Review: Unsettled
This review was originally published in School Library Journal, April 1, 2021. Unsettled will be published on May 11, 2021.
Review: Unsettled
by Reem Faruqi. HarperCollins. May 2021. 352p. Tr $16.99 ISBN 9780063044708
Gr 4–6—At home in Karachi, Pakistan, Nurah Haqq enjoys a life surrounded by family, friends, and visits to the ocean. A perfect day at the beach becomes the worst day when Nurah’s father announces that he has accepted a job offer in America. Her immediate family—father, mother, and older brother Owais—will soon relocate to the United States. Uprooted, the family settles in Peachtree City, GA, where Nurah discovers a nation of unfamiliar sights, sounds, smells, and strange pronunciations. The challenges they face in America, including Nurah’s complicity in an attack on her brother, will force the girl—whose name means “light”—to face her own weaknesses, reconnect with the light within, and blossom into someone she is proud of.
Told in verse in short chapters and divided into nine sections which are illustrated with floral mehndi patterns, this is an insightful and moving narrative that tackles a wide range of salient topics, including ableism, bullying, assimilation, colorism, racial profiling, friendship, miscarriage, and domestic abuse. The brevity of some verses allows the engrossing narrative to move quickly, but also leaves some topics feeling underexamined. Faruqi beautifully weaves Urdu and Arabic terms, and Islamic concepts throughout the text, crafting an unapologetic and authentic look at what it means to grow up Pakistani and Muslim in America. Back matter, which includes a glossary of Arabic and Urdu terms, author’s note, and recipe for aloo kabab, offers additional context and opportunities for understanding and engagement.
VERDICT A thought-provoking and engaging coming-of-age story recommended for libraries of all types; will particularly appeal to fans of Jasmine Warga’s Other Words for Home, Kelly Yang’s Front Desk, and Hena Khan’s Amina’s Voice.
—Mahasin A. Aleem, Oakland P.L., CA
Review: The Awakening of Malcolm X
Shabazz, Ilyasah & Jackson, Tiffany D. The Awakening of Malcolm X, Jan. 2021. 336p. Macmillan/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99. (9780374313296). Grades 6-12.
Written by one of his daughters, Ilyasah Shabazz, and the author Tiffany D. Jackson, The Awakening of Malcolm X is a young adult fiction novel about the life of Malcolm X during his time in prison. In the 1940’s, a young Malcolm is sentenced to eight to ten years in prison after stealing a watch. In prison, he experiences firsthand the violence of the prison industrial complex. Readers follow Malcolm in the first-person in his early years as an incarcerated Black man, and on his journey of self-education and self-rediscovery despite these obstacles.
This time in Malcolm’s life is made accessible to the young adult reader, with themes that are relevant to their lives including the question of identity, belonging, worth, and purpose. Shabazz depicts Malcolm’s distrust and anger and his jaded attitude toward all religions and his future at the start of the novel. Readers will relate to the conflicting societal messages Malcolm receives, and reflect on issues of race and inequity that continue to present day. As the story moves forward, Malcolm is transferred to another prison, where he is empowered and motivated to find his truth through books and self-reflection. The violent experiences in prison are not sugar coated: like the way prisoners are kept in solitary confinement for extended periods of time, prison guards using slurs and physical violence, and the description of the inhumane cells the prisoners stay in.
As the story is set in prison, most of the characters around Malcolm are prisoners as well, and are predominantly Black. His family is featured prominently in the story, with his siblings and parents interweaving in the narrative with flashbacks from his life as a child. It is the Black characters that have a positive effect on his life. There is a range of personalities that are well-developed and multi-dimensional, even when the characters that appear only for a short time. White characters are mostly authority figures, with some white prisoners who appear later in the book. Though many white characters are primarily depicted negatively, their representation is not overdone; instead, the descriptions of these characters is an accurate portrayal of how Malcolm may have experienced his interactions with whites throughout his time in prison. As the work seeks to accurately capture racism and Malcolm’s experiences, the n-word is used openly throughout the book.
A significant part of Malcolm’s identity, and large part of his change seen in the novel, comes from his introduction to the religion of Islam and the Nation of Islam (NOI) in particular. Shabazz does not go into much detail about the tenets of the NOI; she just includes basic religious principles and beliefs that provide necessary context for the reader. The inclusion of religion, and Malcolm’s understanding of it, never becomes preachy. It serves only to bring to life Malcolm’s evolution, and the NOI’s role in that time of his life. The foreshadowing of possible conflict of the NOI in Malcolm’s life is also there, but no outright criticism.
Overall, The Awakening of Malcolm X is an essential read for those looking to learn about Malcolm’s story and the important voices of the Civil Rights Movement in an accessible way. Readers are provided with an inspirational yet truthful presentation of how circumstances, support, and self-motivation may push us out of feelings of darkness or being lost.
Review: Halal Hot Dogs
This review was originally published in School Library Journal, April 1, 2021. Additional images from publisher’s website. Halal Hot Dogs will be published on May 4, 2021.
Review: Halal Hot Dogs
by Susannah Aziz (text), illus. by Parwinder Singh. Little Bee Books. May 2021. 40p. Tr $17.99 ISBN 9781499811575
Gr 2–4—It’s Friday, Musa’s favorite day of the week—the day his family, including his mother, father, siblings, and grandfather walk together to attend Jummah prayer service at a local masjid and have a special meal together afterward. After weeks of waiting and enduring some food mishaps, it’s finally Musa’s turn to choose the family’s post-Jummah treat. He knows exactly what he wants: halal hot dogs from a stand near the masjid, topped with Salam sauce, of course.
This lively tale chronicles Musa’s Friday adventure through the streets of his vibrant urban neighborhood. Bright cartoon illustrations contribute to the feel of the story. While the family’s ethnic identity isn’t explicitly identified, references to dishes such as molokhia and kefte, and mentions of cultural traditions (debke, a folk dance popular in Palestinian and Lebanese communities), as well as depictions of family members wearing traditional dress, offer an unabashed representation of a loving and positive Middle Eastern family. Community members at the masjid and in the neighborhood are depicted in various skin tones, shapes, and sizes, with names representing diverse ethnic backgrounds. A glossary of Arabic words and terms and an explanation of halal laws provide additional context.
VERDICT An enjoyable tour of food, faith, and family.
—Mahasin A. Aleem, Oakland P.L., CA
Review and Book Discussion: Fatima’s Great Outdoors
Fatima’s Great Outdoors, a picture book about an Indian American Muslim family’s experience camping, was published on March 30, 2021. It’s proven to be a wonderful book for sparking discussions about a host of topics, including the range of representation in immigrant experiences in children’s literature, especially as it relates to the South Asian community.
We have also had conversations amongst ourselves about the content and deliberate framing of the book, especially in light of the NPR interview with author Ambreen Tariq, and the points she brings up about outdoor spaces and of national parks and Native land (read this perspective about national parks and native land from the Atlantic) and the historical violence against Black people in the woods.
What follows are three perspectives on the book from Hijabi Librarian contributors:
- Ariana’s starred review for School Library Journal,
- Noureen’s review (below) that includes concerns that she has as a Pakistani American immigrant,
- as well as observations from Amna, who is a Pakistani Canadian immigrant.
Noureen’s review:
Tariq, Ambreen. Fatima’s Great Outdoors. Illus. by Steve Lewis. 2021. 40p. Penguin Young Readers Group $17.99 (ISBN 9781984816955) Grades K-3
Fatima Khazi, an eight-year-old immigrant from India, is excited for her first ever camping trip with her family. After a rough week at school, this is the perfect getaway. Packed into the car, snacking on savory Indian treats, and singing along to old Bollywood songs by Rafi, a popular singer in India, the family makes their way to the campsite. The resourcefulness and ingenuity of her mother solves problems with a frightening spider, a stubborn tent, and a campfire that won’t catch. Fatima and her hardworking parents want to enjoy this “great American pastime” and eat Halal bacon along with their traditional Indian meal of shami kababs, roti, and anda.
There is a certain unease in the story and sadness to Fatima’s character that is hard to ignore through the book. Fatima feels a sense of displacement and misses her life in India. There are no fellow immigrants or people of color that she can relate to at school or in the park. Fatima is clearly struggling with a lot of anxiety and worry. She misses her parents that work long hours and feels overshadowed by her sister, who seems to be adjusting more easily socially and academically at school, while Fatima is bullied at school for her thick accent, her appearance, and lunch.
The introduction of South Asian immigrant lifestyle is a bit cliche, and includes living in a one room house, working two jobs, not using paper products, eating home-cooked meals, and being resourceful. The Khazis’ life in India is portrayed through stereotypical struggles of Fatima’s mother in a small village with a woodburning stove, dealing with lizards and scorpions, while her father’s ineptness outdoors is due to his upbringing in the city.
The family’s past life is creatively mirrored on a two page spread and gives the readers a chance to take a closer look at the day-to-day Indian family’s lifestyle in the clothing, household items and setting.
South Asian readers will relate to cultural touches and vocabulary in the book. However, there is no glossary to help other readers understand these unfamiliar words like nani (maternal grandmother), Apa (older sister), shabash (word of encouragement), roti (bread), shami kebabs (beef patties), samosas (fried pastry), aanda (fried egg), ghee (clarified butter), and Rafi, a famous singer from India.
Lewis’s choice of color palette and use of light at different times of the day is exquisite and intricate. Resulting in the backdrop of the great outdoors that feels like a dreamy and enchanted woodland.
It is an endearing book for young readers, though its tropes and cliches were a bit excessive for a South Asian immigrant like myself. Even so, I feel that the book is a nice introduction to the immigrant experience. Venturing into camping is clearly a step into the unknown, just like immigrating to a brand new country is a huge step in itself. The reader roots for this little girl and her family’s resourcefulness.
Focusing on Fatima’s family and her mostly white classmates at the beginning of the book, there is not much racial diversity depicted with the exception of a multiracial group holding a “Brown People Camping” banner (the author founded the movement) at the end of the book.
The story makes many people of color feel welcome in the outdoors. The close-knitted family structure and the quality of art combines for a riveting read. People of all ages will enjoy this story as they remember memories of the trips they have taken with their families.
Thank you to Kokila for providing digital access to this book. Fatima’s Great Outdoors was published March 30,2021.
Amna’s thoughts:
I enjoyed reading this story. I could relate to Fatima a lot, even though in my family, I am the aapa (or big sister). I appreciated the references to Bollywood songs, foods like shami kabab, anda (egg) and roti. I think that non-Urdu speakers may not understand all cultural and food references, especially since anda is not depicted, and a glossary is not included. This was not a problem for me as a reader, but I wanted to mention it. Another important detail enjoyed seeing was that the author was intentional in depicting the family getting meat from the halal butcher – I’ve never seen that mentioned in a picture book before!
Fatima’s mother was shown as a very practical and fearless woman and it was explained why her dad was so out of his element in the outdoors. I appreciated that her dad was not afraid to use the stove to make breakfast.
Overall, the family’s excitement in being together and trying something new, coupled with the lovely illustrations, is well conveyed and heartfelt. The illustrations really give the reader the opportunity to get to know the family more deeply, especially in the scenes and use of color palette that contrasts the family’s life in India with their life in the United States.
I appreciated the framing of Fatima and her sister’s school life, adjusting to new situations as new immigrants without first mentioning they were immigrants, as most of the incidents Fatima went through could easily happen to other children. Fatima’s experiences were very relatable, however, I appreciated the juxtaposition of her sister’s easy academic adaptation, challenging the idea that people have to have the same immigrant experiences, and that this experience can vary even amongst family members.
Here in Canada, we have a program called Learn to Camp which is offered by Parks Canada. Learn to Camp presents at libraries and other organizations to instruct potential campers on how to plan, organize, and do everything related to camping. The last illustration shows campers holding a Brown People Camping banner and reminds me of the last session I hosted at my library in 2019, where the speaker emphasized the idea of camping for everyone, and being inclusive of campers of many different ethnic backgrounds.
Readers Weigh-in
What did you think about this story and the intentionality behind it? Did you connect with any of the characters’ experiences?
Review: Hannah and the Ramadan Gift
This review was originally published in School Library Journal, March 1, 2021. Additional images have been added to this post.
Hannah and the Ramadan Gift
by Qasim Rashid (text), illus. by Aaliya Jaleel.
Penguin Random House/Viking Books for Young Readers. Apr. 2021. 40p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780593114667
Gr 1-5- At eight years old, Hannah’s family says she is too young to fast from dawn to sunset through the month of Ramadan, but Dada Jaan has an idea of how Hannah can help. He says that Ramadan is a reminder to Muslims to help those in need and helping neighbors is worth the world. In her independent actions in school and at home, the girl finds that helping is more difficult than it seems. At the end of Ramadan, celebrating with her religious and ethnically diverse community, Hannah wonders what, if any, impact her actions have made and whether it is enough. Human rights activist, attorney, and former candidate for Virginia State Senate Rashid’s narrative shows the positive and local action children can take and the wisdom and kindness gained through learning from elders. Jaleel’s palette of saturated pinks, purples, yellows, and aqua conveys the passage of time through the month while tying in common Islamic geometric patterns and decor. Language and visual markers indicate Hannah and her family are South Asian and an author’s note describes Eid with family and community in Pakistan and in the United States. Though this narrative is accessible to all Muslims and non-Muslim readers, it particularly reflects Rashid’s Ahmadiyya Muslim values in service to humanity, peace, and love of mankind.
VERDICT A Ramadan narrative that inspires action and reflection for all readers. Purchase for all collections.
-Ariana Sani Hussain, The Blake Sch., Wayzata, MN
Review: In My Mosque
In My Mosque
Yuksel, M. O. In My Mosque. Illus. by Hatem Aly. 2021. 40p. Harpercollins/Harper, $17.99 (9780062978707). Pre-S-Gr 3.
What is a mosque? What does it looks like inside and what do people do there? This beautiful book transports readers on a magical journey inside famous mosques around the world, various Islamic practices, diverse communities, and cultural elements they encompass. Evoking feelings of immense joy and peace, this book is an open and warm invitation to readers and the world to come in and explore this important space and the religion that is practiced by 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide.
Gorgeous endpapers feature birds, patterned in colorful geometric-shapes set against a black background. Each spread pairs elements of Islamic practice and worship in famous mosques. Colors are vibrant and celebratory of everyday scenes captured from the joyful perspective of Muslim children. Paired with simple lyrical text that describes the people, practices, activities, and surro
undings the way a child would notice them. For instance, before entering the mosque worshippers first remove their shoes, which are described is being lined up “like colorful beads” while the opposite page describes the sensation of wiggling and sinking his toes into “the silky-soft carpet.”, Children share other observations and sensations, and readers are immersed into their feelings of gentle comfort in listening to the recitations and the clicking sound of tasbih (prayer beads), the cooing of pigeons outside the mosque, the warm hugs of loving family members, and the smells of delicious food.
Children are depicted in poses of relaxation, glancing out the window, distracted in prayers, shushing each other when they are not supposed to be talking, and running and playing in the spaces. Adults are shown as gentle and patient, and the mosque is presented as a place where children learn religious culture and heritage and grow up feeling safe and loved by their community.
Children are also active participants in their community, showing small acts of kindness, such as helping elderly or disabled worshippers, or passing out prayer beads, mats, and collecting and distributing food. One child is also seen in active prayer, finishing salat by saying “peace and blessings be upon you/As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh” (in Arabic). The text in this particular spread reads, “In my mosque we end our prayers by greeting the angels on our shoulders who watch over us day and night. My angels cheer me on as I whisper heartfelt wishes and hope they all come true.” Though the wording of duas solely as wishes does not quite encompass the entirety of the meaning, framed in the context of a child’s understanding, it is sufficient.
Readers see that the mosque is not only a place of worship, but a place of community and one where the community also builds itself and contributes to larger community needs. Commonality with other faiths is also emphasized. It is a gathering place for people to find each other, refresh their faith and listen to uplifting sermons, “in my mosque, we pray for peace, love, and joy…just like my friends who worship in churches, temples, and synagogues.”
The illustrations are diverse with worshippers reflecting different countries and set against the backdrop of architecture and geometric mosaic patterns specific to each region. Arabic style calligraphy is incorporated throughout the book. The book mentioned that Aly’s breathtaking illustrations were created by using digital rendering and scans of ink washes, textures, and patterns
While the book’s backmatter includes a note about mosques, a glossary, and author’s note, and a selection of mosques around the world, it does not specify which mosque is which in the book itself, though readers with background knowledge will be able to identify many of them. However, this information is available on the author’s website and includes an annotation with other information about each specific mosque (including the Diyanet Center in Lanham, Maryland), and also includes discussion questions and activitie
s for families and educators.
An awe-inspiring book that shows parallels between different religious places of worship, and highlights both universality of faiths and uniqueness of Islam and its places of worship.
Review: Home Is Not a Country
Elhillo, Safia. Home Is Not a Country. 2021. 224p. Make Me a World, $17.99. (9780593177051). Grades 8-12
Written in verse, Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo is a novel in four parts of a young woman, contextually indicated to be Sudanese American, in the diaspora struggling to place her identity within the world around her.
Nima sees herself as a shadow of the girl “she could have been,” if only she was given the name Yasmeen instead of Nima. Elhillo navigates the literal and metaphysical power of a name and the effect it has on a person’s identity, constructing the story from this inadequacy felt by Nima. Nima’s family, community, language and physical traits also become a source of conflict for her, building upon this idea of identity, questioning belonging, and being one’s own biggest enemy. There is culture, religion, history, and trauma behind Nima’s name, and readers follow her journey in learning about its origin.
In the first two parts of the novel especially, these identity markers are a source of confusion and sometimes disdain for the main character. As this conflict hits the peak of its extremity, Elhillo introduces mystical and fantastical elements to the story, one in which Nima further explores her history and comes to terms with what her name is, where she comes from, and the sacrifices of those around her that she thought she knew. The last two parts of this novel are the real standouts: the whimsy, the unexpected turn of events, the exceptional and lyrical use of language as we follow along the story. Elhillo creates a metaphor for searching for your history and learning about your past in a most unexpected way that really elevates this novel. As this story is written in verse, the pace moves quickly as the reader follows Nima into her hole of self-doubt and dwindling self-worth. At first the poems feel like a collection, connected but not necessarily a linear telling. But as the novel moves along in Nima’s journey the poems start to feel more like a continuous story.
Nima and her family’s Muslim and Sudanese background is hinted at throughout the novel, and there is Arabic script used in the text. Dialogue and commentary from other characters are in italics and ampersands are used in place of the word “and.” Set against the backdrop of 9/11, Nima and her small community’s religion, brown skin, and assumed foreignness, make them a target of Islamophobia. Nima notices how this heightened awareness of growing hostilities push her mother to change the manner in which she observes hijab as a way of avoiding violence and discrimination. Her childhood friend, also a Sudanese American Muslim, is brutally attacked. In these moments, so natural to the story, readers are given a contextual and historic representation of what it was like to be visibly Muslim at that time. These two points of friction–Nima’s internal struggle and the outside discrimination, flow in tandem with each other, and at times, overlap as points of conflict. They also play into the possibilities and feelings of loss in the could-have-beens often felt by those removed from their heritage countries, and for Nima’s place and time.
The what-could-have-beens always tend to seem like the greener pasture, but only because we never have a chance to actually live those alternate realities. The ability for Nima to explore her sense of self and intergenerational trauma through this existential journey, stories less often written or recognized for characters, and particularly women of color, makes this novel an important read. Readers who relate to Nima’s cultural and/or religious background tend to live with certain expectations that come with belonging to the diaspora. This also may include feeling disconnected to the characteristics and cultural practices, especially when faced with heightened discrimination or isolation. Nima’s journey, explored through this mystical magical realism, encourages readers to go on one of their own and explore that history which seems far away or out-of-reach. This story also examines the mystique of a parent that their children may find hard to bridge, that, when and if it is explored, humanizes them and paints a clearer picture of why they are the way they are. Elhillo creates a story that considers this unknown territory and gives young adult readers a moment to reflect on how their own generational histories may hold more revelation than they are aware of.
Home is Not a Country beautifully explores a young person’s struggle in finding her identity as well as the journey to her self-acceptance–of herself, her history and her name.
Review: The Candle and the Flame
This review was originally published in School Library Journal, May 1, 2019.
The Candle and the Flame
Gr 7 Up—Eighteen-year-old Fatima is a human who carries the fire of the djinn within her. She’s a devout Muslim raised by her adopted Hindu family in Noor, a city along the Silk Road, when her parents and all but two other of the city’s inhabitants are slain in a massacre by the Shayateen, a class of djinn who thrive on chaos and destruction. Noor emerges from the ashes to become a vibrant multicultural city where Muslims, Hindus, and others live together in a brokered peace maintained by human rule and the protection of the Ifrit Djinn, who value order and reason. There are signs, however, that this peace is under serious threat. When Fatima’s presence at the violent death of Firdaus, a powerful Ifrit, transforms her into Fatima Ghazala, she is changed in ways that upend her identity, threaten her relationships, and thrust her into the center of the city’s ruling class. Under the protection of the Ifrit’s leader, Zulfikar, Fatima finds herself grappling with feelings she’s never had before. In this sophisticated debut novel, Azad combines Islamic concepts and Middle Eastern mythology with a variety of other traditions to create a magical treatise on identity, community, friendship, and love. Readers will identify with female characters who struggle against limiting societal expectations. The themes of trauma and grief are treated with care. Azad’s vivid depiction of the details of Noor’s sights and sounds make the city come alive. Back matter includes a glossary of terms. Readers may also enjoy the forthcoming title We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal.
Review: The Power of Style
Allaire, Christian. The Power of Style, Apr. 2021. 96p. Annick Press, $19.95. (9781773214900). Grades 7-12
Self-described fashion-obsessed author of The Power of Style, Christian Allaire, presents fashion through a lens of inclusion. Allaire, Indigenous Ojibwe from the Nipissing First Nation Reserve in Ontario, never saw anyone that looked like him in the mainstream fashion spaces. Now as fashion and style writer for Vogue, he hopes to change that. His book is a celebration of style and identity, cultural activism and empowerment, making space for those that are historically underrepresented and erased.
Colorful and bold, young adult readers can explore and learn about many different expressions of identity and fashion, and image presentations associated with them. It is divided into six sections: Sewing Traditions (focusing on ribbon work by Indigenous designers from several nations), Hair (especially in Black and Indigenous communities as an act of love and resistance), Cosplay and Body Positivity, Headcoverings, High Heels (for men, and in queer fashion), and Makeup. Throughout each chapter Allaire provides space for contributors to write their own thoughts while giving readers more context to the subject matter via definitions, infographics, and photographs. The sections are simple, but do well as a first snapshot or introduction to these topics.
In the fourth section titled Head Strong, Allaire discusses Muslim women and the hijab (or headscarf). The definitions for hijab and modest fashion are presented on the same page early on in the section. This gives readers an idea of how these concepts intersect while also showing that modest fashion is a concept that falls outside of religion, which is a pretty important distinction to have in a book like this. Head Strong features two main Muslim women who identify as hijabi. The first is Haute Hijab designer and owner, Melanie Elturk. The second is Leah Vernon, fashion influencer, model, and author of Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim. Allaire includes a discussion about hijab on the runway as well as in professional sports. This section includes a diversity of images and contributors of Muslim women; there is no one image or fashion that is highlighted as to what “hijabi” looks like. Also, when discussing performance hijabs, instead of naming large corporations, Allaire highlights a small Muslim owned brand. This chapter is a great introduction to hijabi fashion and frames a moment for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to learn about its different aspects and expressions.Fashion is quite personal and connects many aspects of a person’s identity. Allaire creates the opportunity for minoritized groups to see the fashion that embraces identity and cultural expressions within a book, while opening the metaphorical door for readers to learn about other fashions and identities. The Power of Style is a powerful and highly anticipated release that should be in every young adult nonfiction collection.