Starred review from April 13, 2020
This effervescent anthology, edited by Ali (Love from A to Z) and Saeed (Amal Unbound), binds together 15 short stories in a variety of formats that explore the festival of Eid. While the annual Muslim celebration is a major component, the authors also interweave deeper explorations of the Islamic faith into their tales, which combine insights on Muslim
culture with a message on the importance of such traits as generosity and resilience. Asmaa Hussein’s “Kareem Means ‘Generous,’ ” for example, features Kareem’s discovery of the pleasure he gains from sharing his good fortune. Candice Montgomery contributes a moving narrative about 11-year-old Leila’s first experience wearing a hijab, conveying both the girl’s excitement and her mother’s anxiety over potential backlash. Leila’s closeness with family and positive interactions with classmates further exemplify fulfilling interpersonal relationships that appear throughout the book. No two stories are alike: the inclusion of a narrative in poem (“Taste,” by Hanna Alkaf) and a short graphic novel (G. Willow Wilson’s “Seraj Captures the Moon”) ensures various reading formats. Moreover, a range of diverse, multidimensional characters—among them Shia Muslim, converted Muslim, Algerian, Caribbean, and West African representation—results in a stimulating, celebratory read. Ages 8–12. Agents: John Cusick, Folio Literary Management (for Ali), and Taylor Martindale, Full Circle Literary (for Saeed).
May 1, 2020
Gr 3-6-This heartfelt collection of Eid (both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha) short stories, edited by Ali (Saints & Misfits) and Saeed (Amal Unbound), compiles the work of 15 #OwnVoices creators and provides beautiful, essential narratives about Muslim culture. Regardless of readers' familiarity with Eid or the Muslim faith, they will feel embraced in each and every story. The tales are artfully arranged, beginning with happy and light fare before wading into heavier, more complex topics, and ending on laugh-out-loud perfection. A graphic novel-esque intermission provides a delightful surprise. The narratives here are wonderfully diverse in setting, familial structure, race, culture, and experience. The collection not only celebrates and shares Eid, but skillfully teaches readers, addressing issues like racism and prejudice with a light but effective touch. With many varied contributors, the stories read well as a whole or individually, and many have significant appeal well beyond the target audience. VERDICT A joyous title that radiates love. This much-needed collection is recommended as a first purchase for all libraries.-Taylor Worley, Springfield P.L., OR
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from March 1, 2020
Fifteen accomplished Muslim writers from various regions and backgrounds share Eid-themed short stories in this middle-grade collection. Stylish Hawa from Philly spends Eid in New York City with the Mandinka side of the family and learns to get along with her cousin. Kareem buys himself a new bike, then learns how to embody the meaning of his own name: "generous." Most of the young protagonists live in majority non-Muslim countries--Americans of various ethnicities in the United States, a Syrian family living in a refugee camp on a Greek island--and identity issues are sometimes in the foreground. The traditions depicted vary, but the themes of family, community, and faith permeate the volume. Whether making or buying special foods--Eid brownies, doughnuts, lontong--or taking care of younger siblings, these young heroes and heroines help make Eid special for others. The diversity within the collection is impressive, including several blended families and a recently converted one, and while the writing varies in style and quality, each story is engaging, full of emotion and thought. Particularly powerful are Jameela Thompkins-Bigelow's poem connecting present-day Eid scenes to imaginings of the early Muslims who arrived in the Americas enslaved and Hanna Alkaf's lyrical account of a Malay girl's attempt to save Eid for her family. A well-placed graphic story by G. Willow Wilson and illustrated by Alfageeh, who also contributes a frontispiece to each story, provides a reprieve midway through the book. This thoughtful and uplifting volume will keep readers turning pages year-round; here's to many more. (Anthology. 8-12)
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Starred review from March 15, 2020
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* For Muslims, there's no better time to gather with family and reflect upon the joy of giving than during Eid-ul-Fitr (which celebrates the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting) or Eid-ul-Adha (the feast of sacrifice, which is connected to the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca). Here Ali (Love from A to Z, 2019) and Saeed (Amal Unbound, 2018) have gathered a roster of #OwnVoices Muslim authors to highlight the diversity within Islam and to explore the meaning of and otherworldly feelings associated with Eid. In Ali's and Saeed's stories, Yusuf and Nadia examine the importance of traditions and of allowing them to evolve to include others. In Hanna Alkaf's story in verse, readers are introduced to Malay food and a pain so poignant it can only be quelled by forgiveness. In Seraj Captures the Moon, Sara Alfageeh (who also illustrated the stunning book cover) gives life to G. Willow Wilson's graphic story about a girl (and a donkey named Pickles) on a quest to share the light of the moon. This special anthology about family traditions, sharing meals, giving presents, and delighting in the cultural uniqueness of people all over the world isn't just for those who celebrate Eid; it's for all who want to share and learn about the holidays.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2020
This remarkably inclusive collection of short stories by fifteen Muslim authors showcases some of the many Muslim communities; cultural and familial traditions; and the universality of human experience against the backdrop of the celebration of Eid. Like their authors, the stories' protagonists live in majority non-Muslim countries -- in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Greece, the exception being Hanna Alkaf's Malaysian character, Alia, in "Taste." Stories range from simple celebrations of joy and navigating everyday conflicts to addressing loss and grief, but all are inextricably tied to community, identity, and faith. Protagonists' experiences are inclusive of a variety of family structures, differing socioeconomic backgrounds, Shia Muslims, and recent converts to Islam. Though most stories are in prose, other formats include Alkaf's tale in verse; a comic-format story by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Sara Alfageeh (who also designed the cover and frontispiece for each story in the collection); and a movingly powerful poem by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow celebrating the vivid imagery of Eid in the African American Muslim community -- its history and connection to the memories and dreams of enslaved African Muslims. As a whole the collection captures the spirit and feelings of Eid as well as the many sensory elements: the collective "ameen" of a congregation of worshipers, the touch and rustle of Eid clothing, and the multitude of smells, sounds, and tastes that will resonate with Muslim and non-Muslim readers alike.
(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
September 1, 2020
This remarkably inclusive collection of short stories by fifteen Muslim authors showcases some of the many Muslim communities; cultural and familial traditions; and the universality of human experience against the backdrop of the celebration of Eid. Like their authors, the stories' protagonists live in majority non-Muslim countries -- in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Greece, the exception being Hanna Alkaf's Malaysian character, Alia, in "Taste." Stories range from simple celebrations of joy and navigating everyday conflicts to addressing loss and grief, but all are inextricably tied to community, identity, and faith. Protagonists' experiences are inclusive of a variety of family structures, differing socioeconomic backgrounds, Shia Muslims, and recent converts to Islam. Though most stories are in prose, other formats include Alkaf's tale in verse; a comic-format story by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Sara Alfageeh (who also designed the cover and frontispiece for each story in the collection); and a movingly powerful poem by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow celebrating the vivid imagery of Eid in the African American Muslim community -- its history and connection to the memories and dreams of enslaved African Muslims. As a whole the collection captures the spirit and feelings of Eid as well as the many sensory elements: the collective "ameen" of a congregation of worshipers, the touch and rustle of Eid clothing, and the multitude of smells, sounds, and tastes that will resonate with Muslim and non-Muslim readers alike. Ariana Hussain
(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)