I approached reading this 358 page book with a plan: as much as possible I began with no expectations and rid myself of any Lemon Trees comparisons. And after I finished this book, which I read in two days, I have now waited a week before writing this review up, to sit with its lingering effects and takeaway impact. I did this because a YA coming of age book with a female Muslim protagonist in a new school facing Islamophobia, has been done before, the premise isn’t remarkable necessarily (like Lemon Trees), on its own. I also am not a fan of magical realism. All that to say, I really, really enjoyed the book, and appreciate what it accomplished, and the unapologetic Islam and strength of voice it did it with. A few friends remarked that teen them would have loved it, so I’d like to add that 45 year old me, also loved it. The magic realism isn’t a small thread, it is a plot point, and it adds imagery and power to a book that raises the stakes on every level. It provides a balance to the heaviness felt by Jihad’s grief, loneliness, and present bullying. I felt in many ways it also softened the questionable “halal or harmness” of the book. The relationship between Jihad and Jamie does place them in classrooms and cars alone together and sure that close of a friendship between a boy and a girl is not typically encouraged, but I would let teens read this. The book is not overly angsty, emotions are there but no acting on it, in my opinion the focus is Jihad and her finding her strength, which as a Muslim going through so much, is really empowering to see. I think young Muslim readers might find bits of her story that they relate too, but inshaAllah no one is being bullied that hard, is grieving that loss alone, is feeling that abandoned, and coupled with the “magic,” I don’t think that Jihad’s choices will normalize any haram, but rather leave the readers inspired to not lose hope. The book has a lot of Islam, not necessarily a lot of spirituality though, for me it fits with the character and what she is enduring, that she just doesn’t have any bandwidth to feel anything more. The beautiful prose brings you into the character and keeps the focus on the protagonist, the unapologetic positioning is consistent and a reminder to us all that when well done, our OWN voice stories are not just accessible and relatable to us, but to all.
SYNOPSIS: I really don’t want to spoil this book, so I’m going to just copy the publisher’s blurb for the summary portion, you are welcome.
Seventeen-year-old Jihad Dabbagh has always seen life with a heightened sense for colors, one of many magical blessings the women in her family possess. But Jihad’s gift changes depending on her mood. When depression sets in, the world is a colorless oasis, and in the wake of her mother’s sudden death, the world has become a permanent shade of grey.
Broken by tragedy, Jihad’s family doesn’t believe her color loss. Her father sends her to the elite Braxton Academy to finish her senior year. There, Jihad’s name and hijab put a target on her back. Her haven comes in the form of an old sketchbook carved from a tree in her hometown in Syria—a country she only knew through her mother’s stories. Jihad hasn’t picked up a brush in over a year, but finds herself channeling the colors of her hurt, pain, and grief as she paints the story of her mother’s journey in Syria.
When graffiti of that same mural starts magically popping up all over New York, her art goes viral and the world takes notice, the threat of legal consequences is imminent. To reclaim her voice, Jihad will have to paint a new future for herself and Braxton, guided by the resilience of her mother’s story.
WHY I LOVE IT:
I love that regardless of what I would have done in many of the situations Jihad is put in, I can totally see, and argue, why Jihad does what she does. I think that is a testament to the writing, and while some of the relationships or side character arcs might make the most craft focused readers long for more, I was fully seeing Jihad’s world through her eyes, and ok with it. Even when major events happen to side characters, it really feeds in to how it affects Jihad and her character arc and growth.
I love the Islam and unapologetic way it is presented. There was one error about washing the bottom of her shoe while making wudu at school, but the Islam feels very real, the actions, the framing, the practice, the struggles, and it was quite refreshing.
I think in the past we have seen identity books really “other” Islam or culture and this book definitely raises the bar, by not doing that. We have also seen books that normalize haram relationships, or spend page after page trying to position the couple to not be haram at the expense of boring the reader, and I think this book is so natural in weaving it all together, that I really hope it becomes the new standard, and new chapter, pun intended, for YA Muslamic books. The book has threads of “romance,” bullying, Islamophobia, neglect, grief, family drama, violent crime, magic, but for me at the heart, once that all falls away and I sit thinking back, a week later on what I recall, it really is Muslim female strength and empowerment.
FLAGS:
Death, loss, bullying, Islamophobia, abandonment, violence, manipulation, grief, loss, boy girl friendship, threat of sexual assault, threat of violence, unwanted touch, vandalism, graffiti, systemic failure, racism, stereotypes.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I would love to do this as a book club read with high schoolers. Let’s make this happen!!!
The newest board book in the My First Book series is a gentle and wonderful introduction to charity, both sadaqah and zakat. Sourced with ayats from the Quran, there is also backmatter that has Facts about Charity and Questions and Answers. I’m always amazed at how much information the series consistently contains in the 26 pages for our littlest Muslims. With soft illustrations and smiling joyful faces, each page radiates warmth, information and simplicity in a way that grows with toddlers, to preschoolers, to early elementary aged readers, alhumdulillah.
The book starts with affirming that Allah has given us more blessings than we can count, and some of us have more than others. To help those that have less, Allah wants us to give charity. The book briefly explains that Zakat is one of the pillars that is required, and sadaqah is an extra reward that is not just money.
It talks about the sunnah of giving charity, and numerous ways that kindness can be carried out. It shows respect and helping and concludes with Allah’s names of All-Knowing and All-Hearing before the final supplemental spread.
I don’t know how many books are planned for the series, but I love looking at them all lined up. I share them with my own children and now that there are accompanying puzzles and a boxed set, I’m positive I’ll continue gifting them, not just to new parents as I’ve done in the past, but to toddler and preschoolers as well.
I was pleasantly surprised by the cuteness of this little (7.5 x 7.5) 12 page lift the flap Ramadan board book I got at the library. Written by committee (Ladybird Books) and part of a series, I didn’t really expect much, but the illustrations are adorable, and the salat flap made me smile. The text is simple and informative, fitting for the target demographic covering that Ramadan is a special time for Muslims to grow closer to Allah, do more good deeds, fast, fast, pray, and celebrate after prayers at the mosque with a feast. It is positioned to teach non Muslims about Islam, so the “Muslims do, or say, or believe” framing, can inherently feel a bit othering, but being the tone of the book is to educate, I think it can easily be reworded for Muslim homes to benefit and enjoy.
The book starts with a two page spread of a family in a living room and text that identifies that “a new moon has appeared” and Ramadan is here. The flap lifts the curtain to reveal a crescent. It states that Ramadan is a special time for Muslims and that we grow closer to God, articulating that we call God, Allah (swt).
The remaining spreads feature diverse characters, various colors, mobility, hijab wearing and not, and cover fasting, suhoor, iftar, eating dates, praying tarawih and then celebrating Eid at the end of the month. Flaps lift to show inside a mosque, praying and making dua, opening gifts, visiting neighbors, and eating. The book concludes with Ramadan over and Muslims remembering what the special month taught them. Overall it does a good job of balancing, fasting, praying, and being together, not over emphasizing food, or commercializing the holy month at the expense of showing faith practices.
This 18 page chunky board book is about 7.5 x 7.5 inches and a little over an inch thick. Each spread features interactive touch, feel, lift, slide, and rotate features that keep little toddler hands engaged, while the text shares Ramadan basics. Interestingly enough though, the back says it is not for 0-3 year olds, presumably because parts could tear and be choking hazards, but making it unusable for the demographic(?).
It starts with a slider that reveals the Ramadan moon and encourages readers to find the moon in the sky. The next spread has you lifting a cover to see what Mummy has made for suhoor. The prayer mat is then pulled out, The Qur’an opened, Sadaqah collected, dates and chocolate rotated, masjid doors opened, and once again the moon slides into view to know it is time for Eid.
The illustrations are cute, the manipulatives are clever and not repetitive, but the flaps on any of the lift the flap reveals are incredibly thin, and the outer strip that holds the entire book is similarly skimpy and I don’t know how long it will hold up with regular use considering the thickness of the actual pages.
This 276 page book drew me in from the first page and held my attention until the last. I can’t recall ever reading a fantasy book in a single sitting. The Islam, heart, Malay culture, and family dynamics have me hoping that maybe there will be a sequel, and that hopefully this debut novel is a first of many from the author. Of course I have minor critiques, the book definitely in the middle had some repetition and pacing hiccups, the rising action and climax could have been stronger, and there are a few noticeable loose threads, but Insyirah is a loveable protagonist that you really hope can sort through her family secrets, save the day, and be at peace with her decisions. There is a lot of Islam, and it is well woven into the characters’ identities, the plot, and the lens of the book. If you are Muslim reading it, you will see the fasting on Monday and Thursday, and staying in wudu a little different than non Muslim readers, but no matter who you are, you will enjoy the plot, the adventure and fun ride that will undoubtedly become a beloved favorite.
SYNOPSIS:
Twelve year old Insyirah and her mom are moving back to Malaysia to care for her elderly grandma. Insyirah is anxious and not thrilled to be leaving Australia. She hardly has time to miss her old life though as family secrets, discovering she can see and interact with jinn, and learning that an old jinn with a big grudge is after her. Navigating the seen and unseen words, the rules of her mother opposed to those of her grandmother, and figuring out what she wants will take time to ponder, learn, and reflect upon. Unfortunately, Syirah doesn’t have that kind of time, as she keeps falling into the unseen world, realizing that a jinn bound to her blood line will soon be under her control, and that pesky jinn haunting her school is trying to get her to leave Malaysia.
WHY I LIKE IT: I am intrigued by the the way the book holds space for Islam, culture, and fiction, and interweaves the three. Islam is adhered to, along with the worship, and uncompromising faith in Allah swt, and while the jinn are kept as being real, as understood by Muslims, their day to day antics cultural and fictional positioning, is richly developed and not put in conflict with deen, seemingly trying to keep everything halal. I am not a scholar, I would not venture to proclaim that this does or does not cross lines, but the author is very aware of the threads at play, and has a solid awareness of writing craft, so the result is a great story, that feels authentic, without being “shirk-y.”
There are some pop cultural references that might age the book a bit, but I love the shootouts to Hanna Alkaf books. For me, a Western reader, that really is my only other Malay juvenile literature reference, and the vibes are similar, so it was nice to see the connection.
This book is solid middle grade, but I think older kids will enjoy the story and find plenty to relate to, learn about, and be captivated by. I think this book will be a great addition to home, school, and library shelves, and while my copy is from Australia, I believe a US version will be available in 2025, inshaAllah.
At 128 pages, this hard back 7.5 x 8.5 inch book is a beautiful book from start to finish. If you follow the artist online (@idotdoodle), you know her style and her incorporation of an ayat from the Qur’an or an Islamic sentiment with her signature young girl and nature embellished scenes. But holding the book in your hands, and pausing on the two page spreads to reflect, and ponder, and be reminded to connect with the love of your creator, is truly a treat. Whether you read it from start to finish, or dip in and spend time with just a few pages at a time, the book will capture the attention of all ages and be enjoyed over and over again, alhumdulillah.
The book starts with a welcome to the reader from the artist, introducing herself, her connection to Islam, her love of art, her expression of emotions through her illustrations, how she picked the verses, where her own thoughts and reflections emerged from, and what she hopes the book will accomplish.
The book releases in February 2025 and is available wherever you purchase your books. I hope you will consider preordering to show your support.
This large, LARGE (10 x 13.5), 16 page board book is joyful and informative for our little Muslims to look through. Each two page spread starts with a topic that is followed by an ayat from the Quran and then adorable illustrations are splattered around with comments, questions, facts, or definitions. In some ways it reminds me of the Richard Scarry books that don’t have a story, and don’t have to be read front to back. You can, or you can just pore over the pages and point things out to your little ones. The book also helps caregivers that might not do voices and Broadway style productions at story time, by offering little prompts with each picture that allow the child to engage, have their attention directed, or offer up their connections in an intuitive manner. The size and quality definitely make the book stand out on the shelf, and I think for babies to early elementary the Islam centered focus will appeal to more than just toddlers.
The book features Animals in the Qu’ran, Plants in the Qur’an, People in the Qur’an, Nature in the Qur’an, Places in the Qur’an, Objects in the Qur’an, Blessings int he Qur’an, and Color’s and Shapes in the Qur’an. The last page features a baby safe reflective “mirror.”
It is hard to believe that this book is middle grade- the world building, the social and political commentary, the authenticity, the history, the humor, the writing quality, the richness, really makes me embarrassed that as a child I never gravitated towards books like this. Everything I love about contemporary fiction seems to be done so well in the handful of fantasy books I’ve read of late, add in layers of adventure, imagination, and nuance, and I don’t know why I took so long to embrace this genre. Not to say every MG fantasy is written this well, but why settle for only friendship, family, and identity issues when you can have all of it and dragons? This 352 page book about a Chinese American Hui Muslim kid is action packed, culture rich, unapologetically Muslim, and a gripping good time. While I think lower MG could handle and enjoy the book, there is nothing explicit, it does in passing mention eunuchs, concubines, and adult entertainment, along with the main character stating that he is not attracted to girls a few times and that he acts like a girl, but presents as a boy, thus making me think middle school aged might be a better fit. If younger kids read it, they may or may not even pause or notice the aforementioned possible flags, I only highlight them, so that my readers are aware and can be prepared to explain and discuss if needed. As an adult reading it, I can see clearly that Zach is gay, but I don’t know that most kids will catch it. The author skillfully hints at it, but doesn’t make it the focus of the story, ultimately making me feel like if you want to see it you will, if you don’t, you probably won’t. Oh and the chapter titles, they are awesome!
SYNOPSIS:
Zachary Ying is twelve and while he isn’t comfortable in his Maine school, he manages. He dumps the delicious Chinese food his mom makes every day so that no one teases him for the smell it carries. He tries to impress the other members of the Mythrealm club, a vr video game, without rocking the boat, and he loves his single mom who works hard since his father was killed in China advocating for the rights of Uyghurs. He knows little about Chinese history, the language, or myths, but that all starts to change when his VR gaming headset becomes the host for the spirit of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.
His mom becomes the target of demons and when her soul is taken, Zachary is off to China to secure the barrier that divides the worlds and keeps the spirits at bay. To do that though he is going to need to learn Chinese history, the power of artifacts, and the role of myths in keeping stories alive. With two friends, also possessed by past emperors, joining him, the adventure is non stop.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I love that Ramadan is mentioned on the very first page, that Zach’s mom wears hijab, that he only eats halal, and that details about life in China for Muslims is shared. It isn’t the main part of the story, but it adds such a powerful layer, that I found myself looking up Hui Muslims and trying to rectify how little I know about Islam in China.
The social commentary about which individuals from history are remembered and why some are celebrated and others vilified was so impressive to see in a MG fantasy book. It doesn’t ask you to agree with the narrative, nor does it preach anything, it just presents it in all its beautiful shades of gray glory albeit often shrouded in humor. I truly feel that most MG authors talk down to their readers, if these themes can be so strongly presented and consumed, what superficial fluff did I waste my time reading as a preteen? Thankfully I’m an adult that loves juvenile fiction, so there is still hope for me yet.
FLAGS:
Magic, mythical gods, fighting, violence, lying, deceit, killing, crushes, same sex attraction, concubines are mentioned as are eunuchs, but nothing more is said about them. Affairs and mistresses in context to myths and past emperors are mentioned.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I don’t know if I could teach this. Once you sense that he is gay it is hard to unsee, and in an Islamic school, that would be problematic. I will have my own kids read the book, I don’t think there would be any concerns for me there. A few weeks ago concubines were mentioned in a khutbah, so I’ve already had to explain that to one of my kids.
PRE-ORDER BEFORE MAY 10, 2022 or PURCHASE AFTER HERE
This 152 page book reads like a historical fiction interfaith Magic Treehouse for middle grades tale, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I learned about Sephardic Jews, the language of Ladino, Prince Abdur Rahman, and a tiny bit about the Abbasids overthrowing the Ummayads. I love that it starts with a map and ends with sources, facts about what information is real in the book and what is fiction, and a bit about Muslims and Jews and how to be an ally if you witness prejudice. The book is co-authored, and in many ways the Jewish narrative does take the majority of the focus, but the Islamic phrases sprinkled in, the Islam practiced by a major character, and the setting, allow for both religions to shine and combine to make a compelling magical time traveling story for third graders (and their parents) and up.
SYNOPSIS:
Cousins Ava and Nadeem are in fifth grade and spend their afternoons afterschool with their Granny Buena. Granny and Ava are Jewish and Nadeem is Muslim, though they believe differently, they always seem to find more that is the same, and respect is always given. When they face bullying at school Granny Buena pulls out a crystal box full of buttons and tells the children, and the cat Sheba a tale about their ancestor Ester ibn Evram. When she stops the story short, the two kids exam the button closer and find themselves back in time tasked with saving Prince Abdur Rahman and getting him from Africa to Spain. They aren’t sure if that will be enough to get them back to their own time though, but they don’t have time to overthink it because if they fail, the Golden Age of Islam won’t happen, peace won’t come to Muslims, Jews, and Christians in the region, and their Jewish ancestors may face the backlash of helping the Muslim escape. Along the way, they learn about their own family traditions, beliefs, and gain wisdom to handle their bullying problem at school.
WHY I LIIKE IT:
I love that I learned so much, and from what I could Google and ask about from those more knowledgeable, the facts about the time period and cultures all seem to check out. Only one passage comparing Jewish belief and the text of the Quran is phrased oddly in my opinion, the rest of the Islamic sprinkling is well done. There are numerous bismillahs, mashaAllahs, stopping for salat, quoting of the Quran and more. The narrative is primarily Jewish, but the setting Islamic with athans being called and Salams being given. The book does have a lot of Jewish detail, but I don’t think it was preachy, and the further uniqueness of Ladino words and culture I think would appeal to all readers no matter how familiar or unfamiliar they are with the two religions.
There are some questions that as an adult reader I wanted to know more about: how Nadeem and his mom are practicing Muslims in a strong Jewish family, how making sure history happened as it happened the first time sent the two kids back…then why were they sent there at all, is there going to be more button adventures, were their two cats or was it the same cat? Honestly, a lot of the more obvious fantasy plot holes were accounted for and done quickly and simply: how their clothes changed but the button remained, how they could speak the language, how confused their aunt would be when her real niece and nephew arrived, etc.. The writing quality kept it all clear for the reader, and did so without the pacing of the story suffering.
FLAGS:
Near death experience, magic, mention of killing, fear, deception, bullying, fighting, physical altercation, misogynistic assumptions.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
This would be a great story to share if I return to the classroom. The history, the religions, the storytelling would provide so much to connect to and learn about. As a book club selection though, it would be too young for our middle school readers and ultimately too short. I would consider it for a read a loud with fourth and fifth grade.
Do you ever find yourself in the middle of an amazing historical fiction fantasy adventure graphic novel, reading as fast as you can to find out what happens next, while simultaneously having absolutely no clue what is going on? Yeah, I am was confused often in this upper YA/Teen (16+) 136 page book set in Europe during the Islamic Golden Age and starring a female from the renown House of Wisdom. I’m fairly positive it is my own limitations that made the book confusing, but for those wiser and more versed in graphic novels, I would recommend this book. It has action, adventure, science, history, philosophy, a strong Muslim character, friendship, wisdom, ingenuity, a bibliography, Mongols, Druids, and a dragon.
SYNOPSIS: Shahidah El-Amin is a Compass from the House of Wisdom, she is not a thief, she seeks knowledge which means that she is incredibly educated, fierce, and scrappy: part Indiana Jones, part Tomb Raider perhaps. She is a hijab wearing, dua invoking, Qur’an quoting, don’t give me alcohol even as you are about to kill me, strong confident Muslim.
The book opens with her finding an artifact and being betrayed by a fellow scholar and friend, Ling Hua, a Chinese scholar. The two race to Wales to get to the possibly rumored Calderon of Eternal Life for different reasons and using different methods. Along the way Shahidah shows her skills in surviving, understanding what her priorities are, and learning about friendship. She will battle Master Hua, the Khan, a dragon, a bear, the Druids, a leper just to name a few as the fantasy world is developed and built up with historical accuracies thrown in.
WHY I LIKED IT:
I love that the lead is a fierce female Abbasid Muslim from Baghdad and that there are a variety of religions and cultures mentioned and depicted. It refers to Shahidah as an Arab witch by the enemy and calls Muslims “Mohammedans” which takes a bit of getting used to and I never got comfortable with. I love the inclusion of ayats in transliterated text of the Arabic, and the concept is wonderful. I got lost though in some of the world building and plot. I think the action and illustrations are clear, but the text needed a little clarity in my opinion. Again, I acknowledge my lack of familiarity with the concepts and format of the book.
I loved the bibliography and the notes included at the beginning and end. I actually would have liked more information on the House of Wisdom and as always, a map.
FLAGS:
The concept and references make it for more mature readers. There is also violence, a mention to love making, and depicted death, gore, killing, etc..
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
Even though it is for older readers, I think it would be great on a library shelf for middle grades and up. It probably isn’t for everyone, and many wouldn’t be tempted by it even, but the few kids that like this kind of content, will absolutely love the book.
Do you ever find yourself in the middle of an amazing historical fiction fantasy adventure graphic novel, reading as fast as you can to find out what happens next, while simultaneously having absolutely no clue what is going on? Yeah, I am was confused often in this upper YA/Teen (16+) 136 page book set in Europe during the Islamic Golden Age and starring a female from the renown House of Wisdom. I’m fairly positive it is my own limitations that made the book confusing, but for those wiser and more versed in graphic novels, I would recommend this book. It has action, adventure, science, history, philosophy, a strong Muslim character, friendship, wisdom, ingenuity, a bibliography, Mongols, Druids, and a dragon.
Islamic School Librarian 