Unleashing Readers

Kyle’s Little Sister by BonHyung Jeong

July 20, 2021 by Kellee

Kyle’s Little Sister
Author & Illustrator: BonHyung Jeong
Published June 22nd, 2021 by JY

Summary: My name is Grace, not “Kyle’s little sister!”

Having a good-looking, friendly, outgoing older brother sucks—especially when you’re the total opposite, someone who likes staying home and playing video games. Your parents like him better (even if they deny it!), and everyone calls you “Kyle’s little sister” while looking disappointed that you’re not more like him. I was really hoping I’d get to go to a different middle school, but no such luck. At least I have my friends…until he finds a way to ruin that, too…! Argh! What do I have to do to get out of his shadow?!

About the Author: BonHyung Jeong (Bon) studied Cartooning at the School of Visual Arts in New York, and Kyle’s Little Sister is her debut graphic novel, made possible with the help of numerous people. She hopes to make connections with others through relatable stories. Currently living in Korea, she’s always busy playing console games – exactly like someone in the book!

Review: As an oldest child, I never knew what it was like to be compared to a sibling in the same way Kyle and Grace are compared, but I definitely empathize with Grace’s feelings of being compared to a more successful sibling! Although many reviews said Grace seemed like a brat, I didn’t see it like that. I saw it as someone who just truly wants her own identity and to be valued for what she is not what she isn’t (Kyle). This is tough in middle school in general much less when you feel overshadowed by someone else. It definitely made me think about how I react when I teach a sibling of a past student!

I found the crushes and friendship drama all very realistic to middle school, especially 6th grade as kids figure out who they are as adolescents. I also enjoyed that the book did not show middle school as this daunting thing you should fear–Grace was excited to start middle school! Too often just the starting of middle school is blamed for drama, but this book focused more on friends who may be a bit different figuring out how to remain friends despite the differences.

This is a graphic novel that will find love with fans of Raina Telgemeier, Svetlana Chmakova, and Terri Libenson, so it is definitely worth adding to your collection. However, I do want to share that there was one real part that I hope kids reflect on instead of do what Grace does: When she stops being friends with Amy, her new “friend” starts ohysiclly and mentally bullying her, and Grace does nothing. I think Jeong did a good job showing why she did nothing, but I also hope that watching this bullying will make readers want to stand up to a bully the next time they see one!

Discussion Questions:

What should Grace have done when Cam started picking on Amy?
Why is Grace so resentful of her brother? Are there incidences in the book that make you empathize for her resentment? How does Grace feel like Kyle’s shadow at home? At school?
Why does Amy yell what she does when she fights with Grace?
Why is what Amy was doing to Jay inappropriate?
How is Cam’s relationship with Grace another type of bullying?
Why does Kyle stand up for Grace even though he says she’s annoying?
How is Grace’s mental health affected as she questions her identity?
How did the author use illustration and color to portray mood?

Flagged Passages:

Read This If You Love: Middle school friend and family drama graphic novels

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Casey at Media Masters Publicity and JY of Yen Press for providing a copy for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 7/19/21

July 19, 2021 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. It offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

Tuesday: Zonia’s Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal

Thursday: Weird But True! Ocean from National Geographic

Sunday: Student Voices: “Reading During High School” by Emily Peraza, High School Senior

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Kellee

Recognize!: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson: This is a superb anthology! It has a mix of poetry, primary sources, memoir, and fiction written by brilliant Black authors. I cannot wait to see the finished version (I was lucky enough to get it from Netgalley; it was missing 2 excerpts), and this is definitely should be in all middle and high school classrooms and libraries. Contributors (in order of publication): Wade Hudson, Cheryl Willis Hudson, Sharon M. Draper, Jerdine Nolen, Keith Knight, Lamar Giles, Lesa Cline-Ransome, Nic Stone, Frances Ellen Harper Watkins, Kelly Starling Lyons, Nikki Grimes, Denene Mackell, Frederick Douglass, Ronald L. Smith, Kwame Mbalia, Paula Chase, Daisy Bates, Carole B. Weatherford, Don Tate, Robert H. Miller, Ibi Zoboi, DeRay Mckesson, Adedayo Perkovich, Curtis Hudson, Tiffany Jewell, Alicia D. Williams, Dhonielle Clayton, and Mahogany L. Browne.
Flamer by Mike Curato: This book was recommended by Jarrett Krosoczka for those who liked his memoir Hey, Kiddo, and I can definitely see why. Both important, funny, sweet, but also tough, sad, and REAL.
Orange: Complete Collection, Volume 1 by Ichigo Takano: The premise of this book is intriguing: the future self of the main character writes to the current self sharing that she has to do everything she can to save a friend of hers. And the story was executed well sucking me in right from the beginning! (My only concern is the idea that a suicide is friends’/families’ “fault” and could be stopped. I understand the sentiment and idea of the story, but this could be hurtful.)
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo: WOW!!!!! THE BEST GRISHAVERSE BOOK YET! This was a slow read for me. At almost 600 pages, I read some other book (see above and last week!) while reading it, but it is definitely my favorite thus far. Not much I can share without spoiling things from the previous Bardugo books, but I will say that if you are hesitant to read it, don’t be–move it on up!
With Trent:
- We have an acquaintance who we’re passing along some I Can Read animal books to, and Trent wanted to read them one last time. I love that these exist–both great for early reading and early inquiry.
- The Bot that Scott Built by Kim Norman: A science-fair themed remix of “The House that Jack Built” that is just so much fun to read.
- The Snurtch by Sean Ferrell: Ever wonder what that feeling was that you just can’t shake and it makes you just so grumpy? Well, that’s your Snurtch.
- I’m On It! by Andrea Tsurumi: A new “Elephant and Piggie Like Reading” book! Yay! Trent won a free book at the library for reading to the service doggies for a 3rd time, and this is what he chose and was so excited to read it!
- Lion Lessons by Jon Agee: Trent really likes this picture book! It is the one he chose to read to me one night. Such a witty book!

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2021 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I am with family and unable to blog today. I will see you next week!

Kellee

Reading: The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

On Deck: CHOICES! Kingdom of Secrets by Christyne Morrell, Slay by Brittney Morris, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia, Once Upon an Eid edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed, or Pushout by Monique W. Morris

Trent reading during family reading time: Animorphs The Graphic Novel: The Invasion by K.A. Applegate, Michael Grant, and Christ Grine

Trent and I listening to: I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis

Tuesday: Kyle’s Little Sister by BonHyung Jeong

Saturday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Sunday: Student Voices: “Favorite Books” by Addy Brantley & Bianca Teixera, 9th Graders

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

and

Student Voices: “Reading During High School” by Emily Peraza, High School Senior

July 18, 2021 by Kellee

I asked Emily to write this post because I know so many of my students who were voracious readers during their time with me in middle school, but often they leave and lose reading in their lives for a while; however, Emily has been able to find time during her busy schedule to read, so I wanted her to share some secrets to hopefully help out other high schoolers/students who may need some support.

“Reading During High School”
by Emily Peraza, rising senior in high school, Kellee’s student from 2015-2018

I think we can all agree high school is a rather dynamic experience, and the main takeaway from now going onto my senior year is that time management is essential. As someone who is a rising senior but also concurrently on her sophomore year of college at Valencia, I get the worst of both worlds; the cliques and stress of high school classes (4, to be exact), as well as the stress of 4 college classes but sans the dorms, friends, and general blossoming in your post-high school years. It is rough at times and I have a hard time staying in the reality when deadlines approach and pressure folds in. So, I resort to escaping into the world of literature! It also catches me into its loving and accepting arms, and teleports me somewhere that mythology papers, district meetings, and council calls cannot affect me.

One of my fatal flaws is that I despise being idle and not expanding my horizons, so sometimes I will push away reading because it can “distract me” from real life. But lately, I have been procrastinating my work by reading something I like, or researching the new SSYRA books I swore by in middle school. 🙂 My grandma, who also loves reading – we usually trade books – purchased me the sequel to a book I read in middle school called, The Mark of the Dragonfly. The sequel is named The Quest to the Uncharted Lands, and I still love this series. All of my extracurriculars have books or audiobooks I can indulge in when the stress caves in. Let me share some examples!!

Student Government Association – As a student government member, leading is something very important to me, and I can always improve my ways. Nobody is perfect, and I can always be smarter, kinder, and a better example. Books on and written by my role models, such as Angela Duckworth’s Grit keeps me motivated and allows me to see my potential.

As a student going into her fourth year in learning the French language, an AP French student, and a member of the French National Honor Society, audiobooks in French have helped me LOADS. From fantasy translated, or books originally in French, my pronunciation and accent has improved so much. My favorites are 100 French Conversations and Short Stories, Stephen King’s Revival en Français, and Moi, Tituba Sorcière… narrated by Audrey Fleurot. These have helped me grow as a student, especially being remote all year.

My internship through Character Lab has also sent me some very uplifting and books that make me think and reflect. They have sent me Reshma Saujani and Dr. Marc Brackett’s books, Brave Not Perfect and Permission to Feel, respectively. These books taught me to garner my emotions to propel me in a growth mindset, and really allowed me to explore my feelings and engage in a reflection within myself. I think many people play it safe and allow their perfectionism to hold them back. This unanimous fear of failure has bridled us and many students, including myself, have lost our sense of being and confidence because of the idea that we need to be perfect. But Ms. Saujani’s book has made me realize that I need to put my feet in the water and put myself out there. Please take a look at these wonderful books!

Other than reading about other clubs and sports, I like to fit in non-curricular books into my free time as well. Whether this be (in a normal year) on the bus, before practice, in the morning outside the band room, or even during water breaks. I am able to slip in a little bit everywhere! This keeps my mind sharp and it makes tasks much more bearable. I picked up a job at a hotel to help the housekeepers with the increased travel lately, so I put in my headphones and either watch some anime series or listen to an audiobook. During lunch, I’d rather read a physical book or an e-book because I have the luxury of holding something to keep my mind from wandering.

I have even picked up a hobby of reading manga, which is so nice when my brain is fried from school or other activities. I read the entirety of Attack on Titan, which I HIGHLY recommend. It sucks you in and the dystopian setting with intricate call backs and a very intertwining plot has me reeling from the lack of plot holes and how history seems to be connected exactly with the future. Chainsaw Man has become one of my favorites, with its hilarious main character, Denji, and the heartbreaking story of his life. Some more of my go-to mangas are JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Tokyo Revengers, Demon Slayer, and Blue Lock. There are series for sports lovers, romance people, or someone who just loves a crazy fictional universe.

In order to support my quest for amazing books, I visit my local branch library (which also has audiobooks, books, movies, For Dummies series, manga, and music). I am a regular there and usually take my work to the back after checking out a few books. They also have very interesting classes, so log onto your library website to see if you can learn something new! I use Archive of Our Own on web to access short stories or poems made by people my age and like me, Wattpad for ebooks and published works by fantastic authors, pdfs found online for my classes or for personal reading time, MangaFox for online manga, as well as Audible for ebooks.

Thank you so much for reading, and I’m so happy to share how I fit reading in! I cannot admit I am a perfect reader; I lost my spark getting into high school for a little while juggling Student Government, rigorous classes, and a sport. So please, I advise you to take it slow and don’t burn out. It is okay to take a break and discover new genres or mediums for enjoying literature! Enjoy your summers and expand your horizons. 🙂

Thank you so much, Emily, for your awesome advice!!

Weird but True!: Ocean: 300 Fin-Tastic Facts from the Deep Blue Sea by National Geographic Kids

July 15, 2021 by Ricki

Weird but True!: Ocean: 300 Fin-Tastic Facts from the Deep Blue Sea
Published June 8, 2021 by National Geographic Kids

Goodreads Summary: Dive into these fishy facts: Did you know that the prehistoric shark, megalodon, had jaws so big that it could swallow a car? Or that goats, pigs, dogs, cats, and even an alpaca have all learned how to surf? And if that’s not weird enough for ya, one man even rowed solo across the Pacific Ocean for 312 days!
In this book filled with 300 wacky facts and pictures, you’ll glimpse the ocean’s weirdest wildlife, uncover shocking shipwrecks, and meet sensational seafarers, from pirates and sailors to ground-breaking marine scientists. Perfect for ocean enthusiasts and trivia-loving landlubbers alike!

My Review: This book is the perfect size for little hands! All three of my boys (ages 7, 4, and 2) loved it and really enjoyed looking through the pages. My older two boys were able to read the facts aloud, which made for a very fun experience. My 4-year-old kept shouting, “WHOA!” as they learned new facts. The photographs are absolutely stunning, and the pages offer really, really interesting facts that even adults will enjoy!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Check out this cool activity that Kellee did with her students as a classroom connection for these books!

Discussion Questions:

Which facts were the most interesting to you?
Which ocean creature do you think is the coolest?
How can you learn more about this creature?

Flagged Passage:

Read This If You Loved: Animal Books, National Geographic’s 100 Things to Know Before You Grow Up, Mastermind by National Geographic, Weird but T rue series by National Geographic, Animal Atlas, Almanacs

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Karen at Media Masters Publicity for providing a copy for review!**

Zonia’s Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal

July 13, 2021July 13, 2021 by Kellee

Zonia’s Rain Forest
Author and Illustrator: Juana Martinez-Neal
Published March 30th, 2021 by Candlewick Press

Summary: A heartfelt, visually stunning picture book from the Caldecott Honor and Sibert Medal Winner illuminates a young girl’s day of play and adventure in the lush rain forest of Peru.

Zonia’s home is the Amazon rain forest, where it is always green and full of life. Every morning, the rain forest calls to Zonia, and every morning she answers. She visits the sloth family, greets the giant anteater, and runs with the speedy jaguar. But one morning, the rain forest calls to her in a troubled voice. How will Zonia answer?

Acclaimed author-illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal explores the wonders of the rain forest with Zonia, an Asháninka girl, in her joyful outdoor adventures. The engaging text emphasizes Zonia’s empowering bond with her home, while the illustrations—created on paper made from banana bark—burst with luxuriant greens and delicate details. Illuminating back matter includes a translation of the story in Asháninka, information on the Asháninka community, as well as resources on the Amazon rain forest and its wildlife.

Praise:

⭐“At its simplest level, this is a beautiful story about a child who loves her home and the animals she with whom she shares it. Martinez-Neal’s rounded, soft-textured illustrations are wonderfully inviting and involve linocut and woodcut leaves and fronds printed on natural banana-bark paper… The text is kept to two short sentences per double-page spread, reflecting Zonia’s uncomplicated and innocent view of the world, which is shaken when she stumbles upon a large section of clear-cut forest.” – Booklist (starred review)

⭐“This beautiful look at a young girl’s life and her determination to save her home is a perfect read for young environmentalists.” – School Library Journal (starred review)

“In Juana Martinez-Neal’s Zonia’s Rain Forest, super-cute critters are out in full force…A girl who lives in the rain forest begins each day by greeting her animal friends in this exuberant picture book crowned with an environmental message.” – Shelf Awareness

About the Author: Juana Martinez-Neal is the Peruvian-born daughter and granddaughter of painters. Her debut as an author-illustrator, Alma and How She Got Her Name, was awarded a Caldecott Honor and was published in Spanish as Alma y cómo obtuvo su nombre. She also illustrated La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya, for which she won a Pura Belpré Illustrator Award, Babymoon by Hayley Barrett, and Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, which won a Robert F. Sibert Medal. Juana Martinez-Neal lives in Arizona with her family. Visit her online at www.juanamartinezneal.com.

Review : Zonia’s story starts as a story of family. We meet her mother and baby brother and the love between them is evident in the words and illustrations.

The book then moves to Zonia’s adventures visiting her friends throughout the rain forest. We get to meet all of her animal friends. With backmatter introducing the type of animals, Trent and I went on a research exploration of the different rain forest animals that Martinez-Neal introduced to us.

The book ends with a call to action. Zonia is Asháninka, Indigenous people of the Peruvian Amazon, so the rain forest is her home. Her family’s home. The book ends with Zonia running across deforestation near her home and realizing that the forest needs her, and all of our, help.

And finally, the backmatter of the book is incredible. Juana Martinez-Neal, who is Peruvian, is not Asháninka, so I am not sure of the accuracy of the portrayal, but the backmatter shows the work she did to do justice to them and their home. The back matter includes a translation of the entire book to Asháninka, information about the Asháninka People, a few facts about the Amazon, threats to the Amazon, and Zonia’s friends we met in the book. Finally, especially useful for in the classroom, she includes selected sources and resources, all which can be viewed at https://juanamartinezneal.com/books/zonia/.

With Martinez-Neal’s ability to craft the simplistic text in a beautiful way mixed with her signature illustrations, full of movement, color, and personality along with the rain forest elements, Zonia’s Rainforest is a perfect book for story time, science cross-curricular reading, a jumping off point for inquiry, or a mentor text.

Read “The story behind Zonia’s Rain Forest” by Juana Martinez-Neal here.

Watch an interview with Juana Martinez-Neal about Zonia’s Rain Forest:

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions: Julia Torres created a Teacher’s Guide for Zonia for Candlewick Press, and it is the best resource for teaching Zonia. It includes 7 Discussion Questions and 8 Classroom Activities.

Flagged Passages:

Read This If You Love: We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, The Leaf Detective by Heather Lang, A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing a copy for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 7/12/21

July 12, 2021 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

Happy reading!

Tuesday: Secondhand Dogs by Carolyn Crimi

Thursday: Dr. Fauci: How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America’s Doctor by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Alexandra Bye

Sunday: Student Voices: “10 Books with Muslim Representation” by Basma Heda, Senior in College

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Kellee

The first book I want to share is Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert. This book is a must buy for all middle and high school classroom and school libraries. It is well-written, engaging, truthful, and extremely well-researched. I read it over a course of 24 hours–I couldn’t put it down. It is written in a way that was easy to read and follow along, but Colbert does not sugar coat anything. Although the topic of the book is the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, the book gives racial injustice history from early in the colonialization of our nation through Colbert’s afterward which talks of 2020 & 2021.
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna was recommended to me by Michele and Ricki, and I can definitely see why. This is a female force book! I will tell you, the beginning has a bit of a shock factor that almost made me so mad I put the book down, but I trudged along, and I was glad to reach the finale and see how it all came together!
Bloom by Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau is such a sweet book! It is about friendship, family, love, passions, and baking! And man, I want some of that sourdough!!!
While visiting my nephew, Trent and I read many a books with him! The ones I read with him were:
- King Bidgood’s in the Bathroom by Audrey & Don Wood: CLASSIC! And I don’t know if anyone else had the tape when they were younger, but I did, so I sing the book as a song.
- Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor: All of the endearment and adventure found in Fox the Tiger by Tabor is in Mel Fell! Mel is an adorable kingfisher who takes a leap, believing in herself, and then begins to fall. But that is just the beginning of Mel’s story.
- Squid and Octopus Friends for Always by Tao Nyeu: This was a reread for me, and it is just as sweet and quirky the second time!
- Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson: I’m glad I finally read this book. Peña has crafted a book about family and the different types of families that exist in our world. This is an important and engaging read aloud that will help with empathy in our children. And Milo’s imagination is pretty awesome!
- Hot Pot Night! by Vincent Chen: Want a book about a community and food and will definitely make you hungry? This is it! And it is fun to read out loud!
- Dandelion Magic by Darren Farrell: An interactive book! I love a good interactive book, and this one was new to me–I’m glad my sister picked it up, so Trent, my nephew, and I could experience it! It also made for fun when we walked and saw dandelions, too!
I also grabbed Best Friends by Shannon Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, from my sister’s library while I was visiting because I read Friends Forever (#3 in the series) from Netgalley and realized that I never read the 2nd in the series! I love Hale’s memoirs, and I think that they are going to be adored by so many readers. The topics within the memoirs are important and timely for middle school readers too: anxiety, friendship, popularity, identity… all the things that make middle school so tough.
Trent and I also visited a Free Little Library near her house and found The Story of the Jumping Mouse by John Steptoe. I’ve heard of this book and know it is a well-loved classic, but I had not read it. It is beautifully illustrated and a magical legend, both which sucked Trent in. He said, “Wow, that was a good book,” as soon as we were done.
From Netgalley, I also read:
- World Piece by Josh Tierney: A new-to-me manga series about a teen who gets sucked into a different world with the shrunken world literally in his hands. The book has a very interesting premise, and I think my students will love it.
- Narwhal’s School of Awesomeness by Ben Clanton: I’ve been a Narwhal and Jelly fan since the beginning and this one did not disappoint (and had a shout out to teachers!). Same great dynamic between the two characters and the secondary fish characters are a great addition!
Trent is so close to finishing up his SSYRA, Jr. list. He read The Yawns are Coming by Chris Eliopoulos and immediately told me I needed to come read it with him because he knew I’d love it, and I did! First, I am a sucker for Eliopoulos’s illustrations. Second, I am a sucker for yawns and sleeping 😆 Third, I love a good friendship tale. So overall, this book WAS one I would love (Trent knows me)!

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2021 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I really enjoyed Barbara Dee’s newest middle grade novel Violets are Blue. It tells the story of twelve-year-old Wren, whose parents recently divorced. She is balancing between her mom’s house and her father’s house with his new wife in NYC. She loves to transform her face with makeup, and this offers her some opportunities to work in the school musical. At home, she isn’t sure why her mother is always locking her door and seeming to be distant. I highly recommend this book and think it is a great addition for classrooms.

Long Distance by Whitney Gardner is an engaging graphic novel about a girl named Vega. She recently moved to Seattle and misses her best friend Halley. All Vega wants to do in the summer is look through her telescope at the stars. But her dads push (well, almost force) her to go to a summer camp focused on making best friends. Vega already has a best friend, though, and she doesn’t want to go. When she arrives, things feel strange…too strange. My oldest son and I read this book together, and we both really enjoyed it. I liked how each kid at the camp had a really interesting hobby, and the mystery kept me hooked. I recommend this one for middle schoolers, especially, and I think younger kids (my son is 7) can read it, too!

Kellee

Reading: King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Listening: Whatever After Good as Gold by Sarah Mlynowski

Ricki

My husband and I went for a brief outing this weekend for our ten-year anniversary. We started listening to this book in the car!

Tuesday: Zonia’s Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal

Thursday: Weird But True! Ocean from National Geographic

Sunday: Student Voices: “Fitting in Reading During High School” by Emily Peraza, High School Senior

and

Student Voices: “10 Books with Muslim Representation” by Basma Heda, Senior in College

July 11, 2021 by Kellee

“10 Books with Muslim Representation”
by Basma Heda, senior in college, Kellee’s Student from 2012-2018, and Bookstagram Reviewer @BookishBasma (#23 on Buzzfeed’s “24 Bookstagrammers You Need to Follow if Reading is Your Jam 5/6/21)!

Everyone deserves to see themselves in a story. Especially when it comes to Muslims, a group that’s often villainized and misrepresented in the media, readers deserve to see themselves as the hero, as the person falling in love, as the person just living life. In addition to being a massive bookworm and the owner of 200+ books, I’m also a hijab-wearing Muslim woman, and I didn’t see myself on a page until the year 2020. The first time it happened, I cried a minimum of six times during the book, and then an additional 15 minutes after I finished (it was at 1am). I was seeing myself on a page for the first time in my life, and I want to spread that feeling. Here’s ten books with Muslim representation for all ages.

Middle Grade

Other Words For Home by Jasmine Warga

Written in verse, Other Words For Home follows Jude who leaves her hometown in Syria due to the conflict and comes to America with her mom, leaving behind her brother and her father. Thrust into a new world and armed only with the English she’s learned from her favorite movies, Jude learns to navigate a society that makes it abundantly clear she’s not welcome. It’s a coming of age story that tackles Islamophobia, the struggles of being an immigrant, and a child who just wants to belong. This was an absolutely beautiful story that made me cry multiple times, and I want to shout about it from the rooftops.

Amina’s Voice & Amina’s Song by Hena Khan

This is a duology follow Amina, a Pakistani-American Muslim girl who loves to sing. In addition to navigating middle school and all its ups and downs, Amina experiences quite a bit of Islamophobia. Her mosque is vandalized and she struggles with her identity as a Pakastani American throughout the series. Even with all these obstacles, Amina continues to grow and find her confidence, and it was wonderful to see! This was an adorable series that’s perfect for any middle grade (or really any age) student!

City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda

A part of the Rick Riordan imprint, this book is about Mesopotamian mythology in the modern world with, get this, a MUSLIM main character. The story follows Sik, a witty and determined thirteen year old who’s trying to survive middle school and the grief of losing his brother when he’s suddenly thrust into the world of Mesopotamian mythology. Suddenly Sik is responsible to save not just his parents, but all of Manhattan. Joined by Belet (a fierce warrior and the adopted daughter of Ishtar, the goddess of love and war) and a retired hero named Gilgamesh, Sik faces demons and a fast spreading plague in his rush to save the city. I was originally nervous on how mythology would work with a monotheistic religion, but it was done with grace and respect and I loved every second of it. A must read for any mythology fan!

Once Upon An Eid edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed

Written by multiple authors, this book is a collection of short stories written about the Muslim holiday Eid! The stories are so heartwarming and really showcase a variety of cultures and backgrounds coming together for a joyous holiday. One of my comfort books!

More to the Story by Hena Khan

A modern, Muslim retelling of Little Women, this was the cutest book! Our main character, Jameela, is an aspiring journalist who’s biggest challenge is her strict editor-in-chief. In between the school paper, the new boy at school, and solving problems in between her siblings, Jameela is pretty busy. However, when her father has to take a job overseas and her youngest sister gets sick, Jameela’s world is turned upside down. This is a tear-jerker of a story with the most wholesome moments.

Young Adult

Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali

Remember at the beginning how I mentioned that there was a book that made me cry because it was the first time I saw myself? It’s this one. Love from A to Z is one of those books I feel like everyone needs to read. The hijabi main character, Zayneb, is an outspoken and strong woman, and there is so much of myself that I see in her. While this book is a cute romantic contemporary, it’s also a story of struggling with Islamophobia. Zayneb experiences multiple Islamophobic encounters, with her professors, going to the pool, and just trying to live her life. I remember reading this book for the first time, and I felt so SEEN and so validated. It was a reminder that I wasn’t alone in my struggles, that a hijabi like me could have a story without becoming the villain or the person needing “liberating”. Seeing Zayneb double down on her identity and refuse to budge was so empowering, and seeing myself represented on the page like that meant more to me than words could convey.

Saints & Misfits and Misfit in Love by S.K. Ali

These two books follow Janna Yusuf, an Arab-Indian American hijabi, who’s stubborn, outspoken, and a tad boy-crazy. While the books follow the same characters, they are vastly different in theme.

Saints & Misfits: This is not a cute, fluffy contemporary. The main character, Janna is sexually assaulted by someone well respected in the Muslim community, and the book follows her journey in trying to cope and her struggle in wondering if anyone will believe her. The character development Janna goes through blew me away, and I was crying by the end. My heart still aches just thinking about it and it’s a book that will be staying with me for a while.

Misfit in Love: This book picks up two years later, in the midst of wedding preparations for Janna’s brother. Everybody knows what a drama fest weddings can turn into, and that’s exactly what happens here. In addition to last minute wedding changes, Janna is dealing with drama of her own, as she attempts to understand her feelings about the love square (yes, you heard that right) that seems to be closing in.

Both books have fantastic Muslim rep (although I have some minor issues with the portrayal of hijab in the first book) and I highly recommend both books.

Adult (note: clean, safe for teens)

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

A retelling of You’ve Got Mail, this book was a whirlwind of drama, love, gut-wrenching pain, and forgiveness. Hana is a brilliant MC and her perspective was such a great place to read from. Good Muslim representation in all forms of media is often an uphill battle, and we see Hana fighting that battle at her job at the radio station, when they want to run stories on Muslim communities that would actually be harmful. In addition to the fight for proper rep, Hana also deals with quite a bit of Islamophobia. The sensitive subject was written so well and I absolutely bawled. The romance was angsty, adorable, and basically everything I wanted from a halal Muslim enemies-to-lovers.

Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

A contemporary Muslim retelling of Pride & Prejudice, this story blew me away. The romance was absolutely adorable, and I am in LOVE with our main characters. I see a lot of myself in Ayesha, and Khalid was just so awkward, I couldn’t handle the cuteness! Similarly to Pride & Prejudice, I could not STAND Khalid’s mom (think Mrs. Bennett but so much worse). In addition to the romance, the story also touched on the intricacies of the Muslim community and the importance of our relationships with each other, and how we grow from them. Seeing how our characters navigated their faith and desires in a world that doesn’t always agree with it added so much to the story.

Thank you so much, Basma, for your recommendations!!
(And everyone else: Make sure to go follow Basma on Instagram! You won’t be disappointed!)