Tag: biography

I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp by Anthony Del Col; illustrated by Fahmida Azim

I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp
by Anthony Del Col;
illustrated by Fahmida Azim
Lev Gleason/Diamond Books

WINNER OF THE 2022 PULITZER PRIZE FOR ILLUSTRATED REPORTING!

A 2024 JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION!

This graphic novella, from New Friday an imprint of Lev Gleason®, recounts the true story of Zumrat Dawut, as originally published in the independent online news organization, Business Insider, through interviews conducted by Anthony Del Col and testimony given to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Zumrat Dawut is a mother of three in the Xinjiang autonomous region in China, who was arrested and sent to a detention facility for simply being a Muslim. There, she endured brutal living conditions, torture, interrogations, anti-Muslim propaganda, and sterilization. But that was just the beginning of Zumrat’s troubles, who with her husband would soon hatch a plan to escape to America.

This story, featuring art by Golden Kit Award-Winner Fahmida Azim (Samira Surfs), and adapted by best-selling writer Anthony Del Col (Kill Shakespeare), was originally published online by Business Insider. This print edition, published by New Friday an imprint of Lev Gleason®, includes a foreword by Nicholas Carlson, Global Editor-in-Chief of Business Insider, an interview with the creative team, a follow-up interview with Zumrat Duwat, a teaching/discussion guide, and process art.

I Escaped a Chinese Internment Camp is a harrowing, evocative, and important story that will enthrall and enlighten readers worldwide.

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

Khadijah Story of Islam’s First Lady by Fatima Barkatulla

Khadijah Story of Islam’s First Lady
by Fatima Barkatulla
Learning Roots Ltd

Your Mother is a Legend

Her name is Khadijah (RA).

She was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad (S), the first to believe in his message and the first mother of the greatest nation history has ever seen.

As you work towards reaching Jannah, and meeting your mother Khadijah, it will certainly help if you did a little preparation beforehand and got to know about her story. This book has been specially crafted to help you do that.

You see, most of the stories you’ve heard about Khadijah have probably been raw translations from classical sources. While they sound captivating in the original Arabic language, there’s quite a lot that’s lost when they are translated into English.

So rather than sticking with a dry narrative, we decided to get to the core of the stories and tell them in a fluid style that the modern reader is accustomed to today. Here’s how we did it:

You’ll find that the rich descriptions immerse you within the scenes.

We weaved a flowing narrative that renders a seamless reading experience.

We’ve stuck to historical sources, so the story loses nothing of its original iman elevating inspiration.

We’ve crafted the book with a large text layout making it accessible for young readers as well as adults.

So get to know your mother, give this book a read, inspire yourself for that meeting in Jannah in-sha-Allah! This book has been our fastest selling book upon launch and is an ideal read for teens and adults as well as late Primary aged children.

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

Milloo’s Mind: The Story of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer for Women’s Education by Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi

Milloo’s Mind: The Story of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer for Women’s Education
by Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi
HarperCollins

Perfect for fans of Malala’s Magic Pencil and She Persisted! From the author of Lailah’s Lunchbox comes a powerful picture book biography about Maryam Faruqi, the founder of the Happy Home Schools, which provided education to thousands of girls across India and Pakistan at a time when girls weren’t encouraged to go to school. Maryam was a trailblazer for women’s education and the author is her granddaughter, creating a personal, inspiring tale.

Enough is enough!

Milloo lives in a time when school is considered unnecessary for girls. But to Milloo, education is not a choice; it is essential. When Milloo reads, her thoughts dance and her mind breathes. Milloo courageously dreams of becoming a teacher, but in fifth grade her parents tell her she has had enough school. Milloo is heartbroken but finds a way to achieve her educational goals, graduating high school and college with honors. When she’s married, Milloo’s husband tells her to stay home, but she does not let that stop her. She decides to open a school in her house and later expands her schools to India and Pakistan, fulfilling her dreams and those of so many young girls.

Reem Faruqi, author of Lailah’s Lunchbox and Unsettled, has written a stirring picture book biography about Maryam Faruqi, the founder of the Happy Home Schools, and Reem’s grandmother. Maryam was a true trailblazer for women’s education.

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

Who Was the Greatest?: Muhammad Ali (Who HQ Graphic Novel) by Gabe Soria

Who Was the Greatest?: Muhammad Ali (Who HQ Graphic Novel)
by Gabe Soria
Illustrated by Chris Brunner and Rico Renzi
Penguin Random House / Penguin Workshop

“The Who HQ Graphic Novels series does an excellent job of quickly engaging readers by capturing the drama and immediacy of pivotal historic events.” — Booklist

Discover the story behind Muhammad Ali and the boxing match that captivated the world, the Thrilla In Manila, in this powerful graphic novel — written by Murder Ballads‘ Gabe Soria and illustrated by award-winning artists Chris Brunner and Rico Renzi.

Presenting Who HQ Graphic Novels: an exciting new addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series!

Explore the journey Muhmmad Ali took to win his final match against fellow heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier, known as the Thrilla in Manila. A story of athleticism, heart, and determination, this graphic novel invites readers to immerse themselves into the explosive power of the boxing champion and civil rights activist– brought to life by gripping narrative and vivid full-color illustrations that jump off the page.

Series Overview: Presenting Who HQ Graphic Novels: a new program from the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series that highlights one pivotal moment from a person life’s or an event in graphic novel form!

She Persisted in Science : Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference by Chelsea Clinton

She Persisted in Science : Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference
by Chelsea Clinton
Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger
Philomel Books/ Penguin Random House

A STEM-focused addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling She Persisted series!

Throughout history, women have been told that science isn’t for them. They’ve been told that they’re not smart enough, or that their brains just aren’t able to handle it. In this book, Chelsea Clinton introduces readers to women scientists who didn’t listen to those who told them “no” and who used their smarts, their skills and their persistence to discover, invent, create and explain.

She Persisted in Science is for everyone who’s ever had questions about the world around them or the way things work, and who won’t give up until they find their answers.

With engaging artwork by Alexandra Boiger accompanying the inspiring text, this is a book that shows readers that everyone has the potential to make a difference, and that women in science change our world.

This book features: Florence Nightingale, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia, Grace Hopper, Rosalind Franklin, Gladys West, Jane Goodall, Flossie Wong-Staal, Temple Grandin, Zaha Hadid, Ellen Ochoa, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha & Mari Copeny, and Autumn Peltier, Greta Thunberg & Wanjiru Wathuti

Cover Image and Summary via Edelweiss

Tacko Fall: To New Heights by Tacko Fall and Justin Haynes

Tacko Fall: To New Heights
by Tacko Fall and Justin Haynes, illustrated by Reggie Brown
Candlewick

Tacko Fall was always tall, even as a child, but he wasn’t always a slam-dunk star. On his first official day of training as a boy in Senegal, running up and down the basketball court was exhausting. The first time he tried weight-lifting, he could barely lift the bar, even with no weights on it! The game had many rules that he didn’t understand, but Tacko set aside frustration and found the courage to keep working. The more he practiced, the more his skills grew, and the more reachable his goals became. Touching on immigration, determination, hard work, and the long road to success, this picture-book biography of one rising basketball star will delight his many fans and introduce him to new ones. Coauthored with his sports agent and paired with engaging illustrations, Tacko Fall’s relatable story will motivate readers to overcome obstacles and aim high—and higher still.

Summary and cover image via Edelweiss

 

Don’t Look Back : A Memoir of War, Survival, and My Journey from Sudan to America

Don’t Look Back : A Memoir of War, Survival, and My Journey from Sudan to America
by Achut Deng and Keely Hutton
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan

A gripping and timely memoir from a former refugee, perfect for fans of National Book Award finalist When Stars Are Scattered and #1 New York Times Bestseller A Long Walk to Water

I want life.

For ten years, Achut Deng surrived at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya after her family was ripped apart by the Second Sudanese Civil War. But Achut wanted to do more than merely survive. She wanted to live.

The twenty-two-year civil war essentially orphaned over 20,000 children and drove them from their villages in southern Sudan. Some of these children walked over a thousand miles, through dangerous war zones and across unforgiving deserts. They are often referred to as The Lost Boys. But there were girls, too. Achut Deng was one of them. This is her story.

It’s a story of unimaginable hardship and selfless bravery, of tormenting physical pain and amazing emotional resilience, of unbreakable bonds of friendship and family. It’s a story about what happens when your dream comes true, only to give way to a new nightmare.

It’s about how hard you will fight to save your own life.

Summary and cover image via Edelweiss

She Persisted: Malala Yousafzai by Aisha Saeed and Chelsea Clinton

She Persisted: Malala Yousafzai
by Aisha Saeed and Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint
Philomel / PRH

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger comes a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds—including Malala Yousafzai!

Growing up as a girl in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai had to fight every step of the way to get an education. After she was attacked for doing so, Malala took her fight to the world stage, pushing for the right to an education for every girl, everywhere. Her activism earned her a Nobel Peace Prize and inspired girls and women everywhere to stand up for their own rights too.

In this chapter book biography by bestselling and award-winning author Aisha Saeed, readers learn about the amazing life of Malala Yousafzai—and how she persisted.

Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Malala Yousafzai’s footsteps and make a difference!

And don’t miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted!

Summary and cover image via Edelweiss

Courage: My Story of Persecution by Freshta Tori Jan

Courage: My Story of Persecution
by Freshta Tori Jan
Dave Eggers (Editor), Zainab Nasrati (Editor), Zoe Ruiz (Editor), Amanda Uhle (Editor)
Norton Young Readers / W.W. Norton

Continuing this propulsive middle grade nonfiction series, a young woman once persecuted by the Taliban shares her journey to becoming a community activist.

As a girl and as part of an ethnic minority in Afghanistan, Freshta Tori Jan was persecuted relentlessly. Her family faced kidnappings and daily murder attempts on the bus, on the way to school, in the workplace, and beyond. Freshta’s school was shut down by the Taliban, and many of her friends were murdered and shot. Her journey through poverty, terrorism, and other forms of injustice has enabled her to be a voice for those unable to share their stories and those unable to receive the opportunities she has sought. She believes in empowering youth in order to bring about change and be the leaders of today and tomorrow.

With a voice that is both accessible and engaging, Freshta brings forward a captivating first-person account of strength, resilience, and determination, and delivers compelling narrative nonfiction by young people, for young people.

Cover image and summary via W.W. Norton

One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University by M. O. Yuksel

One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University
by M. O. Yuksel, illustrated by Mariam Quraishi
HarperCollins

The next book by the author of In My Mosque, M. O. Yuksel, this true-life picture book biography of Fatima al-Fihri, an extraordinary Muslim woman who founded the world’s oldest university, shows the importance of never giving up on your dreams and how we all have the power to change the world for the better.

Fatima al-Fihri loved to learn. She wanted to know everything, like how birds flew, why the sky was blue, and how flowers grew. But more than anything, she wanted a school for all, where anyone could study and become whatever they wanted, like teachers, scientists, and doctors. As she grew older, Fatima carried her one wish inside her, through good times and bad. Fueled by her faith and her determination, she worked hard to make her one wish come true. For over a thousand years, Fatima’s one wish—her school—served students and scholars from around the globe, and it continues to do so today!

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss