(2) YA Thirteen-year-old Samira's parents and older sister are in India for two weeks for a wedding, leaving her and her younger brother, Imran, at home in Minnesota with their maternal grandmother, Umma. Recovering from an awful seventh-grade year, Sammy hopes the time without her immediate family's interference will help her cope with the isolation she feels since being targeted by former-best-friend-now-bully Kiera. It is almost certainly Kiera who toilet-papered the tree in their front yard; Imran (who has autism) fixates on Sammy's offhand remark that they were targeted because they are brown and Muslim. New neighbor Alice seems eager to solve the mystery of who did it -- which makes nonconfrontational Sammy deeply uncomfortable. And she is wary of Alice's overtures of friendship, especially when Kiera tries to interfere. The protagonist is a relatable character; as an awkward middle child, she both craves and pushes away attention. Hamza tackles cultural diversity and prejudice with nuance, showing both overt occurrences of prejudice and microaggressions. The story features allies of different ages and appearances, along with Samira's own growing advocacy for herself and others.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(2) K-3 Shahrzad, a little girl with black corkscrew hair, beetling brows, and a trusty scooter, likes stories. She seeks them out and tucks them away. One day she hears about a king in a distant land whose personal sorrows have turned him into a tyrant. This is her moment. Piloting her own plane, she travels to a land of minarets and onion domes and finds this sad and angry king isolated in his palace, grieving and oppressing his people. Day after day she tells him stories until she senses that he is ready to hear his own tale reflected back to him with understanding, sympathy, and a nudge toward a change of heart. This wise and witty riff on the Scheherazade framing tale of The Arabian Nights merges everyday and fairy-tale worlds, with respect for the traditional job of folklore to encourage us to shape up and fly right. The pictures are energetic, with a wide-ranging cast of characters, cheeky humor (Shahrzad gets in some thinking time while sitting on the toilet), and Chagall-like warmth and exuberance. A dark undertone and contemporary political resonance are there for those who are ready for it, but for everyone it's an original contribution to picture books about smart girls who save the world.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) YA Illustrated by Sara Alfageeh. Set in an alternate-history version of the Middle East/North Africa region, this sweeping graphic novel begins as a thrilling quest for glory and becomes an artful revelation of the destructive cost of imperialist power. In a conquered territory of the fictional Bayt-Sajji empire, Aiza spends her days peddling apricots while weathering taunts and threats because she is Ornu, a non-citizen. When a recruitment announcement tantalizes Aiza with promises of a path to full citizenship and a chance at glorious heroism, she convinces her parents, conceals her Ornu tattoos, and commences her enlistment journey. New friendships with other squire hopefuls make the relentless and intense training bearable, and late-night practice sessions with the combat-savvy cook help her improve after she fails her first squire examination. Everything changes during one climactic excursion on the border of an Ornu village, however, and Aiza must decide whether to pursue her dream of becoming a squire, thus upholding the fabricated histories of the empire, or to make a much greater, and graver, stand for justice. Alfageeh's light line work, desert-hued color palette, and inspired use of Islamic patterns and architecture in her compositions transport readers into the action. With its high stakes and robust characters, Squire feels like a new take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, minus the magic.

Reviewer: Niki Marion | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(2) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Indian American Sonali keeps her emotions to herself. She maintains a stoic demeanor in order to protect her younger brother from her parents' constant arguments, and she attempts to unite the family with weekly Bollywood movie nights. When her parents announce a trial separation and her best friend grows closer to the popular girl at their Los Angeles middle school, Sonali's feelings bubble to the surface and break out as "Bollywooditis." In this alternate reality, her entire life is a Bollywood movie, and as such her emotions are on full display in disruptive musical solos she can't help singing at inopportune moments. A horrified Sonali attempts to tamp down her personal soundtrack, garish makeovers, and coordinated background dancers, to no avail. It is only when she faces up to the reality of her parents' divorce and communicates her pent-up feelings that the "filmi magic" fades. Kelkar creates sympathetic characters burdened by family secrets, cultural expectations, and bottled-up emotions. She deftly draws out the impact divorce can have on friendships, schoolwork, and a child's inner life. The heaviness of these themes is lightened by Bollywood touches, which also explore the seesaw effect of both loving and cringing at one’s culture.

Reviewer: Sadaf Siddique | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(3) 4-6 Beginning in the fourteenth century BCE with Egyptian ruler Nefertiti, Tarnowska introduces notable figures from Middle Eastern history through modern times. Each four-page biography opens with a full-page portrait (in different styles; five illustrators are mentioned at book's end). Subjects include artists, activists, an astronaut, a soldier, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, scientists, and "the first figure skater...to compete internationally in a hijab." Along the way, the impressionistic text provides insight into what life is like for women in this region and how their lives have changed. A map and glossary are included; no sources are provided.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) YA Adolescent Shif is taken from his home (country unnamed) to a desert prison, where he becomes "Refugee 87," doomed to certain death. He escapes, makes his way to the coast, and boards a boat for European shores. The story, inspired by true events, is unevenly paced yet gripping, vivid, and often poetic.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam

(3) YA In this third book, half-magic Demdji Amani and the rebels fight to end the Sultan's brutal rule. But first they must save the banished Rebel Prince Ahmed from a mythical city. While there's a huge cast of characters and a multilayered story to follow, the gratifying conclusion to this magical fantasy, with its Middle Eastern lore and steampunk machines, should appeal to series fans.

Reviewer: Janet Daniels

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jo Weaver. This slim, profusely illustrated book (first published in the UK) introduces a small group of Middle Eastern refugees adrift at sea in a small broken-down boat. Rami, a young man clutching a violin case, plays his instrument and shares a legend about its creation. Weaver's haunting art in a monochromatic palette of greenish-black perfectly complements the sad yet sometimes hopeful tale.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Fact Finders: Immigration Today series. These volumes cover basic information about why people choose to or are forced to leave their home countries. Profiles of individual immigrants' journeys to the United States are featured throughout and effectively humanize the concept of immigration. Lots of photographs, charts, sidebars, and "Did you Know" text boxes add context and enhance the presentations. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fact Finders: Immigration Today titles: Immigrants from Afghanistan and the Middle East and Immigrants from India and Southeast Asia

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Laura Borràs. Although Marwan's Middle Eastern birth country is only hinted at in the beautifully expressive watercolor and ink paintings, the boy is unfortunately among the adult and child refugees fleeing war-torn countries worldwide. His mother, "with her flour-soft hands," is not beside him on the hard journey. The poetic first-person text, translated from the Spanish, addresses violence but still allows hope of Marwan one day returning to his homeland.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) K-3 While their Syrian village burns, Sami's family walks until they reach a refugee camp: "We are safe." But Sami is heartbroken over the loss of his beloved pet pigeons until a quartet of birds arrives. Del Rizzo uses polymer clay and acrylic paint to create vibrant pictures. Beauty and sorrow sit side by side in this compassionate and age-appropriate depiction of contemporary refugee life.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(2) YA Seventeen-year-old Caroline is spending a year in Cairo, Egypt, while her mom establishes an eye clinic there. With her parents busy working, Caroline winds up exploring the city with her driver's son, Adam, and a romance realistically develops as he introduces her to Arabic words and phrases and authentic contemporary Egyptian culture. Doller has crafted a respectful guide for anyone interested in understanding a different culture.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2017

(4) K-3 Young camel Jamal cannot keep up with his parents in a Bedouin caravan. Lost and afraid, Jamal encounters a string of desert animals, including the falcon that finally leads the camel safely to his family. The story is slight, but Foreman's graceful watercolor and pencil illustrations strikingly contrast the empty, lonely desert with the bustling traditional marketplace, the sea, and Dubai's gleaming modern skyscrapers.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) YA As a half-magic Demdji, "Blue-Eyed Bandit" Amani (Rebel of the Sands) must conceal her powers while being held prisoner at the palace. But she's also there spying for Prince Ahmed's rebellion to overthrow his tyrannical father, the Sultan. The Middle Eastern lore, relationships, and political machinations continue to be well developed in the captivating--and heartbreaking--second installment of this epic fantasy.

Reviewer: Janet Daniels

(3) YA ISIS has been on the forefront of global affairs for more than a decade. This investigative volume provides a look at the group's origins and beliefs, as well as the terrorist acts it has committed or inspired. The narrative, including gripping stories of survival from attacks, is accompanied by numerous photographs of the aftermaths and people involved. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Foreword by Jean-Pierre Isbouts. Old and New Testament Bible stories--accessibly adapted from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and illustrated with European masterworks--are connected to archaeological discoveries and theories that explain life in the ancient Middle East. While chock-full of information (perhaps of more interest to adults), the busy format and a variety of type sizes are distracting. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Biracial Karma wrestles with anxiety about starting middle school. In addition to changes at home and the arrival of a mean new girl seemingly intent on stealing her best friend, Karma is mortified by the seventeen dark hairs she has discovered on her upper lip. Despite almost relentless humiliations, Karma becomes a satisfyingly well-adjusted and resilient sixth grader who admirably handles her changing life.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Amani, an expert markswoman who plans to shoot her way out of her dead-end hometown, escapes from Dustwalk with a handsome young criminal. Their journey across the desert leads Amani to the Rebel Prince's Djinni army, placing her at the heart of a global battle between good and evil. Middle Eastern lore meets steampunk Western in this exciting fantasy debut.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) YA Special Reports series. Authors give historical context and contemporary analysis of current topics to help high school readers understand world affairs. Stock photographs and frequent sidebars contribute to the choppy layouts. Because both US-Cuba relations and ISIS's impact on the world are changing, these print resources will be dated quickly. Nevertheless, each volume provides serviceable background for report writers. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Special Reports titles: US-Cuba Relations and ISIS.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) YA Fifteen-year-old Anna is heading back to boarding school in England in 1970 when her plane from Bahrain is hijacked by Palestinian militants. This fast-paced, historically contextualized, and gripping story includes the right mix of foreshadowing, anticipation, and relief as Anna's four-day ordeal unfolds. A postscript and Q&A discuss the author's own hijacked-plane experience as a teenager, upon which the story is based.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey