim character. While in Refugee it seemed a natural choice to include a Muslim family, I was completely shocked that he would feature one in a WWII D-Day novel. With numerous storylines spread over 322 pages the book is quick, fast paced, intense and emotional. An enjoyable read for history lovers and curious kids fifth grade and up, it is an AR 5.6 and older kids will benefit from it too.
SYNOPSIS:
The characters and timeline are fictionalized to all take place on D-Day, June 6, 1944, as the Allied forces and French resistance come together to storm German occupied France on the beaches of Normandy. Many of the details do come from history though as detailed in the Author Notes at the end of the book.
The book starts out following Dee, a German national who left for America to escape the Nazi’s and is now returning in a Higgins boat to fight them. Knowing no one will understand, including his friend Sid, a Jew from New York, he keeps this knowledge to himself and focuses on the task ahead.
Samira and her mother are the focus of the next mission and highlight the role of the French Resistance, the Maquis. What makes their story more meaningful is that they are spies with the French Resistance, but they are French Algerians, not really a part of France at all, and they are Muslim. In Samira’s back story we learn how she must remove her hijab and how she is treated different at school because Algeria and France are at odds. When her mother is taken by the Nazis before she can deliver the message to the Resistance, Samira vows to do it and get her mother back as well.
19-year-old James from Winnipeg Canada is a paratrooper who volunteered for combat to feel empowered after years of bullying. His buddy in the story Sam is a Cree Indian from Quebec, who has few rights at home, and hopes to have more success in the military.
Medic Henry is scrambling along on the beach helping anyone and everyone he can. Having left behind a segregated US, even the military has reservations about African Americans saving and serving. As he performs one heroic act after another being questioned and doubted and insulted all along the way, readers see how ridiculous and infuriating racism is on every level.
We meet Private Bill Richards who drives a Sherman tank and is following in his fathers WWI footsteps. But who is unfortunately killed before reaching Bayeux. And finally we meet Monique Marchand, a French 13 year old girl, who gets caught up in the invasion because she left her swim suit in the beach hut the day before and has returned to retrieve it. Determined to do something other than cower in fear, she starts helping fallen soldiers and meets up with American journalist Dorothy, a strong woman determined to not be stopped on the basis of gender.
All the story lines criss and cross as the invasion is a chaotic mess and everyone is dropped, disembarked, or arriving in the wrong place at the wrong time. Surviving the day is an immediate challenge and not one that everyone will succeed at. The larger success of the mission will depend on some lucky breaks and a whole lot of teamwork.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I love that the story somehow isn’t political at all in the traditional war story, war strategy sense. But the strength at least for me, wasn’t the horrific battle at hand, which is truly violent and abhorrent, but the relationships between the people. The realizing what is driving them, what matters and more importantly how hard our prejudices are. The larger story of the Allies shows British, Americans, and Canadians coming together to defeat he Nazis, but yet, a girl, an African American, and a Cree are treated as “other” irregardless of how beneficial they are even in matters of life and death.
As for the story of Samira, she is a tough girl, both clever and brave. To have a Muslim in an American/westerm story of D-Day and a young girl at that, to me was pretty remarkable. There isn’t mention of faith or anything other than that she is told to take off her scarf and continues to wear a small kerchief on her head anyway, but for Muslim kids all over, this character and how she behaves will spark a sense of extra pride in the Allies success over Hitler, just as the other minority characters will for their representation in such a dramatic event.
FLAGS:
There is a bit of mild profanity. There is violence and death, and blood, not too bad, but the point is clear, the beach isn’t pretty.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I think this book would be a great supplement to any WWII history lesson. There are great resources at the end, and maps at the beginning and a high energy, short chaptered book that doesn’t skimp on character building or war intensity.
Islamic School Librarian 