Once Upon An Eid is a collection of short stories that center around muslim middle graders, the beauty of their cultures from around the world in different voices, views and perspectives. Its such a heartwarming and inspiring stories about joy, hope and surrounded with loved ones. This is the perfect book to read during Ramadhan and especially now when every bit of spark and joy is needed to get us through this tough time.

Perfect by Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow
Its about a story of a proud Mandinka-American girl who spends eid with her distant relatives who reconnected again from her dad's side. She embraces both cultures and learns to let the negativity aside for the perfect eid spent celebrating in Bronx, New York City.

Yusuf & The Big Brownie Misfake by Aisha Saeed
A story about family tradition involving delicious desserts. The main character did a mistake but anything can be resolved and fixed with help from family.

Kareem Means "generous" by Asmaa Hussein
When you do something good and ikhlas (sincere), Allah will repay your good deeds. There is a hadith that I recently discovered that befits the situation, "Wealth does not decrease because of charity."

Don'ut Break Tradition by S.K. Ali
This story was sad in the beginning but very heartwarming to be surrounded with friends and family in the most special day—eid. And also donuts!

Just Like Chest Armour by Candice Montgomery
A story of a girl who gets excited to finally wear her hijab and how she uses her happiness and faith as an armor against people's stares and prejudiced thoughts.

Gifts by Rukhsana Khan
The beauty of gifting people with presents and even though one might not think its amazing and extraordinary, its the thought that matters most.

The Feast Of Sacrifice by Hena Khan
A story of an eldest son who helps and makes a lot of sacrifices while his parents are away for hajj. He learnt that it was all worth it at the end.

Seraj Captures The Moon by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Sara Alfageeh
An illustrated story that honestly I couldn't really make out what it was about since the font was too small. I might pick it up again to read in a finished copy.

Searching For Blue by N. H. Senzai
A story of refugees who are thankful for what they have after running away looking and hoping for a better future. To always seek the truth and hope for the best because Allah will never abandon and forget anyone.

Creative Fixes by Ashley Franklin
A story of a converted family who begins to realise the beauty yet imperfections of their first eid.

Taste by Hanna Alkaf
I didn't know what to expect from this story so I went in with a clear mind. What I found was a heartbreaking, sad and dark story of a malay girl who's going through a tough time. She turns to cooking lontong (a malaysian dish) to get a better perspective to distract herself from the situation she's in. A story so wholesome and Malaysian that I find smiling at the familiar words and delicious delicacy that is lontong.

Eid Pictures by Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow
A short prose like piece that's about the downside of what we normally see during the festivities. That there are people out there struggling and in pain while we're celebrating with joy.

Not Only An Only by Huda Al Marashi
A girl who's used to being the only Muslim in town when a new friend moved in. It talks about a controversial topic of the mazhab (sections) like Sunni and Syiah but what's most important is that all muslims are muslims. Period.

Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattu
Maya settles in with a different eid than what she is used to and realising that after a pep talk, a cup of tea and sleep that everything is going to be just fine.

Eid & Pink Bubble Gum, Insya'Allah by Randa Abdel-Fattah
How life can be messy and chaotic but no matter what, you will still love your annoying siblings (I can relate to this a lot) because they're still family and even though its hard to admit but life is ultimately better when they're around.

Thank you to Abrams Kids and Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book and all the wonderful stories!

This book was pure joy and happiness to read. Even the stories which showed people in difficult situations were full of hope. I cried happy tears several times reading this book and this book will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Eid is such an important day for Muslims and this book captures what it can be like and how varied everyone’s experiences are. Being the oldest sibling I always tried to make Eid a fun and memorable day for my sisters and little cousins. From putting up decorations and gifts which would be opened after Eid prayer to going to the Eid fair and playing games we had so much fun. And reading this book brought back all those memories.

I loved every single story in this anthology which is rare but they were all written so wonderfully and beautifully and I sobbed my way through the book. I loved how diverse the stories were and how everyone celebrates differently and has their own traditions in their family, community and their culture. We see how people all over the world have different food they will want to make or the clothes they were and how they get together with family. I loved how family wasn’t just the mum, dad and kid but showed how families are a lot more varied. It was so inclusive and I was weeping with joy.

The stories themselves were so great and even though this is a middle grade book, and I am an adult I loved them so much. I loved Aisha Saeed’s story about how everyone in the family came to the rescue when Yusuf overcooked the brownies and Asmaa Hussein’s story of how Kareem learns what it truly means to be generous and giving and caring for those who are less fortunate. I also loved that there was also a graphic short story because I know lots of kids love graphic novels!

Each story is full of hope, even the stories where the situation the people are in are less than ideal. Searching for Blue by N.H. Senzai is the story of a young boy who is in a refugee camp in Greece and how the refugees get together with some wonderful people who love there to make the best of the situation and make it a special day for everyone. Such a beautiful heart warming story while simultaneously showing how difficult the lives of refugees are. In fact all the stories have some really wonderful lessons which are integral parts of Islam woven beautifully into the stories.

I cannot wait to get my finished copy and see all the artwork to go with the stories! This book is phenomenal, filled with much needed stories of joy and hope and I adored every single one of them!

PS. These books will make the perfect Eid gifts!

Once Upon an Eid is a middle grade anthology centered on the experience, meaning, and feeling of Eid. Fifteen Muslim authors across the cultural spectrum contribute short stories that highlight the diversity within the Muslim community. In addition to short stories, Once Upon an Eid includes a comic and poetry. This anthology is the first of its kind in children’s literature (to my knowledge), and hopefully marks the start of many more like it to come.

Once Upon an Eid is edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed with art by Sara Alfageeh. Authors included in this anthology are: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Aisha Saeed, Asmaa Hussein, S.K. Ali, Candice Montgomery, Rukhsana Khan, Hena Khan, G. Willow Wilson, N.H. Senzai, Ashley Franklin, Hanna Alkaf, Huda Al-Marashi, Ayesha Mattu, and Randa Abdel-Fattah.

Once Upon an Eid is a heartwarming and uplifting collection of stories that celebrates the diversity of Muslims. Though cultures and traditions may be varied, the spirit of Eid shines brightly throughout the anthology. The stories serve as a window to educate those unfamiliar with Eid. But Muslim readers will find understanding and connections within the pages.

Young readers will discover important lessons and themes at the heart of each tale that embody the ideals of Eid and Islam. The #ownvoices perspective of each author amplifies the uniqueness and authenticity of this collection. A piece of artwork precedes each story that beautifully captures the emotions and messages conveyed in each respective narrative.

Once Upon an Eid pulled at my heartstrings. It made me cry with its honest representation of Muslims and their experiences. But most of all, it left me in a state of pure joy that this exceptional anthology exists for all to appreciate.

Readers of all ages and backgrounds will enjoy Once Upon an Eid with its engaging stories, delightful characters, and its universal message of hope and joy in honoring a beloved holiday.

Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices releases on May 5th, 2020. It is available for preorder from any retailer of your choice.

Thank you to Abrams Kids for providing us an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review will be posted on April 28, 2020.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amulet Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

~

I wanted to start this with a little preface: I'm not Muslim, so this review comes from the view of someone completely outside of Islam, its traditions and the experience of Eid. 

That being said, this book was the most beautiful introduction into a wonderful and important holiday in the Muslim calendar. The editor's notes were incredibly helpful for anyone who is unfamiliar with Eid. 

This is a children's book, so the stories are all fairly simple, making them easy to follow and understand. I can definitely see this book as a beautiful bedtime story for any child! Each story is about a different family celebrating Eid in their own way. There is a huge amount of diversity, with families ranging from Australia, New York and even a refugee camp on a Greek island. The stories have strong messages that are easy to understand.

This book is a wonderful insight into a beautiful holiday that people may not know much about. It is filled with stories brimming with overarching messages of kindness, family, celebration, generosity, thoughtfulness, patience and understanding. Each time I finished a story, I was left smiling at the general atmosphere of love and togetherness. The experiences of each family in the stories vary massively, but they are all connected through Eid and the central topics of family, food and friends. 

Each author has an individual voice, and they all felt like they belong. None seemed clunky or out of place like in some collections. I loved that they're all Own Voices authors, which made it feel authentic and like a snapshot of real people's lives.

Overall, I gave this book 5 stars as its simplicity was perfectly aimed at small children and it made me want to look up books from all of the contributing authors. Whilst this book is perfect for children, I also think it's a great feel-good collection for adults who want a short read!

This book is released on 5th May!

This was such a beautiful collection of short stories entering around Ramadan and eid mubarak. very diverse full of very different meanings/ experiences of Eid/Ramadan written by all the others and really enjoyed that all the characters were all so unique in all their own ways and I didnt fell that there were one of the same in other characters.

some books were very happy and cheerful and some very sad but with hope swell which I loved the variations very much. learning more about the culture was so interesting and all the dishes that get made throughout this anthology sounded so amazing and I needed to eat them right away.

Even though im not the target audience for this book, it was just so amazing and if your muslim or not I very recommend you to read this book and to get a insight into the culture and you definitely learn quite a lot.

There is something incredibly powerful about seeing yourself reflected in the books you read. In North America, there is a lack of books featuring Muslim stories. The books that are published tend to be non-fiction or have Muslim characters as the sidekick it the sad oppressed individual. Amulet Books has seen a need, I’m sure pushed by some of North America’s most prominent children’s book authors S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed to publish a beautiful collection of stories all centered on the most holiest of Muslim holidays, Eid. In comparative terms, Eid is similar to Christmas, a day of feasting and celebrating and presents and treats and thanks. Edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed, this compilation features 15 different stories by 15 different Muslim voices. Illustrated by Sara Alfageeh, Once Upon an Eid is a joyful celebration of stories.

This collection of stories written by different Muslim authors features stories about Eid from multiple perspectives, rich and poor, male and female, refugee and recent convert to Islam. There is a story in this collection for each and every Muslim to see themselves and their traditions reflected back to them.

For non-Muslims it's an incredible tool to learn more about such a beautiful holiday and celebration. I don’t know about you but there are times when I am shy to ask questions, not wanting to offend or ask something insensitive. Through reading these stories, I have a better understanding of how my neighbours and co-workers celebrate their traditions and holidays and feel confident now to wish them an Eid Mubarak when the time comes

I'm so glad I read this--I certainly came out of it having learned so much about Eid and why it's so important and for all the different reasons.  I think this anthology got stronger the more you read, and I loved that the themes and style matched with the age of each main character.  I also appreciated that there was a comic short story!  It certainly goes to show that the love of Eid transcends different types of media.

"Kareem Means 'Generous'" and "Don'ut Break Tradition" were my top two in this collection--I was so pleased to see the exploration of not only class relations but also how families feel as though they're crumbling when a medical tragedy strikes.  After all, how can you continue traditions when nothing seems right?  

Overall, this was so great, and I can imagine that it's so incredibly important for young folks to read.  So glad I read this!

This short story collection is wonderful! Muslim authors all telling stories about Eid. I wanted to read this book to see if it had the representation that would be appreciated the mulim students in our school. This book is that and more! I appreciated that the stories were fairly straight forward and could be read by younger students with no real issue. The explanations and various perspective around Eid made this an enjoyable read and for some of the stories I wanted to know more!

I cannot wait to share this book with my muslim students after purchasing it for our collection.

The publisher Abrams Kids, Amulet Books generously provided me with a copy of the book upon request on NetGalley. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

I've never been a huge fan of short stories, but this book has me reconsidering such an arrogant approach, as every single story in this collection has me feeling the warmth of Eid, the joy of authenticity, and the beauty of being a part of a faith with such strong female writers.  Fifteen entries for middle graders in mind: short stories, poetry, and even a graphic novel, spread over 304 pages that shine light on Eid in today's world,  Eid al Fitr and Ramadan make up the bulk of the focus, but Eid al Adha and Hajj are in there too.  And the best part of the book is that you will see yourself in it, possibly all through out it, but reading such diverse OWN Voice stories are sure to make a Muslim reader feel represented and right at home, and give non Muslim's a peek at us from the inside, inshaAllah.  

SYNOPSIS:

I don't know how to review the book as a whole since there really are 15 different stories, that are each heartfelt and strong in their own right and yet somehow made better by the company around them.  There were no weak links.  There are stories with bickering siblings, annoying cousins, different cultures, mixed background familes, divorced families, converts' stories, stories of families where money is tight, stories with illness, stories of loss, a story from the perspective of a refugee, and stories of reaching out of your comfort zone.  There is one story about Eid al Adha and a story starring a Shi'a muslimah feeling different within Islam.  There are stories told from boys voices and girls voices and every single story has a take home message, some more subtle than others, but all there and all real.  I feel like even a summary of a story would prove a spoiler and take away from one just falling in to the collection and receiving the warm hug that awaits.   I'll leave the summaries to their titles and well known authors to spark your curiousity.

Perfect: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake:  Aisha Saeed

Kareem Means Generous: Asmaa Hussein

Don'ut Break Tradition: S.K. Ali

Just Like Chest Armor: Candice Montgomery

Gifts: Rukhsana Khan

The Feast of Sacrifice: Hena Khan

Seraj Captures the Moon: G. Willow Wilson and Sara Alfageeh

Searching for Blue: N.H. Senzai

Creative Fixes: Ashley Franklin

Taste: Hanna Alkaf

Eid Pictures: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Not Only an Only: Huda Al-Marashi

Maya Madinah Chooses Joy: Ayesha Mattu

Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha'Allah: Randa Abdel-Fattah

WHY I LIKE IT:

I recieved this book as an Advanced Reader (digital) copy and I am thinking I want a hard copy too, (I wasn't able to view the artwork).  A lot of people ask me and I see postings in various social media groups asking for suggestions of books to read each night as a family in Ramadan, and I think this one would work for grades 3 and up.  Have each kid read the story throughout the day and then discuss in the evening.  Every story will have something that is familiar, probably something new, and each has a teachable moment.  I think different kids will identify with different aspects of the story and to articulate them in Ramadan will really bring the already memorable characters to life.

The book is very well done, and reads very smooth and cohesive, it really has a unified tempo and mood which is remarkable because so many different author's and voices are included.  The book stays focused on the feeling rather than getting too weighted down by doctrine.  There are stories that feature hijab prominantly, and a bit of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and some slight mention of islamaphobia, but it focuses on the friends and the love that support us, both Muslim and non, that make Eid and life hopeful.

FLAGS:

Clean

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I would consider this as a book club book to be hosted just as I hope to do this Ramadan with my own children in my home (see above).  I think really I just want to buy a bunch of copies to give as gifts to the fabulous elementary aged children I know, alhumdulillah.

I absolutely loved this book. It was fun, it was fluffy, it was heartwarming, it was educational and it was just an all around great read. Really it was a breath of fresh air. Each middle-grade story brings something fresh and new to my understanding of Eid, two very important Muslim holidays. One Eid signifies the end of Ramadan and the other is the 10th day of the month of Hajj. Want to know how I know this? The editors S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed included an editor’s introduction in the beginning of the book that explains the significance of Eid and helps us to know what to expect in the 15 stories that follow the introduction. All fifteen stories express a different type of joy and understanding of the holiday and its significance an honestly it was just beautiful to read.

Each story focused on a different family, a different person, and a different situation. There are different Muslim identities and experiences expressed in each short story which just adds to the beauty and diversity between these pages. Overall this really felt like a lighthearted read and I sped right on through it. None of the stories are very long, but so much is communicated within the few pages that they each have. I don’t want to spoil any of the stories, but I’ll give you a little info on my favorite stories:

A little brother is excited to continue his family’s dessert tradition and upset that his sister wants to change things, but he learns that maybe change only brings new tradition

A boy saves all of Ramadan to buy himself a new bike, but he meets a new community member who teaches him the value of generosity

The sole Muslim girl in a small community has always loved being the leading authority on Islam in her school, but learns that having support and backup of a new friend may be even better

Wearing hijab in public is this young girl’s dream, but her parents are worried that it may be too much for her to handle. She determined to take on this new profession of her faith, but could her parents be right?

These four stories may have been my favorite, but I loved each and every one of them. Please please PLEASE go pick up this middle-grade short story anthology when it’s released on May 5th. You won’t regret it.

I loved this.

I'm not usually a fan of short stories but I feel like a lot of these had a nice resolve.

I would've liked to have known more about the characters and I enjoyed the writing style so it was a good introduction to a few authors I hadn't read from before.

Insightful. Fun. Juvenile.

This was quite an enjoyable read. As a non-Muslim person, this anthology was such an incredible insight into the culture of Islam and more specifically Eid. I want to begin this review by expressing how important I believe this book to be, and how incredible I know it will be for young kids to be able to finally see themselves in the stories they choose to read. The fact that this entire anthology is told through own-voices authors was a marvelous idea, and I'm so happy that a book like this exists today.

Now, I understand I am not the target audience for this story. And I mean that not so much as to point out that I'm not of Islamic faith, but rather because I am not an eleven year old child. My mistake going into this book was that I did not know it was middle grade, and for that my enjoyment took a bit of a beating. I found the characters to be true to their age which many would see as a huge positive, but in my case I got tired of reading about children as I myself could not really relate to any of them.

That being said, one thing that I related to on a much larger scale were the sibling dynamics. I have a younger sister myself, and some of the fights between brothers and sisters were very reminiscent of fights I've had with her.

For many of the short stories, the imagery was lush and enchanting and oh my GOODNESS, the descriptions of food throughout this book were so wonderful. I can also appreciate the inclusion of other forms of storytelling such as the graphic novel and the poetry. To include mixed media like that was a very intelligent choice.

Every story in this anthology connected to each other very well, and the conscious choice to place the darker, more melancholic stories between the blatantly joyful ones was a choice well made. I can see the editors of this anthology did their job well.

Although the stories flowed well together, I did find them getting repetitive as I continued to read. The stories all seemed to blur into one, and there were points where I felt like I just kept reading the same thing, despite there being several obvious differences between the pieces.

In the end, I think this was a very well written collection, despite it not being a favorite of mine or something I could necessarily relate to. My favorites stories were definitely "Not Only an Only," "Just Like Chest Armor," and "Searching for Blue."

Lastly, thank you again to NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this early review copy, especially seeing as this book was one of my most highly anticipated releases of this year!

I got approved for this e-arc on Netgalley so I decided to give it a go. I was quite excited because I love Eid and having stories centred around Eid made me happy. However, I felt like this anthology was a bit of a let down. Admittedly, I am not the audience for this book. It is aimed at a middle grade audience and it is very clearly aimed at those who don't know much about fasting and Eid. However, I have read a number of middle grade books in my time but this felt too young, even compared to those. The writing was quite juvenile as evident by the overuse of exclamation points and it just didn't feel realistic. On top of that, this anthology is incredibly short and it has a number of stories in it. Therefore, the stories themselves weren't very well developed. Just as you began to understand the characters and the story arc, it ended. I think this is a good read for younger children, especially if they want to learn more about Ramadan and Eid, however it just wasn't for me.

(The graphic novel chapter was illegible on the Kindle, and featured only two pages of the story duplicated 3 or 4 times so I could not read it)

A really sweet short story collection that all takes place on Eid. As a non-Muslim reader, I learned a lot about a culture that differs from mine and I am excited to add this title to my classroom library.

Listen I’m so glad I read this before Ramadan because if I’d read this next month I think I would have been so dehydrated from crying so much! ANYWAY, I can’t express enough how wholesome and wonderful every single one of these stories was!

I love that each author was able to introduce their own cultures and bring up important themes like friendship and patience and generosity. There were so many relatable moments (hence the crying) that had me immediately wanting to buy multiple copies so I could give them to my family and friends. I especially loved that because each Muslim experience is different, there were so many unique perspectives (not only with the authors but also with the characters in each story).

Each author brought their own experiences and cultures to light and I really loved hearing familiar stories as well as getting to see new experiences. I was introduced to a few new Muslim authors which always makes me happy, and I got to read more from some of my favorite authors!

Some of the stories were full of hope and joy while others dealt with struggles related to family, friendship and fitting in or spending Eid without loved ones. That one really hit harder than most because of what’s happening in the world right now, but nonetheless it was always heartwarming and gave me hope!

I don’t know how else to express my love and gratitude to these authors for sharing these heartwarming stories. This book couldn’t come at a better time and I would recommend this to everyone, especially if you’re Muslim!

If you enjoy heartfelt stories of children learning the about the spirit of Ramadan, learning about different Muslim experiences and cultures around the world, and want to feel some EMOTIONS™ then you should definitely check out this book! If you want to see themes of friendship, family, hope, loss, fitting in, and the lessons learned in Ramadan… this is the book for you! I would recommend this to Muslims (new and old and of all different cultures) who want to be reminded about the true meaning of the Ummah and of Eid and to anyone who wants to learn about all kinds of unique Muslim experiences told in unique ways!

I thought this was such a great collection of short stories. I feel like I learned a lot from reading the book as well. It led me to researching certain words and terms used in the stories. I like this book and the perspective it offers. Great YA read!

I enjoyed many of the stories in this book. They were touching, fun, and gave insight into the different meanings this holiday has to Muslims around the world. However, the quality varied story to story, and they were quite repetitive as a whole: you could see the ending from a mile off. In keeping with the holiday story genre, they were usually very cheesy. I think this book would be best enjoyed by picking a few individual stores to read with a class or reading group, or spreading them out over the Eid seasons.

When I was younger, one of my favorite parts of the Jewish holidays were all of the books and stories that went along with them. Hanukkah was one holiday with endless books that I enjoyed, but one of my favorites was While the Candles Burn: Eight Stories for Hanukkah by Barbara Diamond Goldin. I think I liked this book so much because it had eight stories, each one different and each one representing a different Jewish experience. Once Upon an Eid, edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed, includes 15 stories of one of the most joyous celebrations of the year for Muslims around the world. It reminded me of reading While the Candles Burn because it shares many stories of a diverse community of people all celebrating the same holiday in different ways.

One thing that makes Once Upon an Eid even more special is that each story is written by a different author, meaning that readers are instantly introduced to fifteen storytellers who have written many books of their own. The characters live all around the world and reflect the true cultural and ethnic diversity of Islam. One story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow explores the tension that Hawa faces when she travels with her family to New York to visit her father’s Guinean family members. Hawa and her mother do not speak Mandinka or French, or at least very little, which has led to them feeling left out in the past. However, Eid and it’s colorful celebrations bring the family together.

In another piece, by N.H. Senzai, Bassem is in Greece after a dangerous escape from Syria. The hunger he experiences after a day of fasting during Ramadan feels different than the hunger of war. But even surrounded by family, Bassem can’t help but think of his father who died fighting in Syria. It is by preparing an elaborate celebration for Eid that Bassem finds joy in such difficult times.

It isn’t just Muslim children who will benefit from reading this book, though. While they will be reminded that there are millions of people around the world celebrating this holiday, children who are not of this faith will learn more about Islam and its beautiful traditions. That is definitely something to celebrate.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I feel like this book will expose readers to many fantastic authors and a culture that is not seen too much in middle grade literature. Each story was beautifully told. I also liked how it was balanced with a comic and stories in verse. I learned more about the Muslim culture by reading this as well. I look forward to book talking this with my students and using it in my 6th grade classroom in the future.

Thank you to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this text in exchange for an honest review.

I usually find it difficult to rate anthologies because the quality varies so much between stories, but I'm pleased to say that wasn't the case here. The fifteen authors who write these short stories about Eid effectively convey the challenges and struggles Muslim children might experience, especially during Ramadan (fasting when all one can think about is hunger, having to be generous when it isn't easy, celebrating when one's family is falling apart, or having recently converted and trying to fit into a new culture). They also, however, imbue each story with a sense of hope and the notion that, as Saeed and Ali note in their introduction, Eid evokes a "shared faith and shared joy at celebrating this festive day."

I would recommend this book to middle-grade readers who want to know more about Eid, Ramadan, or Islam in general--the authors are careful to define unfamiliar terms and introduce different cultural celebrations--as well as readers who want to see themselves represented in the books they read. This would be a great Eid present.