All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (Penguin Young Readers Group, 2022). The story chronicles the lives of Noor and Salahudin, close high school friends who share their Pakistani-American heritage. Their familial challenges unfold as Noor …
Month: September 2023
Meet Me in Mumbai
Meet Me in Mumbai by Sabina Khan (Scholastic Press). A story about love and family that spans two generations – a connection that brings Ayesha as a visiting graduate student to the US, and Mira, …
The People of the Indus and the Birth of Civilization in South Asia
The People of the Indus by Jonathan Mark Kenoyer and Illustrated by Nikhil Gulati (Penguin Random House India, 2022). The People of the Indus is a unique, well-researched approach to the history of a region. …
American Fever
On her first journey away from home, sixteen-year-old Hira experiences many unfamiliar situations, including the threat of tuberculosis. Through it all, Hira faces her own misconceptions about America while dealing with Islamophobia from her new friends and host family in Oregon. (Grades 10-12)
The Katha Chest
The Katha Chest by Radhiah Chowdhury and Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu (Young Asiyah learns her family history through her grandmother’s chest of richly patterned katha quilts, hand-stitched from layers of repurposed, memory-laden, sari fabric. Asiyah’s …
Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes
Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes by Mahak Jain; illustrated by Anu Chouhan (Annick Press, 2022). A young girl named Paro comes from a family of Bharatanatyam dancers, and feels out of place at her first ballet …
The Moon from Dehradun: A Story of Partition
In 1947, Azra and her family took an unforgettable train ride from Dehradun to Lahore, leaving her home and her beloved doll behind. Throughout her journey, Azra draws hope and resilience as she sees the same moon each night amidst the ever changing landscape. (Grades PK-4)
Anisa’s International Day
Anisa’s International Day by Reem Faruqi (HarperCollins, 2022). Anisa is a multi-talented girl and is super excited for the upcoming International Day at school. However, every idea that she has is already taken. Will she …
Omar Rising
Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2022). Omar Ali receives a scholarship to the distinguished Ghalib Academy Boarding School in Pakistan. He is excited to start school and join clubs and teams, but …
Thirst
Most people in Mumbai live with limited access to water, with frequent shortages. In contrast, the affluent live above, in high-rise buildings with unrestricted water access. This disparity instigates numerous questions for Minni, as she searches for justice to bridge these inequalities. (Grades 5-6)