Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Writing for you and me and herself

Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy

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I have not read a lot of Huda Fahmy’s works, but what I do know is that they are an important voice in today’s literary world. Not because she is a woman or because she is Muslim, but because she is someone who is writing about experiences we all face.  I picked up Huda F Are You? (by the way, her mother hates the title) because I found an autographed copy. And while I thought Fahmy would focus more on her religious relationship, the story […]

Family connections

I'll See You in Ijebu by Bunmi Emenanjo

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I usually am a fan of the books from Barefoot Books. And with I’ll See You in Ijebu I think I found my new favorite book this year (or for sure in the Top 15).  This is a delightful story of one young girl and the rich culture and family she comes from. We see how she celebrates both her mother’s family and their Muslim faith, and her immediate family and their Christian (specifically Catholic) faith as well. The two worlds are not separate, but can be […]

Empowered by his faith

Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Biegelow

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I was not sure what to expect from Salat in Secret. I figured it would be more of a story about a boy who is picked on, teased, even harassed, when he prays, so he then hides doing it. Instead, we start out in Jamilah Thompkins-Biegelow’s story with the narrator, Mouhammad, hiding his praying. He is now seven, and old enough to have his own Salat rug for prayers. But he wonders how people might react to him, as he has seen how the community […]

Celebration of Ramadan

Aliya’s Secret: A Story of Ramadan by Fairda Zaman

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I know ages ago I read a story about a child who wanted to celebrate Ramadan by fasting like the rest of their family, but I honestly cannot remember the title. However, I do not think it matters as I also remember not liking it a lot, and I know why now. It was missing the vital piece of Aliya’s Secret: A Story of Ramadan has. That book dealt just with the fasting element, and Fairda Zaman covers so much more in Aliya’s Secret. They […]

Around the world in a book

Lunar New Year (Celebrations & Festivals) by Natasha Yim

Martina Has Too Many Tias by Emma Otheguy

The Masjid Kamal Loves by Ashley Franklin

Lali’s Flip-Flops by Farhana Zia

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I was in the mood for picture books, and when I went looking for one, I found four. (I was surprised I only found four). And when I started to really look at them, I realized they were all culturally based.  And due to the shorter nature of them, it would be hard to write individual reviews, so here is a “Around the World ” in four books themed review. All are currently available and all are good reads and I will probably read the […]

Faith and fun

Zain’s Super Friday by Henna Khan

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While Zain’s Super Friday is not my all time favorite book, it is up there for two reasons. The first is that it has at least two layers and the second is that it deals with representation in a positive manner.   Zain is a young boy who is ready to go-go-go! on Friday morning. However, his father must work, and when he is done, it is time for prayers. We are exposed to the Muslim culture in a positive way. There is no racism, just […]



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