I write about topics I’m curious about. When a friend’s daughter converted to Islam that piqued my interest in the religion. I started researching Islam, not entirely sure of where the journey would take me. Around that same time, I saw a picture in my minister’s office of a Syrian refugee and her young son. They held a handwritten sign that said, WE ARE FROM SYRIA, CAN YOU HELP US? I started writing a story about a Christian girl whose church is helping a Syrian refugee family. To enrich the book, I sought a Muslim coauthor to tell half of the story. Together, we read LOTS of books by collaborators.
I wrote...
Flying Over Water
By
Shannon Hitchcock,
N.H. Senzai
What is my book about?
Twelve-year-old Noura Alwan's family is granted asylum in the United States, after spending two years in a Turkish refugee camp, having fled war-torn Aleppo. They land in Tampa, Florida, just days after the president restricted entry into the US from nations with a Muslim majority population. Twelve-year-old Jordyn Johnson is a record-breaking swimmer, but hasn't swum well since her mom had a miscarriage during one of her meets. Her family has volunteered to help the Alwan family through their church.
Jordyn is sympathetic to Noura's situation, but there are other members of their Florida community who see the refugees' presence to be a threat to their way of life. While the president's Muslim ban tests the resolve and faith of many, it is friendship that stands strong against fear and hatred.
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The Books I Picked & Why
A Place at the Table
By
Saadia Faruqi,
Laura Shovan
Why this book?
Sara is Pakistani American; Elizabeth is Jewish. When the two girls become partners in a South Asian cooking class, there are inevitable missteps e.g. — Elizabeth invites Sara to go trick or treating, not realizing Halloween is taboo for Muslims. I especially like the part when the girls establish ground rules for their friendship. One of the rules is that you can ask the other person anything you’re curious about. What better way to learn? As a bonus, young readers will be introduced to some delicious new foods!
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When Stars Are Scattered
By
Omar Mohamed,
Victoria Jamieson
Why this book?
Perfect for graphic novel fans, When Stars Are Scattered proves that collaborators are not limited by format. I like this book because it delves into the day-to-day life inside a refugee camp by a young man who actually lived inside one. This book moved me to tears in several places.
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Same Sun Here
By
Silas House,
Neela Vaswani,
Hilary Schenker
Why this book?
Same Sun Here is told by pen pals Meena and River in their letters to each other. Meena is an Indian immigrant living in New York City. River lives in the coal mining region of Kentucky. I am from a rural area myself so was especially drawn to River’s voice and the rural setting.
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Save Me a Seat
By
Sarah Weeks,
Gita Varadarajan
Why this book?
Most of the books I’ve read by collaborators have fairly somber tones, but not Save Me A Seat. This book is laugh-out-loud funny. Joe has lived in the same town all his life. Ravi’s family recently moved from India. The boys seem to have nothing in common until they team up against the biggest bully in their class.
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Two Naomis
By
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich,
Audrey Vernick
Why this book?
I like Two Naomis because it realistically handles a situation lots of kids may find themselves in—after a divorce, how to become friends with the children of a parent’s boyfriend/girlfriend. In this case, both girls are named Naomi and aren’t especially keen on being thrown together. As a bonus, this book has a sequel called, Naomis Too.
