Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi
Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi is a relatable story of trying to balance it all, but with the addition of being a Muslim which many readers (strong 8 to 12-13) might not be familiar with. Overall, things are sweet, fun and informative. However, my score of a 3 is more of a 3.5 as there were a few things I would have liked to know more about and a few arcs in the story were not my favorite. The cover gives you how the illustrations […]
The House Without Lights: A glowing celebration of joy, warmth, and home by Reem Faruqi
I don’t think I saw The House Without Lights: A glowing celebration of joy, warmth, and home by Reem Faruqi and illustrated by Nadia Alam on my online reading site. If I had, I didn’t remember seeing and/or saving it. But one day I had an email that said, “Here is a book we are promoting and we hope you consider reading it.” I said, “Why not?” and I found an online copy. That is not where this book journey ends though. I will be […]
I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp by Zumrat Dawut and Anthony Del Col
While I wanted more from I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp, this graphic novel is an interesting introduction to the people of Xinjiang (an autonomous region in China) and how they have been treated by the Chinese government. Many women, among them Zumrat Dawut, have been and are being persecuted because of their faith. Dawut is a Mulsim woman, a wife and a mother of three. She tells her story to Anthony Del Col and the United Nations Human Rights Council through interviews. There is […]
Lion of the Sky by Ritu Hemnani
I was immediately intrigued by the cover of Lion of the Sky with the two boys flying kites, and when I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read it. For some reason I’ve been coming across more books, and middle grade ones at that, talking about the Indian Partition and the experiences of those who survived. This was my first story which focused on a Hindu family migrating from Pakistan, and the similarities and differences of the experiences are striking, and utterly heartbreaking. […]
Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy
I have not read a lot of Huda Fahmy’s works, but what I do know is that they are an important voice in today’s literary world. Not because she is a woman or because she is Muslim, but because she is someone who is writing about experiences we all face. I picked up Huda F Are You? (by the way, her mother hates the title) because I found an autographed copy. And while I thought Fahmy would focus more on her religious relationship, the story […]
I'll See You in Ijebu by Bunmi Emenanjo
I usually am a fan of the books from Barefoot Books. And with I’ll See You in Ijebu I think I found my new favorite book this year (or for sure in the Top 15). This is a delightful story of one young girl and the rich culture and family she comes from. We see how she celebrates both her mother’s family and their Muslim faith, and her immediate family and their Christian (specifically Catholic) faith as well. The two worlds are not separate, but can be […]
