It may be the end of April, but we can’t let the month end without sharing some great books to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month!
Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper
This lovely picture book features Lina, who is walking to her grandmother’s house to make warak enab on a snowy day. She notices all of the sounds she hears as she walks through the snow. This book teaches mindfulness and appreciation of nature, as well as making readers curious about making warak enab (Lebanese Stuffed Grape Leaves) or other favorite recipes with an older family member.
The Arabic Quilt by Aya Khalil
Kanzi’s family just moved to the United States. When her mother brings her “accidentally” forgotten lunch to school in her hijab, she is teased and comes home in tears. She wraps herself in a quilt her grandmother made and writes a poem in Arabic about the quilt, which her teacher uses to teach the class about Arabic names and traditions. The kids get excited about making their own (paper) quilt with their names in Arabic, and learn that differences are something to be celebrated, not made fun of. The book includes a glossary of Arabic words and the alphabet, with phonetic English equivalents, so readers also can write their name in Arabic.
Salma Makes a Home by Ahmad Danny Ramadan
This early chapter book features Salma, who moved to the United States from Syria. After almost a year of being apart, her father is finally with them, and she is eager to show him around and for him to like the United States. She is worried he’ll be homesick and want to go back to Damascus. But when he talks about their life in Damascus, she realizes she, too, misses her homeland. Readers will learn about the pull of home along with Salma, and also the joys of learning and experiencing new places and things.
Nayra and the djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata
Nayra is desperate – nothing is going to plan at school or at home, and the pressure makes her feel like she’s going to burst. When a djinn (a mythical Islamic being, translates to genie) named Marjan promises to help, Nayra accepts their offer. But if Marjan doesn’t face their own mistakes, Nayra will suffer the consequences. This graphic novel will appeal to kids who wish for a magical being to improve their lives, and those who know how tough friendship can be (so, in other words, all kids).
The magical reality of Nadia by Bassem Youssef
Nadia is ready to redesign the world, or at least win the contest to design a new exhibit at the local museum. When someone teases her about her Egyptian heritage (she moved here when she was 6), she isn’t sure how to react. But then her ancient amulet, a hippo, starts to glow, and she finds out it has magical powers. Can she use the amulet to teach the new kid to respect her Egyptian heritage and to win the contest? This book is an illustrated chapter book with a lot of action to hook readers from the first page.
This is the first in a series of young adult graphic novels that are autobiographical in nature, featuring Huda Fahmy’s real-life struggles as she tries to find her place in high school. When Huda’s family moves to Dearborn, Michigan, she goes from “the girl in the hijab” to one of many girls in hijabs. When being the Muslim girl is no longer your sole identity, which group do you fit in? Teens will identify with this eternal struggle to find your identity while still getting your schoolwork done.
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
A young Arab-Indian hacker hides behind the identity of Alif, the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, as he protects his clients in an unnamed Middle Eastern security state. When he finds out his lover’s fiancé is the head of State security, he finds himself in hot water and is forced underground. He finds a secret book (The Thousand and One Days) that unlocks the power of jinn, and might lead to a new level of information technology that disrupts the world as we know it. Arab mythology, believable science fiction and thrilling action combine to create an extraordinary novel.
The final strife by Saara El-Arifi
Three young women band together in this first book of a fantasy trilogy to fight against their kingdom, where people are separated by the color of their blood. Red bloods like Anoor are magical, the ruling class, but she’s always been told by her mother, the ruler, that she’s useless. Blue bloods like Sylah are the worker bees, but she has been told from childhood that she is the one who will bring down the ruling class, one way or another. And clear bloods like Hassa are the slaves, but Hassa knows that being invisible means she sees much more than she is supposed to see. This series brings together Arab and African mythology to create a dystopian fantasy that readers will devour.
No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib
Sama and Hadi are in love, and waiting on the birth of their first child. Sama came to the United States from Syria on a scholarship from Harvard, and Hadi was a sponsored refugee. When Hadi’s father dies, he returns to Syria for just a few days to attend the funeral. But when he flies back home to the United States, he is detained and deported. His wife Sama becomes increasingly alarmed when he doesn’t appear at the Arrivals terminal, and must figure out what has happened to him, and what she can do to fix the situation. This heartbreaking story of love will touch your heart as you worry for Sama, Hadi and their soon-to-come baby.
Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. She can be reached at madams@alamancelibraries.org.