In the Muslim World
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-- School Library Journal, 6/11/2008 7:42:00 AM
With the Middle East and Islam being front and center in the news, it is important to offer readers a variety of resources that discuss Muslim life from different perspectives. Each fiction title below includes a young person’s experience growing up in the Islamic faith. Also included is a nonfiction guide for Islamic teens living in the Western world that every high school and public library needs to have on its shelves.
ABDEL-FATTAH, Randa. Does My Head Look Big in This? Scholastic/Orchard. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-91947-0.
Gr 7 Up–When Amal decides to return to class after break wearing her hijab, things get very interesting at her private high school. Funny and smart, Amal is determined to stick to her plan no matter what–and, like most teens, she faces many distractions along the way, including a big crush on a non-Muslim boy. Her friends prove to be more supportive than she ever thought possible.
CLINTON, Cathryn. A Stone in My Hand. Candlewick. 2002. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-1388-4; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-2561-0.
Gr 6-11–Malaak lives with her older brother and sister in a Palestinian settlement near Gaza City in the late 1980s. Her father went out to look for work and has never returned. When her teenage brother becomes increasingly involved in the intifada, Malaak realizes that she must shake off her sadness and work to keep her family together. When tragedy strikes, memories of her father and her beloved bird Abdo help direct her to do the right thing.
ELLIS, Deborah & Eric Walters. Bifocal. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2007. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-036-4.
Gr 7-11–Haroon is just a regular teenager with friends of all types. Yes, he’s Muslim, but also third-generation Canadian. When a special terrorist squad sweeps through his high school and carries off his debate club partner, Azeem, also a Muslim, things start to change for Haroon. Ellis and Walters combine their areas of expertise—religious differences and teen drama—for a compelling read. Recommended for use in units on cultural or religious diversity.
HAFIZ, Dilara, Imran Hafiz, & Yasmine Hafiz. The American Muslim Teenager’s Handbook. Acacia Publ. 2007. pap. $11.95. ISBN 978-0-9792531-2-6.
Gr 7 Up–Muslim teens won’t be the only ones eager to page through this great overview that covers many of the situations they may encounter in secular or religious settings, from prayer to food to clothing. The layout is attractive, with photos of Muslim teens participating in everyday life while respecting the tenets of their faith. A unique addition to all teen collections, and a valuable resource to all libraries serving a Muslim population.
JOLIN, Paula. In the Name of God. Roaring Brook. 2007. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-211-6.
Gr 9-12–Jolin immerses readers into the fascinating and sometimes frightening world of Islamic fundamentalism through the experiences of Nadia, a 17-year-old living in present-day Syria. When she decides to start wearing a hijab, her family becomes concerned but is afraid to confront her. When offered, will she accept the opportunity to show her loyalty to Islam by playing a part in a bombing plot?
LAT. Kampung Boy. illus. by author. Roaring Brook/First Second. 2006. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-121-8.
Gr 7-10–Spare and richly detailed at the same time, this is the first in a series of titles well loved in Southeast Asia and recently made available here. In black-and-white graphic novel style, readers learn about daily life for Mat, a Muslim boy in Malaysia in the 1950s, including religious studies and changes in his community as it moves from an agricultural economy to one based on manufacturing. Lat tells Mat’s story with verve and affection.
Remarkable Reads are produced by the editors at NoveList, the leader in readers' advisory electronic resources. For more information, visit NoveList.
