Tag Archives: spain

Apr20

The Magical Moroccan Rug by Naveed Mir illustrated by Anisa Mohammad

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The Magical Moroccan Rug by Naveed Mir illustrated by Anisa Mohammad

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I really like the premise of the book, a Muslim Magic Tree House so to speak, two kids that magically go back in time, in this case to Andalucía. At times the book did make me smile, but really it feels like a missed opportunity.  The writing needs tightening, it feels early reader at 94 pages long with a few full page illustrations, but the vocabulary and text filled pages support the suggested reading level of middle grade.  It takes way too long to build up to the “action,” and when it gets to the plot it doesn’t seem to know what to do with itself.  It is a lot of walking this way only to turn around and walk back for no development, character growth, or enriching reason.  As an adult I had to force myself to keep reading, my eight year old who loves Magic Tree House books had basic foundational questions and couldn’t’ get past page 24.  Honestly it just needed some proof reading and some trimming, which is why I found it so frustrating; it really had so much potential.  Example, if the little boy is so excited to see his grandfather after 8 years, why didn’t he go with his dad to the airport, why did his elderly tired grandfather immediately go to a community event after arriving in the UK from Morocco, why wouldn’t Yusuf go with his beloved grandfather to the masjid.  And this is all within the first few pages.  If the logic isn’t there for the mundane set-up, it is hard to get on board for the fantasy aspect of a flying carpet going back in time.  The historical figures are introduced in passing and don’t leave much of an impression, so yes it is good to give readers a bit of information on people they may not have heard of before, but it doesn’t give them enough connection to make them memorable.  The backmatter sadly is not more information about the three historical figures presented: Abdur Rahman (The Falcon of Andalus), Lubna of Cordoba, and Abbas Ibn Firnas, it is a glossary and a Quick Quiz.  The answers to the quiz are not provided, there are additional facts shared but no sources given, and there is urging to find out more about Muslim Spain, but no directions, links, or book suggestions are provided.  The publisher should have proofed the book, it reads like a pitch, maybe a first draft, and our children and their purchasing adults deserve better.  We have growing options of stories with historical Islamic OWN voice framing, and unfortunately this book had a lot of potential, a few pages of interest, but not ultimately enough intrigue to win me, or my kids over.

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SYNOPSIS:

Yusuf and his friend Jack live in the same neighborhood, but don’t go to the same school.  They spend a lot of time together though, and have known each other since they were babies.  When Yusuf’s grandfather comes to visit from Morocco, he brings an old carpet and gifts it to his 10 year old grandson.  Unsure what to do with it, Yusuf puts it in his room, and feigns gratitude.  With a history project looming, and a dislike for historical study, Yusuf and Jack find themselves heading on a magic carpet ride into the past.

They arrive in Cordoba in 856 CE, disoriented and dizzy, Omar, their guide, greets them, walks them through the mosque answers one question then walks them back to the carpet to take them to a different time, 786 CE and they see diverse people living together peacefully.  They first observe “one of the greatest rulers that Andalus ever had,” The Falcon of Andalus, aka Abdur Rahman.  He is a humble leader that freely interacts with his subjects.  They then head to the 10th century to see Lubna with a crowd of scholars in Cordoba  learning from her in the library.

When Yusuf remembers his history project about flight, Umar guides them to 875 CE with a pit stop in CE 852 to see Abbas Ibn Firnas take flight, well fail and then eventually take flight in 875.  The boys then say their goodbyes and are whisked away home. Where they can’t believe what transpired, and are determined to figure out how to make it happen again.

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WHY I LIKE IT:

I like the concept, and that Jack is not Muslim, and Yusuf is unapologetically Muslim.  Seeing the two interact is enjoyable and both good modeling, and mirroring.  The heart of the book is truly not bad, it is the tangents that get long winded for no advancement of the story that take away from the flow.  As stated above the relationship between Yusuf and his grandfather doesn’t align with what is said and what is shown.  The end suffers the same lack of editing.  How can grandpa and Yusuf live in the same home, but they can never find a moment to talk.  Nothing is gained by delaying their conversation, so why delay it, and go on and on about delaying it?

If the point is to share not just with Yusuf and Jack about key historical figures, but with also the reader.  Then there needs to be more interaction with the characters, not just watching them from afar.  Interact with other observers or students or colleagues, convey information from a “personal level” not just drop a snippet here or there from what feels like a vague Wikipedia page.  If the book is not sourced, why not take some fictional liberties and flesh out Abbas, Lubna and Abdur Rahman, so that they are remembered. Include more information about the three real characters in the backmatter, reinforce the idea that a magic carpet is not real, but these remarkable people were, and they changed the world.

I don’t know that kids will have issues with how the carpet worked, but because the set up was so weak, I had a hard time going along with any of it.  I wanted to know why it had to be a grandson, not a son or daughter, how grandpa or his grandpa figured that out when it wasn’t a relative that gave the first Yusuf the carpet, but a storyteller.  How Umar knew to look for them at that moment.  Why did they go to 856 CE and then go to 786 CE why couldn’t they just meet Umar on the first stop? Seems unnecessarily dragged out, for no reason.  When was grandpa’s last trip? Could you get stuck out of your time? If no one can see or feel the rug, why do they keep hiding it? Can people see and hear them, or only their guide?

I like that Yusuf prays and Jack knows that Yusuf prays, and what a mosque is.   I didn’t like that they hear the athan, and went with everyone to pray, but then just left without praying.  The book seemed to do that a few times.  Have the kids walk through a crowd presumably toward something or for some purpose only to turn around and return to the place of origin having gained nothing, learned nothing, or seen anything, again just drags the book out and frustrates readers.

There really is not conflict in the book, no climax either, there is no really stress about getting back, stress about figuring out how to go on the next adventure, it is there, but not heightened, and it is unfortunate, because the book really could be adventure filled, and it just isn’t.

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FLAGS:
None

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TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
If you are learning about Abbas Ibn Firnas, or Lubna, or The Falcon of Andalus or Spain, and have access to supplemental material, the book has value.  I don’t know that if a kid picked it up off the shelf even with interest in history, that they would finish reading the book.  It doesn’t provide a solid feeling of learning or understanding about the time and place and people seen in the time travels, nor is it action packed on its own.  So if you can motivate a child to read it and then look further into it, the book would help connect the past as being interesting and engaging, but on its own, the book does not achieve that.

Mar4

Ramadan Kareem by M.O. Yuksel illustrated by Hatem Aly

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Ramadan Kareem by M.O. Yuksel illustrated by Hatem Aly

The lyrical text that shows joy, Muslim joy, all over the world during the most wonderful time of the year is felt, truly truly felt in this rich, beautiful book. The illustrations, the text, the sentiment, it all comes together so splendidly, that when you turn the last page you want to start over again. Hundreds of people are wondering what book to read to their children’s public schools this year, what book to start off masjid story times this Ramadan, what book to read every night leading up to the blessed month to get their children excited, what book to hand to your children to look through so they can have a few more minutes of sleep and alhumdulillah to all the above, I whole heartedly suggest, this one. Even with the errors.  The book states “the Night of Power is better than a thousand nights,” and should read, better than a thousand months.  The backmatter says “by not eating or drinking anything from just before sunrise until sunset.”  The story itself though has it correct and says “suhoor is a predawn meal” and notes the “sun is still sleeping.”

A universal story of celebrating Ramadan, with waking up for suhoor, greeting neighbors, having self control, praying, volunteering, iftar, community.  It is a singular story, but each two page spread showing a child in a new country continuing the narrative.  The worship uniting us all as Muslims even while our unique traditions add diversity and layers to the acts that we share.

It starts with gazing at the new moon in Turkey and mom saying that the narrator can fast. The drummer than beats her drum and it it time to wake up in Egypt. The call to prayer and remembering you are fasting reaches Syria, and donations are given in Indonesia. In Spain Qur’an is read in abuela’s lap and neighbors are visited in the United States.  Donations are packed in Australia,  friends and family are visited in Pakistan, and kimchi after dates for iftar in South Korea.  It is then off to Iran for prayers, Laylatul Qadr in Senegal, and getting ready for Eid in Uzbekistan.  Palestine is the final stop as Eid joy erupts for Muslims everywhere.

The book is widely available, you can order yours here at Crescent Moon or here on Amazon

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.

Apr1

The Button Box by Bridget Hodder & Fawzia Gilani-Williams

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The Button Box by Bridget Hodder & Fawzia Gilani-Williams

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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.

To Purchase: Here is the Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3D9LyxI

Nov12

The Adventures of Nur Al-Din by Badees Nouiouat

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The Adventures of Nur Al-Din by Badees Nouiouat

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I really enjoyed this book.  It is self published, and the expectation was zero and I honestly read all 214 pages in two sittings. I probably could have read it faster, but ahh kids and dinner, and my middle school son somehow got to it to read when I put it down.  We both enjoyed the quick pace, the strong Islamic presence, and the historical fiction based plot.  The book has a bit of language, hell and damn a few times, mentions prostitution and a brothel in two instances, and alcohol is present, but it is always crystal clear on Islamic and Muslim behavior.  The book is linear and straight forward and  probably YA readers will appreciate it, but I think it really is a middle school aged read, I think technically that makes it Young YA or Lower YA.  My only small grievance is the modern slang.  I appreciate that it isn’t written like Treasure Island and that you understand what the pirate crew is saying in plain modern English, but the few mentions of “idiot,” “chill out,” and “awesome” stick out very obviously and could easily be “fixed.”  Overall, so very impressed by the consistent pacing, historical references, writing quality, and internal reflection on our ummah’s strengths and weaknesses.

SYNOPSIS:

Farid is a young boy in Tunisia, and as the Spaniards start to flex their influence, his life begins to change.  The son of a fisherman, the family can barely enter the waters under the watchful eyes of the Spanish fleets.  When approached after a fight to join an Islamic pirate crew by Captain Aruj of the Barbarossa and his brother Khidr, he decides to leave his family and stretch his wings.   Having always dreamed of being in a leadership role, his optimism, and eagerness is quickly put to the test as the crews’ first mission in Northern Africa fails and sends the pirates scrambling on land.  They journey to the Mosque of Uqba (Great Mosque of Kairouan), and get help from the Emir in Tunis to replenish their losses.  It is then onto Tripoli where friendships and internal issues of race, and nationality threaten the cohesion of the Muslim pirates.  But it is in Spain where things really come to a head and Farid finds himself separated from his crew, in-prisoned for years, and tested both physical and emotionally that the story finds its climax before ending, and leaving the reader ready for more.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I have a soft spot for historical fiction, the original American Girl books for me were treasures to behold.  So the setting of this book really won me over: the mention of rulers, historical landmarks, the pain of the Inquisition on Spanish Muslims, the fact that there was a not just one map in the book, but two, all great things.  Like I mentioned above the pacing of the book is quick, from start to finish, and it is a pirate story so there is death, violence, battles, killing, and treason, but seeing as often in books about these type of things, I find myself glossing over the long detailed battle scenes, I was grateful that they are short and quick and possibly overly simplified.  It discusses weaponry, but it is not detailed, no glossary is needed, although there is one of the Islamic words at the beginning.  As for the Islam presence, it is very much a part of the story.  They raid a ship, the alcohol goes in the sea, they call athan differently, the characters discuss different madhhabs, just rulers are just even if they aren’t Muslim, and terrible rulers can also be Muslim, it doesn’t shy away from internal reflection and I appreciate that.  The only thing that caught my attention of being unaccounted for Islamically was when Farid puts on red and gold pants to head in to battle.  One- that seems the opposite of camouflage, and two- many Muslim don’t find it permissible for men to wear red and gold, obviously different people feel differently, but it seemed odd that the colors were specifically mentioned in such a quick moving book to no end.

Character-wise, I wanted a little more insight into Sameer and his racism, I also would have liked a little more about Farid’s first day in the sun after imprisonment.  I liked that the Jewish struggles under King Ferdinand in Spain weren’t just mentioned, but were brought in to the story.  And while I appreciate the reasoning for showing that Muslims were hiding behind a brothel to participate in learning and worship and thikr, that and the mention of a woman trying to seduce Farid in the street, both make the target audience a little more mature than the rest of the book might warrant otherwise.

FLAGS:

There is killing, fighting, raiding, stealing and there is plenty of physical violence.   The book mentions prostitution, seduction, and there is a fleeting glance at a woman that the main character pauses for, knowing he should lower his gaze, but then she is rescued and never seen or heard from again.  There is mention of alcohol as it is captured, as non Muslims stagger around drunk, etc.. There are a few curse words used a few times each: damn and hell and God.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I think I would absolutely do this for a middle school book club amongst a mature group of girls and boys.  It is an easy read, but the discussions would be phenomenal as history and context would all come in to play.

For the sake of buzz and growth and attention, I hope the author will shop the book around, if he hasn’t already, see if it can be published on a larger platform and gain some traction.  We need books like this, solid Islamic fiction books, that aren’t shy to show our strengths and weaknesses and inspire our youth.

Nov2

Esa & Sol’s Adventures: The Hunt for the Saphaea by Asma Maryam Ali, illustrated by Eman Salem

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Esa & Sol’s Adventures: The Hunt for the Saphaea by Asma Maryam Ali, illustrated by Eman Salem

It is a bit tricky to review a choose-your-own-adventure style book, as each story twists and turns and leaves the reader with a different ending and thus, a different impression. I tried to explore every story line in a book that I had little expectation of, it is an intentionally splintered story after all, but even at that, this fell really short. The core of the story: a Muslim and Jewish boy in Cordoba, Spain in 1080 exploring real facts in a fictionalized story about hunting down a missing astrolabe, really had a lot of potential, unfortunately the tiny size (maybe 3.5 x 5.5 inches) and only being 76 pages, the frightening cover, and the misprinted footnote glossy right at the start, set the tone for a weak forgettable book, and by the time you get to the actual story and plot, you really have very little substance to change your mind.

SYNOPSIS:
Two nine-year-old boys start off the story chasing after their donkey who has run off and sent their oranges spilling over all around the square. They should clean up the chaos, but they remember that they are supposed to meet Zarkali, the greatest astronomer in all of Spain, as he finally has a job for them after months of waiting. His latest work is a brilliant astrolabe, but when they get to his workshop he isn’t there. When he finally arrives with his assistant Aleho they are frantic as the astrolabe, the Saphea, is missing. The boys were to be asked to help transport it, as they would blend in unnoticed, but now that it is missing what should they do? Should they search for it? Investigate if it was stolen? Accept their punishment for the mess with the oranges and their donkey? Let the first choice of many begin the adventure.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love the author’s knowledge about Muslim Spain and how she tries to introduce it to children perhaps unaware of the rich history. The inside illustrations are wonderful, the cover truly misleads readers, and naturally I wish the book was larger in size and longer in length. The foundation of the story, the getting to know the characters and their world, needs to be longer. The story should be established before you have to make decisions. It is historical fiction, but needs the world building attention that a fantasy book would require, and this book just doesn’t have it. As a result the choices and endings, are all over the place, not just twists in the stories, but huge changes. Some of the paths no longer focus on the astrolabe that is missing, and seem to offer both threads of something far more sinister at play and choices that keep the boys lives mundane. The book counts on the reader re-reading the tale and making different choices, otherwise your interaction with the book could truly be over in nine pages, nine tiny pages at that. And like I said above regarding the cover and size, they don’t entice one to pick it up and read, then if your adventure is only a few pages long, and you already notice the repeated definition on pages 4 and 6 (before any choices are offered), chances are you won’t revisit the book, learn about real people, marvel at scientific discoveries, travel the region, appreciate interfaith harmony, and get swept up in a historically fictionalized tale that puts you in the drivers seat.

FLAGS:

Fine for middle grades and up.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I highly doubt the book would even be looked at on a classroom library shelf, I have been trying for days to get my own children to read the book: they love to read, they love history, they love books with options, but they have yet to open the front cover.

Apr14

Ayesha Dean: The Seville Secret by Melati Lum

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Ayesha Dean: The Seville Secret by Melati Lum

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This is the second middle grade mystery story for globe trotting sleuth, Ayesha Dean, and much like her first adventure in Istanbul, this Spanish setting is infused with rich history, delicious food, relatable characters and quick paced action.  

SYNOPSIS:

Once again Ayesha and her two friends Jess and Sara are tagging along on a business trip with Uncle Dave, Ayesha’s uncle who has raised her since her parent’s passing.  As they wait in line to board the final flight of their lengthy journey from Australia, a young man drops his contents and Ayesha and him chat, later they are seated next to each other on the plane where he discloses his travels from England to Seville are to help locate his missing grandfather.  Ayesha volunteers herself and her friends to help him and they hit the ground in Spain determined to solve the case.

The boy, Kareem, is staying with the friends his beloved grandfather was staying with when he went missing, so that is where the detectives start their work.  In searching his room, Ayesha uncovers a 400 year old diary written in Arabic, and a pamphlet from the Archeology Museum with a necklace circled, the Collar de Pajaros.  Just enough to get them started and set their adventure in motion.

The group of teens rely on Kareem to translate the Arabic in the diary and Ayesha’s wit to decide what to follow up on and how to incorporate their sightseeing with the task at hand.  As they journey through the city of Seville, learning the history and tasting the food, nefarious characters start to notice the group and things get intense.  From Cathedrals, to cafes, to Museums, and even to an ancient city uncovered in Cordobo, Madina Al-Zahra, the chase is on, not only to find Kareem’s grandpa, but to also avoid being caught themselves and maybe even solving a centuries old mystery about treasure and a necklace along the way.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love that Ayesha in any situation stays true to her self.  She wears hijab, she prays, she is aware of the good looking guy, but doesn’t cross her own line, she is a good friend, an inquisitive person, and confident.  All amazing attributes for a fictitious hero and real ones too.  

Much like Nancy Drew and other middle grade novel series, the books don’t need to be read in order, and while they reference other adventures, they stand alone sufficiently too.  Also, like the aforementioned books there is definitely a formulaic pattern to how the author writes her books.  And while reading it I didn’t notice it intensely, as I write the review I do.  Ayesha travels abroad, she has her sidekicks that are not developed at all and truly have no barring on the story plot wise or as comic relief, they are simply foils to bounce conversation off of, there is a cute boy who could be pursued, but isn’t, someone passes out while she and her friends are sight seeing, and the spouses provide added clues, Ayesha gets locked in a small dark space, there is a twist and a surprise, a trap, and they all live to repeat the adventure in another city another day.  I don’t think I have a problem with it, but maybe because I am not the target audience age, I might get bored with it about book four or so.  As it stands right now, I’m anxiously waiting for book three.

While reading I was a little irked that Sara and Jess weren’t any more developed in Spain than they were in Turkey.  One of them could have been the one to administer CPR or to stumble on the diary in the room, something to give them some plot significance, but alas, the books do not bare their names.  I wish Kareem would have at least said “Salam” on occasion.  I like that the author shows he doesn’t know much about Islam and shows that his grandfather admits its been so long since he has prayed, but the boy is a Morisco and his parents immigrants from Algeria, he translates Arabic, he should say Salam when he meets Ayesha in her hijab wrapped head. 

The author does a much better job in this book staying with the characters and showing the city through their eyes rather than pulling them out of their scenes to convey something.  Only once at the end of a chapter did I feel there was some forced foreshadowing that was not needed, as the book is quick and chapters may end, but the pages still turn until the end is reached.  I had more trouble putting the book down than picking it up, and that is saying something as I read it online and I definitely favor physical books.

I wish there was an afterword or author’s note explaining what was real and what was fiction.  I googled Madinat al-Zahra and found it fascinating, but couldn’t find anything in English about the Collar de Pajaros.  Also a map or two would be great.

FLAGS:

None.  This book is clean and even the fights are not gory or over the top. Yay!

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I would absolutely do this as an elementary book club selection, and can’t wait to get a copy to my children’s school library and their classrooms.  The book is an easy read and the history and culture is seamlessly interwoven in to the story that kids will enjoy the action and find they learned something about a culture along the way.   I think boys and girls will enjoy it, even if it appeals more to the girls.   The cover, the binding, the font is all spot on for the age group and I eagerly await Ayesha’s next adventure.

 

Apr18

The Most Magnificent Mosque by Ann Jungman illustrated by Shelley Fowles

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The Most Magnificent Mosque by Ann Jungman illustrated by Shelley Fowles

Most-Magnificent-Mosque

Three very naughty boys harass visitors to Cordoba’s Great Mosque in Spain.  Rashid, a Muslim, Samuel, a Jew, and Miguel, a Christian, run through the fountains, destroy the flowerbeds and throw oranges at people leaving their prayers.  Most days the boys can out run the gardeners, but one day they pelt the Caliph himself with a rotten orange.  The punishment from the Caliph is three months of hard labor working with the gardeners everyday on the mosque grounds.  On their breaks the boys explore the mosque and marvel at its beauty.  By the end of their sentence, the boys have such a love for the mosque and one another that they are forever bound.  As the boys grow and make their way in the world, they don’t keep in touch much.  However, when Cordoba is defeated in battle by the Christian king Fernando, it will be up to these three boys to convince the new king, that the Mosque shouldn’t be torn down.  And that the it is the pride of all people in Cordoba, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian alike.

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The book is 32 pages and an AR 4.0.  It does a good job of showing the three faith communities coming together to save something they all value.  It also shows a kind, yet purposeful punishment from the Caliph to the three boys.  While younger kids in story time will enjoy the concept of people working together, the book really finds its strength with students learning or familiar with Spain, particularly prior to the Inquisition.  There isn’t a lot of detail regarding the structure of the mosque, or the doctrine of each faith, that knowledge would have to come from outside the book, in order for it to be appreciated. There are some plot holes in the story and the book itself doesn’t make it clear what parts of the story are historically accurate and which are fiction.

magnificent mosque

The illustrations are charming in their own way.  The watercolors do a good job bringing to life the mosque and gardens, and battle, but for me fall a little flat in depicting the three boys.  I don’t know if the text or illustrations are at fault for me not connecting to the story or finding an emotional resonance to what should be a very inspiring story. Perhaps it is a combination of the two.  I feel it is desperately in need of an author’s note detailing the factual origins of the tale,  Something to uplift and give hope to people of different faiths coming together in a peaceful way, that can be put into real world actions.

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Mar4

Never Say A Mean Word Again: A Tale from Medieval Spain by Jacqueline Jules illustrated by Durga Yael Bernhard

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I love when tales from the past provide timeless lessons in relevant ways.  Inspired by a medieval legend about the Jewish poet Samuel Ha-Nagid, a royal advisor in Muslim Grenada, Jules creates a story that works for children of all ages and backgrounds.

The Grand Vizier’s son, Samuel, bumps into the tax collector’s son, Hamza, and the boys don’t rub each other the right way.  Later that day, Samuel spills his drink on Hamza and can’t convince him both were accidents.  Hamza calls Samuel some mean names and storms off.  Samuel and his father think the name calling is uncalled for, but the vizier does not solve his son’s problem and instead assigns him to “make sure Hamza never says a mean word to you again.”  Samuel imagines ways to teach Hamza a lesson or punish him, but some ideas are too complicated and some just silly.  This is proving to be a hard task.  The next day Samuel shows up to Hamza’s house with a lemon.  He thinks forcing Hamza to eat it is a good punishment for a mean mouth, however Hamza thinks the lemon is to help with the stain that ruined his clothes, and tells him his mother already tried that.  Caught off guard by Hamza’s reaction, the two somehow end up playing catch with the lemon and enjoying the afternoon together.  The next day he shows up to Hamza’s house with ink and paper thinking he will make Hamza write him an apology.  Hamza however, thought Samuel showed up to draw, and once again the boys enjoy an afternoon together.  This carries on until the boys are so used to seeing each other and having fun together, they become friends.  Samuel fears that he disobeyed his father and did not handle Hamza only to realize that by befriending his “enemy” he did in fact make sure Hamza never said a mean word again.

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The book is 32 pages with an Author’s Note about the real life events that the story draws upon.  The book is not AR, but the large bold typeface and the warm simple pictures make this book work great for story time with young children.  It compliments themes about bullying and making friends as well as being silly.  It works well for third graders and older ones too, as they might understand people of different faiths struggling to get along or people of different socio-economic classes, or even just imaging how they would solve a problem without their parents doing it for them.  I was pleasantly surprised by the book and how it handled the Muslim/Jew staging of the characters.  Especially right now in today’s world, this story has a poignant lesson for us all. If we all spent time together having fun, we too could end up being friends, or at least getting along.  I think the story and its lessons have merit and relevance, and thus a place on the bookshelf.