Four Eids and Funeral by Faridah Abikke-Iyimide and Adiba Jaigirdar (Macmillan, 2024) Four Eids and a Funeral is a heartfelt, humorous, and community-rooted love story co-written by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar. When Said Hossain returns to his small Vermont hometown for the funeral of a beloved librarian, he finds himself face-to-face with his former best friend, Tiwa Olatunji. The two have not spoken in years, but now they must work together to save their local Islamic Center, which has been damaged by a fire and is at risk of being demolished. As they plan the upcoming Eid celebration and collaborate on an art project, their relationship begins to shift. Said, a Bangladeshi American teen who dreams of becoming an artist, and Tiwa, a Nigerian American girl navigating grief and community responsibility, each bring their own histories and hopes to the story. Told in alternating perspectives, this novel explores themes of friendship, loss, anti-Black racism, parental expectations, queer joy, and the rich diversity within Muslim communities. At its heart, this is a story about returning to the people and places that matter most and finding love and belonging along the way. (Grades 8+)
Award Status: Honorable Mention
Award Category: Older Readers
Authors: Faridah Abikke-Iyimide and Adiba Jaigirdar
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