Huda Fahmy books always make me laugh, but this is the first one that made me cry. Centering mental health and her parents divorce, we see Huda grappling with change, loss, anger, and resolve in a raw vulnerable way. While ever hopeful, and at times comical, the book is also incredibly moving and insightful. Whether as part of the Huda F series or her two graphic novels prior, her autobiographic books always tackle heavy topics in a joyful, hilarious, honest way that appeal to girls and boys from middle school and up. I know at 263 pages, this book is a YA read, but in my house my kids (daughter and sons) have loved reading her perspective about hijab, arranged marriages, identity, and sibling relationships. The unapologetic Muslim authenticity is unparalleled, and that non Muslims champion her books as well, truly shows the value of good story telling, and gives me hope in an often bleak world. Huda’s books are staples: new books are anxiously awaited, previous books are regularly reread, and Huda F Wants to Know? continues in that tradition. This book isn’t just fun, it is important- it normalizes mental health, empowers families shaken up by change, and makes us all feel seen and less alone. SubhanAllah.
The book starts with Huda’s plan for her junior year in high school, her friend Nabz and her are determined to buckle down and get scholarships. When Huda’s parents call a family meeting, she thinks she just might be getting a car, but instead she and her sisters learn, their parents are getting a divorce. The book then rewinds to show a little lead up before Huda’s world shatters, and junior year’s blue print is tossed aside. We see her going to the masjid for weekly halaqas where Sr Amal discusses topics like societal pressures, family expectations, gender bias in education, and other relevant topics. At one such gathering, Dr Haifa came to talk about mental health. We also see her crushing on a boy at school, fighting with her mom and sisters, and the girls going on a road trip to a Muslim convention.
Every storyline, every twist, every page really, has Islam woven in. It is the way the characters see themselves, see their world, handle stresses, find peace. Mental health is not separate from the hadith and sunnah, it is blended and approached in a holistic manner. Divorce is understood Islamically, and the clarity in which it is articulated will, I imagine, be so reassuring for Muslims who have gone through it, and seen others go through it. Just as my boys years ago read That Can Be Arranged, and became incredibly curious about marriage in Islam, I have no doubt that this book, will also be a powerful conversation starter for so many. I don’t know if that is part of why Huda write, but it definitely is a result of her books. I wish I could ask her, I’d also want to know how she decides what to share of her own life, where the line of reality and fiction for her is and how she sets and maintains those boundaries? I also desperately would like to ask her if she plans to write forever, because the world benefits from her books, needs her books, I know I do. No pressure or anything.
There are resources for mental health at the back of the book, some even specifically for Muslims. Please preorder this book and/or request it at your local public library as a show of support, it releases in April.
I have loved many an Emma Apple book over the years, but it has been a minute since a new one has been published. So imagine my delight and anticipation to see my soft spot for Prophet Muhammad (saw) kids books combined with the silly doodling antics of Owl and Cat? And then I read the first page. “Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was born in the city of Mecca in the year 570 on a Monday in April.” I think it is widely understood there is a level of uncertainty as to the date of his birth, and that’s really quite specific for no apparent reason. This is precisely why I’ve recently become a HUGE advocate of sourcing non fiction. Once something rubs you the wrong way in a book, or accuracy is questioned, it is really hard to move past it, even in a book meant for preschoolers. The rest of the 66 pages read at times like a sentence from a biography and at other times are filled with general characteristics of what RasulAllah taught, how he treated people, and how he lead. The illustrations are cute, more serious than funny in this book, as the topic is a bit more demanding of love and respect. I think for basic information, or to add to the uniform yellow cover collection, this book is a good addition. With the mix of specifics and generalized vagueness it isn’t going to hold attention of young readers without some embellishment, my nine year old honestly got more out of it than my five year old did.
Islamic School Librarian 