#Suzanne Fisher Staples

[cicaklah]

my girl @ronniebox tagged me and so here we go!

Rules: List ten books that have stayed with you in some way, don’t  take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard - they don’t have to  be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - my mother gave me this book to read when I was maybe 11, it was her copy that she had bought when Pratchett came and gave a reading at our local library in like, 1992. I'd say no book has been more formative to me, but in writing this I don't think thats true.

The City and the City by China Mieville - I got into Mieville through my girl @crimeandcricket, and was horribly traumatised by the body horror in perdido street station, and was way too influenced by his often pretentious writing style, but the city and the city is a masterpiece I'll never recover fully from and changed me for the better.

The Children's Hospital by Chris Adrian - I'm fairly sure no one but me loves this book, but it is also a book that multiple people stopped me when I was reading in public just from the cover image. My favourite kind of book is a book that can only be written by one person, and Adrian is a theologian and paediatrician, and this book uses every single one of his hyperfixations and also made me cry more than anything else.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster - Actually, this book probably did more to calcify my sense of humour than Pratchett did. The smartest, funniest, coolest children's book ever, and this has reminded me to get the tattoo of Tock on my wrist.

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield - I read this every christmas morning as a treat to myself. I also adore White Boots, the ice skating book, but Ballet Shoes is such a perfect gem of a story that is the favourite of my grandmother, my mother and myself.

Shabanu/Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples - The first book that made me cry, inspired my fondness for camels and was probably my first feminist awakening? I've only read one of the sequels, but it was so brutal I still haven't emotionally recovered entirely.

The Amateur Cracksman by E. W Hornung - my mastermind specialist subject, a book that consumed me across time and space, Raffles my beloved, Bunny my beloved, I remember the moment I read the first story and my life changed literally forever. The Black Mask and A Thief In The Night are also obviously amazing and really all three should be considered one book, but something in my life changed for the better when I read the line 'AJ Raffles would be my friend!' in The Ides of March and I realised oh no, they're mine now.

Exhalation by Ted Chiang - very hard for me to choose a Ted Chiang story so thankfully I will pick his second collection, which has The Life Cycle of Software Objects and also the one about the parrots. It does not have Hell is the Absence of God or stories of your life, but tbh, software objects was the first of his stories I ever read, so it deserves to be here, even if it guts me like a fish every time.

Rivals by Jilly Cooper - if I could have anyone's writing career, it would be Jilly Cooper's. Everytime I read this insane soap opera of a book it holds me hostage until I finish it, and its like 700 pages long. The most wonderfully 80s OTT sex farce about horrible people trying to buy an ITV franchise. I genuinely can't believe that disney plus are making it into a series.

The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson - One of his least famous books and yet I think his best? I had read the Mars books several times before I picked this up, but this alternate history where 90% of Europe are killed by the black death, following how world history changes through the eyes of characters who reincarnate but always find each other, somehow??? it grabbed me by the throat and never let go.

tell me YOUR formative texts pls @crimeandcricket @deputychairman @myth-blossom @skylightpirate @stickthisbig @apricotbones @postalninja @cajunandfire @within-infant-rind

#meme me #book meme

[marjaystuff]

The Secret To Happiness by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Cape Cod Creamery Book 2

Revell Pub

May 2nd, 2023

The Secret to Happiness by Suzanne Woods Fisher delves into how someone can find their way again when life’s issues seem to be overwhelming. There are issues of forgiveness, redemption, family, love, and hope for the future as family and friends try to bring someone out of their despair.

“I did a lot of research on this subject. Essentially what a person focuses on they will find.  If someone is looking for negative things, they will find them. Flip that around if people push themselves to see the positive moments of a day, they can train the mind to reflect and notice.  In the book it starts with finding three good things a day. There is wonder around like seeing the ocean or looking up at the night sky. For me, I stopped being critical or negative of others. I found I was happier, more generous toward people, and a little more understanding. It is more beneficial to oneself.”

The plot has Callie Dixon fired from her job as an executive chef when she makes a huge error in the kitchen. Now unemployed she starts working for a friend at the Penn State Ice Cream School.  There she bumps into her adored Aunt Marnie who tells her that she and her daughter Dawn recently opened an ice cream shop in Cape Cod. She begs Marnie to let her visit, which Marnie accepts.  

“Callie’s life has been shattered after being fired from her dream job.  She accidentally poisoned 200 people at a Food Safety Conference. Before all this she was a happy person and then suddenly everything collapsed on her. She is so depressed with a heavy weight. She lifted herself up a bit when looking for three good things a day, realizing things are better than she realized.  She is confident, exuberant, a lot of fun before the firing.  After, she is overwhelmed, lonely, scared, anxious, and is not honest with herself.”

After arriving Callie spends all day in bed, rarely even coming downstairs, and when she does, she’s disheveled.  Dawn, Marnie’s daughter, and Callie’s cousin drags her to a happiness class taught by Professor Bruno Bianco. He begins to advise her in subtle ways during their interesting conversations that make her think. When she starts reading his book about finding happiness, she ultimately discovers what her problem is and what she needs to do about it.

Meanwhile, Dawn is concentrating on planning her wedding and trying to bake muffins to add as a staple to sell during the winter months to help sustain the income. Callie tastes them and realizes they are terrible.  To help her cousin and aunt she secretly bakes them, and sales go off the charts. Dawn has always been jealous of her cousin and in some ways resentful since Callie has outshone her and was very high achieving. Now Callie is hesitant to overtly get involved with the Ice Cream Shop because she does not want to make waves. After Callie starts to work out her issues and it becomes apparent that she is helping with the ice cream shop, Marnie, Dawn, and Callie become The Three Musketeers, knowing when the three work together everything improves.

“Callie and Dawn are always competitive and jealous of each other. Both being only children they picked up the competitiveness of their fathers. Dawn is insecure and diminished by Callie in the past.  Callie has always outdone Dawn.  Now Dawn is more creative with the ice cream shop.  Dawn realizes she, her mom, and Callie were a great team, but not until the end of the book. After going through a process, they ended up like sisters.”

A bonus is the six-year-old boy, Leo the Cowboy. He was given the job as a cowboy ice cream tester.  He also is the one to help bring Callie out of her funk and begins to cheer her up and draw her out of her depressed state, winning over her heart.

“He befriended Callie and calls her “Cal girl.” He is cute and forces her to come out of depression.  They meant a lot to each other. I pictured him as Opie in the Andy Griffin Show.  He says what is on his mind. They have this mutually beneficial relationship. He brings a lot of softness into her life and makes her feel like a kid again.”

The good news is that there is another book in the series, but the bad news is that the next book might be the last book in the series. Although this story deals with the heavy topics of depression it does have scenes with plenty of lighter moments. This is an emotional and thought-provoking novel with themes of overcoming fears and finding happiness.

[katelivewire]

Has anyone else read Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples? Just finished reading Haveli and House of Djinn (the second and third books in the Shabanu series) and I'm DYING to talk to someone about all the stuff that happened.Esp Omar (HE WAS CUTE OKAY)

#Suzanne Fisher Staples #book #Shabanu #fangirling #fan casting #what about Hasan Minhaj as Omar tho #can we find someone to cast as Shabanu #and what about Mumtaz and Jameel #FUCK I NEED MORE SHABANU X OMAR #books #reading #bookworm #binge reading

[pretimasafghanistanlitblog]

Reflections on a Year of Reading Afghanistan Literature

Titles Read:

-Three Cups of Tea by David Oliver Relin and Greg Mortenson

-Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai

-Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples

-The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Word Count: 785

General Reflections:

When I was choosing a country to complete my independent reading assignment, I had the goal to learn more about a country that I was interested in but did not have much exposure to. Then I came across Afghanistan, which has rich culture and lot’s of history as well. Afghanistan has fought many wars and struggled a lot to become its own independent country. After reading Afghanistan literature, I learned a lot about the traditions and lifestyle followed by Afghans. In addition to that, I read about the struggle that women have to go through so they can be educated. Throughout the books that I read during this assignment, I realized that women play a key role in providing food and care for the family. I have always been intrigued to learn more about the rights that women have.There is a lot of culture and customs that are passed down by generations and generations which I thought was fascinating to read about. The country of Afghanistan is much more than buildings and houses falling into ruins. I read about the unknown beautiful rivers, monuments and mountains of Afghanistan. I think that there are so many things that are unseen about this country and more people should start to learn more about it.  

What I Have Learned About Life From Afghanistan Literature:

From David Olver Relin and Greg Mortenson’s book, Three Cups of Tea, I’ve learned about how one mountaineer was capable of changing the lives of countless kids, women, and men of Afghanistan. The main character in this book was sedulous and due to his hard work and dedication, created such positive changes. In hopes to climb the K2 mountain he went to Afghanistan but ended up helping out those who are struggling with poverty and girls' educational rights. He was looked upon as an idol and role model throughout the villages he went to assist and people would give him blessings. 

After reading Shooting Kabul, by N.H. Senzai, I’ve learned about the struggles that come along with having to adjust in a new country. The main character, Fadi, is forced to leave his home along with his family in order to stay safe. The Taliban were commencing a war on Afghanistan and it was extremely dangerous to stay. But fleeing from one country to another state across seas was difficult for Fadi and his family. Fadi was looked down upon because of coming from an immigrant background. Fleeing from Afghanistan and settling in America was a new, uncomfortable experience for a young twelve-year-old kid. Even with all of the racism and criticism, he struggled through it and always stood up for himself. 

From Suzanne Fisher Staples, Under the Persimmon Tree, I’ve learned about the difficulties that women have to face in countries that have least affordable necessities and education. Many girls are told to learn how to cook, clean and do the basic chores at home. Similar to the main character, Najhma, who was a happy young girl and lived with her family until the disaster hit. Bombings in Afghanistan were killing hundreds and among those hundreds, Najhma’s mother and younger brother were killed. Najhma’s older brother and father were forcefully taken in captive by the Taliban. They had high power and were capable of doing anything. 

After reading The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, I’ve learned about the bond and strong relationship between Hassan and Amir. Even though both of these characters have endured many hardships throughout their life, they have always stayed by each other. Amir comes from a wealthy Afghan family, while Hassan comes from a less fortunate family where his father is a servant. Despite these differences in social class, Amir and Hassan have been best friends since they were young. It shows how friendship is an important thing in life. Along with that,  you should always be yourself no matter what other people think about you. 

What I Learned About Myself And Reading:

After completing independent reading for 20 weeks I have learned a lot about myself and Afghanistan as well. I feel that reading literature from a country which I am interested in makes me want to read more about it. Exploring various books about Afghanistan allowed me to understand the difference in writing style of genres. This assignment also helped me enhance my vocabulary and comprehension skills. The books I read for this assignment were very interesting and made me want to read more about the culture in Afghanistan. I think one of the biggest takeaways from this independent reading assignment is that reading different types of literature about one specific area or region allows you to gain more knowledge. Along with that, you will be in the habit of reading and it will help you learn new words as well.

[artemisegeria]

oscar wilde & edna st vincent millay for the asks?

Thanks for the ask!

Oscar Wilde: What book have you read more than once?

I’ve read tons of books more than once. Re-readability is one of my requirements for considering a book among my favorites. I’d say I probably have read most of my favorites at least 10 times. There are many that I typically read once a year or so. Some of my most frequently read include: The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold, Deerskin by Robin McKinley, Shiva’s Fire by Suzanne Fisher Staples, and The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan. 

Edna St. Vincent Millay: Do you have a favorite poem or one you can recite?

I do have a favorite poem, and funnily enough it is by Edna St. Vincent Millay: Dirge Without Music. I also discovered this poem through fanfiction.

I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground. So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind: Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely.  Crowned With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned. Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you. Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust. A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew, A formula, a phrase remains,—but the best is lost. The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,— They are gone.  They are gone to feed the roses.  Elegant and curled Is the blossom.  Fragrant is the blossom.  I know.  But I do not approve. More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world. Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. I know.  But I do not approve.  And I am not resigned.

And, I have a close runner-up, Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold:

The sea is calm tonight. The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits; on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay. Come to the window, sweet is the night-air! Only, from the long line of spray Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land, Listen! you hear the grating roar Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling, At their return, up the high strand, Begin, and cease, and then again begin, With tremulous cadence slow, and bring The eternal note of sadness in. Sophocles long ago Heard it on the Ægean, and it brought Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow Of human misery; we Find also in the sound a thought, Hearing it by this distant northern sea. The Sea of Faith Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled. But now I only hear Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar, Retreating, to the breath Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear And naked shingles of the world. Ah, love, let us be true To one another! for the world, which seems To lie before us like a land of dreams, So various, so beautiful, so new, Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light, Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain; And we are here as on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night.

#answered #matthewmalloydeservedbetter #poetry

[richincolor]

Spotlight on Girls of the Crescent

Mena and Zena Nasiri are two young women trying to make a difference in the world. They have donated many books to schools and libraries so Muslim girls like them will be able to see themselves in the books they read and the collections in these libraries will be more inclusive. We welcome Mena and Zena to the blog today to share a little about what they are doing and why.

Tell us a little bit about Girls of the Crescent. How did you start your organization? What is your goal?

Girls of the Crescent is a nonprofit organization that donates books with female Muslim main characters to schools and libraries. We want to empower Muslim girls through books and also spread awareness and acceptance. We hope to increase representation and diversity in literature. The first time we realized that there was a lack of diverse books was in 4th grade when we were given a research project to research about someone inspirational. We went to our local library with Muslim women in mind for the project but we could find no books about them and ended up having to do the project on someone else. We never really thought that we could do something to address the problem until last year when we read our first book with a female Muslim main character. The experience of reading about a character we could relate to was amazing and we want to make sure other girls can be represented as well. We decided to start the organization in March 2018 and have been working on getting these books into schools and libraries since.

I’m sure you have busy lives like anyone else. What keeps the two of you doing this work?

We do have busy lives with school, homework, after school activities, and more, but the nonprofit is something we are passionate about. We always make sure to have some time each day to work on the nonprofit. Our work with Girls of the Crescent is so important to us because we know that we are making a difference and that drives us to keep doing it.

If someone wants to read young adult books featuring female Muslim main characters, which titles would you recommend?

Our favorite book on our list is The Lines We Cross, by Randa Abdel-Fatah, a young adult novel about a refugee from Afghanistan named Mina that flees to Australia and has to deal with negative experiences regarding her identity.

Suzanne Fisher Staples’ Under The Persimmon Tree is a brutally honest and powerful story about Najmah, a young Afghan girl who flees her home and family after the Taliban attacks. She meets Nusrat, an American woman running a school for refugee children in Pakistan, and the two help each other find where they belong.

Yes, I’m Hot in This: The Hilarious Truth about Life in a Hijab, by Huda Fahmy, is a hilarious, relatable, and eye-opening collection of comics about the daily struggles of Muslim girls and women.

What has it meant to you to be see these books in schools and libraries?

It has been incredible seeing the books we donate in schools and libraries and noticing the impact they have. Librarians and teachers have told us about how their students were excited to see a character that looked like them and that really reinforces why we are doing what we do. Young Muslim girls deserve representation in the books that they have access to and it is wonderful knowing that we are providing that representation. It brings us back to when we couldn’t see characters we could relate to and makes us even more passionate about our work. Also, we know that the books we are donating are not only helping Muslim girls but are also great for other students. The characters in these books can provide a new perspective and give people more awareness and acceptance. One of our friends came up to us after reading one of the books on our list and said that it was interesting and eye-opening. We hope that through the work we are doing we can impact more people through the books that we are donating.

What would you tell young people who would like to make a difference in their communities?

If you want to make a difference in your community, there are no limitations to what you can accomplish. Your age, gender, or background are never something that should hold you back. We are both high schoolers but we started this nonprofit and have received a lot of support. Find people that support you, whether its your family, friends, neighbors, or community. Once you know the issue that you want to address in your community, brainstorm ways you could approach it. For us, having a nonprofit was the best and most effective way to reach the most people and accomplish our goal. When you get started, don’t be discouraged if you face obstacles. It might be hard at first, especially if the issue you are addressing is large, but know that you are making a difference. Most importantly, love what you are doing. We love working on our nonprofit because it is something that we are passionate about and that keeps us motivated. You have unlimited potential and can make a big difference if you put your mind to it!

If you would like to learn more about Girls of the Crescent, please visit their website.

#Girls of the Crescent

[lifeofaliterarynerd]

We Need Diverse Books: Arab American Heritage Month edition

If You Could Be Mine - Sara Farizan // Seventeen-year-old Sahar has been in love with her best friend, Nasrin, since they were six. They’ve shared stolen kisses and romantic promises. But Iran is a dangerous place for two girls in love—Sahar and Nasrin could be beaten, imprisoned, even executed if their relationship came to light. So they carry on in secret—until Nasrin’s parents announce that they’ve arranged for her marriage.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel - Sara Farizan // High-school junior Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is something of a relief. Her Persian heritage already makes her different from her classmates; if word got out that she liked girls, life would be twice as hard. But when a sophisticated, beautiful new girl, Saskia, shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would, especially when it looks as if the attraction between them is mutual.

A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic - Lisa Papademetriou // Kai and Leila are both finally having an adventure. For Leila, that means a globe-crossing journey to visit family in Pakistan for the summer; for Kai, it means being stuck with her crazy great-aunt in Texas while her mom looks for a job. In each of their bedrooms, they discover a copy of a blank, old book called The Exquisite Corpse. Kai writes three words on the first page—and suddenly, they magically appear in Leila's copy on the other side of the planet. Kai's words are soon followed by line after line of the long-ago, romantic tale of Ralph T. Flabbergast and his forever-love, Edwina Pickle. As the two take turns writing, the tale unfolds, connecting both girls to each other, and to the past, in a way they never could have imagined.

Shooting Kabul - N.H. Senzai // In the summer of 2001, twelve year old Fadi’s parents make the difficult decision to illegally leave Afghanistan and move the family to the United States. When their underground transport arrives at the rendezvous point, chaos ensues, and Fadi is left dragging his younger sister Mariam through the crush of people. But Mariam accidentally lets go of his hand and becomes lost in the crowd, just as Fadi is snatched up into the truck. With Taliban soldiers closing in, the truck speeds away, leaving Mariam behind.

Ms Marvel Vol. 1 - Wilson Alphona & Adrian Alphona (Artist) // Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm!

Ask Me Not Questions - Maria Budhos // Nadira and her family are illegal aliens, fleeing to the Canadian border -- running from the country they thought was their home. For years since emigrating from Bangladesh, they have lived on expired visas in New York City, hoping they could someday realize their dream of becoming legal citizens of the United States. But after 9/11, everything changes.

The Girl Who Fell to Earth - Sophia Al-Maria // The daughter of a mixed marriage spends time with her father’s family in a Gulf State, tries to reconcile her two radically different heritages.

Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood - Ibtisam Barakat // Memoir of a young girl set in a time of war and displacement, but revealing solid family experience.

Does My Head Look Big in This? - Randa Abdel-Fattah // When sixteen-year-old Amal decides to wear the hijab full-time, her entire world changes, all because of a piece of cloth.

Under the Persimmon Tree - Suzanne Fisher Staples // Najmah, a young Afghan girl whose name means star, suddenly finds herself alone when her father and older brother are conscripted by the Taliban and her mother and newborn brother are killed in an air raid. An American woman, Elaine, whose Islamic name is Nusrat, is also on her own. She waits out the war in Peshawar, Pakistan, teaching refugee children under the persimmon tree in her garden while her Afghan doctor husband runs a clinic in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan.

Written in the Stars - Aisha Saeed // Naila’s conservative immigrant parents have always said the same thing: She may choose what to study, how to wear her hair, and what to be when she grows up—but they will choose her husband. Following their cultural tradition, they will plan an arranged marriage for her. And until then, dating—even friendship with a boy—is forbidden. When Naila breaks their rule by falling in love with Saif, her parents are livid. Convinced she has forgotten who she truly is, they travel to Pakistan to visit relatives and explore their roots.

Rebels by Accident - Patricia Dunn // A Troubled Teen Sent to Cairo Finds Revolution is Everywhere, Including in Ourselves

The Space Between Our Footsteps: Poems and Paintings from the Middle East - Naomi Shihab Nye // In an unparalleled collection, honored anthologist Naomi Shihab Nye brings together the work of over 120 poets and artists from nineteen countries in the Middle East. In turn compelling, lyrical, tragic, and humorous, this rich anthology opens the door to the Middle East and beckons readers to explore our common ground.

Persepolis -  Marjane Satrapi, Translated by Mattias Ripa // Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq.

A Thousand Veils - D.J. Murphy // When Fatima Shihabi, an Iraqi poet and journalist, learns she is marked for death by Saddam Hussein's secret police, she flees Iraq, evading Saddam's helicopters hunting her in the desert, only to discover that no other country will grant her asylum. Her flight from Saddam's vengeance, and the extraordinary efforts of Charles Sherman, a Wall Street lawyer, to save her life, is the subject of this gripping novel, inspired by a true story.

The Secret Sky - Atia Abawi // Set in present-day Afghanistan, this is the story of two teenagers, one Pashtun and one Hazara, who must fight against their culture, their tradition, their families, and the Taliban to stay together.

The Wrath & the Dawn - Renée Ahdieh // In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Ronit & Jamil - Pamela L. Laskin // Pamela L. Laskin’s beautiful and lyrical novel in verse delivers a fresh and captivating retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that transports the star-crossed lovers to the modern-day Israel-Palestine conflict.

The Bastard of Istanbul -  Elif Shafak // At its center is the "bastard" of the title, Asya, a nineteen-year-old woman who loves Johnny Cash and the French Existentialists, and the four sisters of the Kazancı family who all live together in an extended household in Istanbul

The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf - Mohja Kahf // Syrian immigrant Khadra Shamy is growing up in a devout, tightly knit Muslim family in 1970s Indiana, at the crossroads of bad polyester and Islamic dress codes. Along with her brother Eyad and her African-American friends, Hakim and Hanifa, she bikes the Indianapolis streets exploring the fault-lines between “Muslim” and “American.”

#book recommendations #book rec #wndb #ya books #we need diverse books #mylist

[firstdraftpod]

Love and Life in the Time of Bouncy Houses with Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

First Draft Episode #234: Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Leah on the Offbeat, and co-author of What if it’s Us, and Aisha Saeed, New York Times bestselling author of Written in the Stars and Amal Unbound, teamed up to write Yes No Maybe So.

This episode of First Draft is brought to you by Steven Sater’s Alice By Heart, a debut young adult novel in which the Tony Award-winning co-creator of Spring Awakening tells the story of a young girl who takes refuge in a London Tube station during WWII and confronts grief, loss, and first love with the help of her favorite book, Alice in Wonderland. Alice By Heart is out from Penguin Random House now.

Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode

Becky’s previous episode of First Draft

Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples

Aisha Saeed was a co-founding member of We Need Diverse Books

Jon Ossoff, the politcian whose run for a U.S. House seat brought Becky and Aisha together and inspired Yes No Maybe So, is running for Senate. Learn more about him and donate to his campaign here!

Becky co-wrote another book, What if it’s Us, with Adam Silvera (listen to his First Draft interview here)

Long Shot (movie)

Nancy Paulsen of Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is Aisha’s long-time editor

Donna Bray at Balzer + Bray has been Becky’s editor for her entire career, and she edited YES NO MAYBE SO

Love, Simon (movie based on Becky’s debut novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapien’s Agenda)

I want to hear from you!

Have a question about writing or creativity for Sarah Enni or her guests to answer? To leave a voicemail, call [phone].

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[audiobookers]

New Audiobook has been published on http://www.audiobook.pw/audiobook/tyrants-daughter/

Tyrant's Daughter

From a former CIA officer comes the riveting account of a royal Middle Eastern family exiled to the American suburbs. When her father is killed in a coup, 15-year-old Laila flees from the war-torn middle east to a life of exile and anonymity in the U.S. Gradually she adjusts to a new school, new friends, and a new culture, but while Laila sees opportunity in her new life, her mother is focused on the past. She’s conspiring with CIA operatives and rebel factions to regain the throne their family lost. Laila can’t bear to stand still as an international crisis takes shape around her, but how can one girl stop a conflict that spans generations? J.C. Carleson delivers a fascinating account of a girl—and a country—on the brink, and a rare glimpse at the personal side of international politics. Every American should read this book. It’s an eye-opener. —Suzanne Fisher Staples, Newbery Honor-winning author of Shabanu *Bonus Backmatter includes a note about the author’s CIA past, and a commentary by RAND researcher and president of ARCH International, Dr. Cheryl Benard. Recommendations for further reading are also included.

[pretimasafghanistanlitblog]

"They sound to Sultan as if they have given up hope."

Suzanne Fisher Staples, Under the Persimmon Tree (266)

[artemisegeria]

I was tagged by @bartagnanz to list top 10 things. Thanks! Some of these are my favorites of all time, but some are as of this moment. Not necessarily in order.

MOVIES 

1. Ever After: A Cinderella Story

2. Beauty and the Beast (animated)

3. Avengers: Infinity War 

4. Mulan

5. Wimbledon 

6. Hitch

7. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

8.  Captain America: Civil War

9.  Atlantis: The Lost Empire

10. The Road to El Dorado

TV SHOWS 

1. Doctor Who 

2. The Good Place

3. The West Wing 

4. Gilmore Girls

5. Castle

6. Avengers: United They Stand (animated) 

7. Parks and Recreation

8. Marvel’s Runaways

9. Once Upon a Time

10. Agent Carter

BOOKS 

1. The Curse of Chalion - Lois McMaster Bujold (LMB)

2. Paladin of Souls - LMB

3. Shards of Honor - LMB 

4. Ethan of Athos - LMB 

5. Deerskin - Robin McKinley

6. Shiva’s Fire - Suzanne Fisher Staples

7. The Raging Quiet - Sherryl Jordan 

8. Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling

9. Finishing Becca - Ann Rinaldi

10. A Swiftly Tilting Planet - Madeleine L’Engle

 MUSIC ARTISTS 

1. Howard Shore 

2. Michael Giacchino

3. Alan Silvestri

4. Michelle Branch 

5. Ingrid Michaelson

6. Sara Bareilles

7. Imagine Dragons 

8. One Republic 

9.  Enya

10. Florence + The Machine

#tag game

[anebebebooks]

The Shadows of Ghadames

Joelle Stolz

This story about a Muslim girl bound by traditional Islamic customs but who yearns for something more explores women’s rights, freedom, religion, and identity.   In the Libyan city of Ghadames, Malika watches her merchant father depart on one of his caravan expeditions. She too yearns to travel to distant cities, and longs to learn to read like her younger brother. But nearly 12 years old, and soon to be of marriagable age, Malika knows that—like all Muslim women—she must be content with a more secluded, more limited life. Then one night a stranger enters her home . . . someone who disrupts the traditional order of things—and who affects Malika in unexpected ways.

“I was enchanted by this story of a brave Berber girl who dares to dream and its filigree of details about harem life, ancient trade routes, goddesses and healers. The real beauty of The Shadows of Ghadames is that it transcends the exotic to explore universal truths about the condition of being human.”—Suzanne Fisher Staples, author of the Newbery Honor Book *****Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind

“Stolz invigorates her tale with elegant prose and a deft portrayal of a girl verging on adolescence. The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story’s universal concerns will touch readers most.”—Booklist*, **Starred

#Libya #Africa #African American #gender #education #family #community #Islam #Muslim #Islamic #batchelder award #amelia bloomer project

[openebooks]

Open eBooks featuring Middle Eastern Perspectives

Books offer a pathway for understanding the world around us. The list below features titles both about immigrants from the Middle East exploring America, and life in the Middle East past and present through fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai Simon & Schuster, Ages 9-12 Fadi never imagined he’d start middle school in Fremont, California, thousands of miles from home in Kabul—and half a world away from his missing six-year-old sister, Mariam. Adjusting to life in the United States isn’t easy for Fadi’s family, and as the events of September 11 unfold, the prospects of locating Mariam in war-torn Afghanistan seem slim. When a photography competition with a grand prize of a trip to India is announced, Fadi sees his chance to return to Afghanistan and find his sister. But can one photo really bring Mariam home?

Saving Kabul Corner by N.H. Senzai Simon & Schuster, Ages 9-12 A rough and tumble tomboy, twelve-year-old Ariana couldn’t be more different from her cousin Laila, who just arrived from Afghanistan with her family. Laila is a proper, ladylike Afghan girl, one who can cook, sew, sing, and who is well versed in Pukhtun culture and manners. Arianna hates her. Laila not only invades Ariana’s bedroom in their cramped Fremont townhouse, but she also becomes close with Mariam Nurzai, Ariana’s best friend. Then a rival Afghan grocery store opens near Ariana’s family store, reigniting a decades-old feud tracing back to Afghanistan. The cousins, Mariam, and their newfound frenemy, Waleed Ghilzai, must ban together to help the families find a lasting peace before it destroys both businesses and everything their parents have worked for.

Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples Macmillan, Ages 12-14 During the 2001 Afghan War, the lives of Najmah, a young refugee from Kunduz, Afghanistan, and Nusrat, an American-Muslim teacher who is awaiting her husband's return from Mazar-i-Sharif, intersect at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Flag of Childhood: Poems from the Middle East edited by Naomi Shihab Nye Simon & Schuster, Ages 12-14 In this stirring anthology of sixty poems from the Middle East, honored anthologist Naomi Shihab Nye welcomes us to this lush, vivid world and beckons us to explore. Eloquent pieces from Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, and elsewhere open windows into the hearts and souls of people we usually meet only on the nightly news. What we see when we look through these windows is the love of family, friends, and for the Earth, the daily occurrences of life that touch us forever, the longing for a sense of place. What we learn is that beneath the veil of stereotypes, our human connections are stronger than our cultural differences.

Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood by Ibtisam Barakat Macmillan, Ages 15-18 Set in Ramallah during the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War, this poignant glimpse into a little-known culture traces the author's life, from her tragic childhood as a Palestinian refugee to her joyous discovery of the Arabic alphabet, which led to her passion for language and writing.

American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar Hachette, Advanced Reader A young Pakistani boy, whose parents left the fundamentalists behind when they came to America, finds transformation and a path to happiness through a family friend, Mina, who shows him the beauty and power of the Quran.

Islam Quintet by Tariq Ali Open Road, Advanced Reader **Open eBooks has all five individual titles, plus the full collection in one Celebrated journalist and author Tariq Ali’s Islam Quintet takes readers from the streets of medieval Muslim Spain to twenty-first-century London and Lahore. At once a meditation on the millennia-spanning clash of Islam with the West and a series of riveting fictions, these five works are a compelling portrait of worlds in conflict and the lives lived between them.

I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai Hachette, Advanced Reader Describes the life of a young Pakistani student who advocated for women's rights and education in the Taliban-controlled Swat Valley who survived an assassination attempt and became the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. 

#openebooks #mglit #yalit #middle east #immigration #wndb #we need diverse books