Huda F Are You?

I have been meaning to read this book for a while now, ever since I learned about it during a presentation at the Literacy Research Association this past December. Huda F Are You? is a fictionalized memoir about a young, Egyptian-American girl trying to figure things out. First, and foremost, is the titular question she is trying to answer, as she is struggling with a great many issues: keeping up her grades, being a hijab-wearing Muslim, making friends, and meeting her parents' expectations. The first one is easy for her, and being a top student is a key part of her identity. The second is tougher, as it makes her pretty visible and a target for discrimination from random white people and even teachers. The third is complicated because she feels like she does not really feel she is Muslim enough, because she is not as strong in Arabic as many of the other students in her school in Dearborn, Michigan. So she feels inferior to what she sees as "more perfect" Muslim kids, but she also feels alien to most other kids at her school.

Dealing with these three concerns cause Huda to spin off her axis, and her grades start to slip. So she makes some somewhat bold choices that lead her into more awkward situations. All of these behaviors lead to a confrontation with her mother that frames the narrative.

Not everything in this book resolves neatly, but she does find some peace and connections in her social and academic worlds. What impressed me most about this narrative was how relatable and  funny it is. It features lots of observational humor and also running jokes, like the multiple ways that people mispronounce her name, which I can relate to. This book has a lot of heart, and it shows it through its expressive artwork, intricate characters, and the delicate, deliberate pacing. I very much enjoyed this book, and now I need to read its two sequels.

This book's creator Huda Fahmy has written a number of comics for both adults and younger readers. Huda F Cares? and Huda F Wants to Know? are the two sequels to this book. Yes, I Am Hot in This and That Can Be Arranged are graphic novels that began as webcomics, and they are more geared toward adults. Fahmy speaks about her life and work in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book sing its praises. Kirkus Reviews called it "hilarious, charming, and much needed." Richetta wrote, "This book is perfect for discussing identity on multiple levels." Amani Salahudeen opined, "I loved how Huda weaved in humor, touched on important topics within the Islamic community, and was unapologetically Muslim. This book is a must-read!"

Huda F Are You? was published by Dial Books, and they offer a preview and more information about it here. I recommend it for middle and high school readers.

Tunnels

Tunnels is a splendid graphic novel, intricately plotted, expressively drawn, and colorfully executed. Its plot is complicated, and its characters bold, with each of them so focused on their desires that they do not see a bigger picture. The main character is Nili, an unemployed, single mother who strives to complete her archaeologist father's ultimate quest: to locate the Ark of the Covenant. Because of the onset of dementia, he had been removed from his academic position and is convalescing at home.

 "Aiding her" on her journey is her brother Broshi, but he is secretly in kahoots with Prof. Rafi Sarid, their father's ex-collaborator who is conniving to take the glory that comes with discovery for himself. He has dangled Broshi the prospect of tenure for information leading to locating the Ark, but he has no intentions to honor his deal. Also on the journey is Doctor, Nili's young son who wants nothing but to be left alone with games on a cell phone. The entire enterprise is bankrolled by Emil Abuloff, an antiquities dealer with a penchant for buying artifacts pilfered by ISIS. He is looking for a legitimate score to offset the ill-gotten gains he has made off of terrorists.  Doing the actual digging are two parties, first a team of sycophantic Jews led by Shmuel Gedanken and two Palestinian brothers, Mahdi and Zuzu  who dig the tunnel but want it for smuggling purposes. Gedanken also has in tow Aviva, a red cow that is to be slaughtered upon discovering the Ark.

If you have stuck with me thus far, you can see that there is much going on in this book character-wise. However, just as important as the characters is the setting, the contested lands in Israel and Palestine where huge walls and armed soldiers loom. At stake here are not just the fame that comes with discovery but also the power afforded to political and religious supremacy. Not to mention the fact the some of these people believe that possessing the Ark means that their forces will be unstoppable.

Despite all of these seriousness and intrigue of this quest, the book also features a sense of humor, full of Tintin-esque, colorful characters whose eyes and mouths frequently explode in cartoonish manner. Aviva the cow is also a wild-card, getting into all sorts of mischief and mucking things up. So, this books is a strangely balanced concoction of political jostling, family and academic drama, archaeological adventure, and farce. It is a fascinating, compelling, and substantial book, masterfully crafted and brilliantly illustrated. It also features an essay to close the book, where the author explains her intentions and narrative choices in great detail.

Tunnels was created by Rutu Modan, who has published two other graphic novels. Exit Wounds and The Property, in the US, with both winning Eisner Awards. She has also illustrated a number of picture books, created a variety of short comics, and edited the Hebrew edition of MAD magazine. She speaks about her work on Tunnels in this interview. This book was translated into English by Ishai Mishory.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Hillary Brown wrote that "all these characters are so flawed and fascinating and prickly. They’re predictable and unpredictable in equal parts, which makes them interesting to watch." Etelka Lehoczky opined, "Contemplating the shallowness and entitlement of Modan's characters, readers may wind up reflecting on their own." Rachel Cooke wrote, "Every page is gripping, every frame profoundly political."

Tunnels was published by Drawn & Quarterly, and they offer a preview and more here.

Piece By Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab

Piece By Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab is a complex, harrowing, and compelling graphic novel that tackles some difficult subject matter, namely prejudice and violence directed toward Muslims in the United States. This book is set in 2002 in Portland, Oregon, and it stars Nisrin, a young woman who embraces Islam and traditional garb, despite her parents' views. They still recall the violence in Bangladesh becoming independent from Pakistan in 1971, and their scars color their views differently.

Her wearing a head scarf marks Nisrin as an outsider in school and her community, and one day she and an African-American friend find themselves targeted by a crazed individual spewing anti-Muslim hate. Both girls are beaten badly, and face long recoveries. Nisrin in particular suffers from instances of PTSD, and she finds it difficult to deal with her new surroundings in high school, where she finds herself bullied by some students and shunned by some teachers. She finds it hard to make friends, though eventually she does hit it off with a girl named Veronica.

Reading this book is bracing, because it depicts serious subject matter in a frank manner. However, I appreciated the experience of reading it, because it is engrossing, and I feel that I learned much more about Bangladeshi culture and history. Also, the vivid painted imagery is powerful and atmospheric, drawing the reader into this work in direct and impactful fashion. Its imagery and narrative are both haunting and enlightening, showing the horrors that victims of hate crimes suffer as well as how some immigrants experience life in the US.

This book's creator Priya Huq is a Bangladeshi artist, and this is her debut graphic novel. She publishes work with Radiator Comics, and she speaks more about her life and how it affected the making of this book in this interview.

All the reviews I have read about this book have sung its praises. Kirkus Reviews concluded, "Remarkable storytelling presents a multilayered struggle around identity and power in an anti-Muslim climate." Amanda MacGregor wrote, "This is a very emotional and powerful read, with the assault and resulting trauma coloring much of the story." Mahasin A. Aleem called it "A solid addition to collections of all types and a welcome exploration of what it means to navigate the complexities of Muslim identity in the United States."

Piece By Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab was published by Amulet Books, and they offer more information about it here.

Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin

This second volume in Marvel Comics' new young adult line of graphic novels focuses on Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani-American girl who gains "embiggening" powers and fights for justice from Jersey City. I have been reading Kamala Khan's adventures since the character was created and have read pretty much all of her solo comic books, and this book nails her characterization. She is tough, smart, and driven, perhaps too much at times. She is also a kind friend, dutiful daughter, and high achiever who always strives to be the best.

As the title relates, Kamala is tackling a bit much. She is trying to balance her home life, school work, friendships, fan-fic writing, and Quran school with her superheroics, and she is starting to burn out. She has the great responsibility of caring for her small cousin Malik while his parents are away, and everything is getting to her. She starts to cut corners. One day, a mysterious package arrives, containing a toy robot. Malik loves it and it soothes him, so she does not think twice about charging it using her computer's USB port. That is where some major trouble begins.

She's even superheroic out of costume!

What I liked about this book most was how well it captures the original Marvel Comics feel of "real world" superheroes. Kamala, her family, friends, and superhero associates Miles Morales and Squirrel Girl are all shown to be unique characters with distinct personalities and drives. Also, her life is authentically complicated. Kamala is caught between fulfilling her family and community obligations, and I think that she comes off as heroic but also grounded in reality. There are so many tensions in her life, which I think reflects the reality of most people, especially today, and it is great rooting for her to get things together.

The artwork is colorful and dynamic, and so attractive that my two-year-old daughter snatched the book up as soon as I got it and flipped through its pages without letting me even look at it. She would not give it back either. After she went to bed I got to finally read it, and I found that the characters' emotions and actions are depicted in clear, bold fashion, and I loved the visual storytelling. I think that it acts as a great lead-in to her adventures and world to those who might not know who she is, but it is also a satisfying read for an old codger like me, who has read a gazillion superhero comics. It's a fun read for fans new and old.

The main creators of this book were writer Nadia Shammas and artist Nabi H. Ali. Shammas has been working on a graphic novel called SQUIRE that is due to be published soon. Ali is an illustrator who has worked on a number of prominent projects in comics, art, and video media. Shammas speaks about her life and work in this Q & A. Both creators comment on Stretched Thin in this article.

I was not able to find many reviews of it online, which I thought was curious, but the ones I have read have been positive. M.L Kejera called it "a moving work for younger readers that feels tailored to their worldview without condescension." It currently has a 4 (out of 5) star rating on Goodreads.

Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin was published by Scholastic Graphix, and they have an excerpt and more information about it here.

Brave

I have been reviewing books that have been nominated for the Excellence in Graphic Literature Award in the Middle Grades category, and the winners will be announced this weekend. Today's book received an Honorable Mention, and it is a sequel to Awkward, which I reviewed last month. This book is also set at Berrybrook Middle School, but it shifts to focus on a new protagonist Jensen, who is also a member of the Art Club. He's a bit oblivious about a lot of things, and gets stuck in his own head a lot.

The irony!

He's failing math class and needs tutoring. He goes through his school day like it's a series of video game levels he has to pass, so he's not so cognizant of the frequent bullying and harassment he faces. Also, he sort of fades into the background so much that he might not be so much anyone's actual friend. He learns a lot about himself over the course of the book, from reflecting, from his friends, and from his teachers, but none of it seems forced or artificial like an afterschool special might.

What I love about this book are two things: Its characters and situations are vibrant and relatable to me. It has been a long while since I was in junior high (what they called it back then), and there were scenes in this book that really brought me back. There are many life and social issues that readers can take in and think about because they are presented so realistically and dynamically. Also, this book is full of a diverse cast of characters who feel genuine. Second, although this is the second book in a series, it's instantly accessible to new readers. There are passing references to familiar characters and events that past readers would get, but none of them are essential to the plot so new readers don't feel like they are missing something. I think that is a tough trick to pull off, and I am impressed by the overall quality of this book. It's fantastic, and I feel it should be a super-popular choice for middle school students.

This book's creator Svetlana Chmakova is a celebrated comics artist who has won a slew of awards and accolades for her works. Along with this Berrybrook Middle School series, she also has published Dramacon, set at a comics convention and the supernatural themed series Nightschool. For those interested in her work and career, this article is a good one to check out.

The reviews I have read of this book have been universally glowing. Kirin at the Islamic School Librarian wrote that it offered a "good message, that is more self empowering than preachy." Matthew Burbridge opined, "I consider BRAVE one of this year’s must-reads for anybody who has a difficult time understanding the problems and pain that bullying can cause." Esther Keller called the artwork "magnificent" and added that the book "really captures so many realities of middle school life, as if Chmakova just left there herself."

Brave was published by Yen Press, and they offer a preview here. The next installment in the series, called Crush, comes out soon.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Marjane Satrapi was in elementary school when the Shah was ousted from power in Iran and a conservative Islamic regime took control. Because her family had communist and socialist leanings as well as a distant familial relationship to the deposed Shah, they had to navigate a perilous political landscape. During this time, Marjane struggles to find meaning in the vast changes, the many injustices, and the specter of martyrdom and war that hung over her country. She wrestles with religion, school, and the authorities who place restrictions on clothing, make-up, and popular culture. Being questioning and rebellious, Marjane has to deal with seemingly mundane situations that suddenly deteriorate into danger.

This volume contains the first two chapters of the books originally published in France. It is followed by a sequel where we follow what happens to Marjane as she becomes a young adult. This volume is very episodic and provides many scenes from a country in conflict where one family is struggling to get by. Incidentally, the title of the book comes from the Greek name for Parsa, an ancient capital of the Persian Empire.

Satrapi has become internationally famous and lauded for her graphic novel work. This article by Paul Gravett speaks to her life and work on this first volume of the series as well as its movie adaptation. This interview with Sean Axmaker also gets at her thoughts and intentions about making this graphic novel.

Persepolis has been almost universally accepted as a classic. Johanna Draper Carlson wrote that this "memoir is a must-read for a unique perspective on current events." Sarah Tan wrote that "Persepolis is a novel of the importance of being aware of ourselves and understanding the consequences of change." Offering a slightly contrary opinion, Christopher Skokna noted that Satrapi's storytelling chops could use some attention and he concluded that "for Satrapi to reach the front of the autobiographical comics library — and to deserve the attention this book is receiving — she must improve her skills and lengthen her perspective."

Some preview pages are available here from the book's publisher Pantheon.

Cartoon History of the Universe III: From the Rise of Arabia to the Renaissance

Cartoon History of the Universe Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here.

A lot of ground gets covered in this volume. It details the life of Muhammad and the rise and spread of Islam. It also touches on Asian and African history, follows the exploits of the Turks and other nomadic peoples, and covers medieval life in China, India, and Japan. Some other high points include "the Dark Ages," Muslim Spain, and the European Middle Ages from the Crusades to the Black Death. The book goes on to cover the Italian Renaissance and various naval expeditions to explore the world, concluding with Christopher Columbus's historic departure in 1492.

Larry Gonick wrote and drew this series of books, which has been coming out sporadically since 1978. This volume of the series won the 2003 Harvey Award for Best Graphic Album of Original Work, and has received many accolades. Reviewer Jerry Stratton raves that all the Cartoon History of the Universe books "should be on every bookshelf of the English-speaking world."

Some sample pages from the book are available here. Another preview is available from publisher W.W. Norton.