(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) 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

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Christina Balit. Napoli (Treasury of Norse Mythology et al.) presents the legendary tales of Scheherazade. A helpful introduction draws attention to the "stories within stories within stories within the overarching story" structure; sidebars provide further context for readers. Well-sourced back matter tells more about the author's "literary license" along with information about "the Ancient Arab World." Lush, luminous illustrations appear throughout. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Nizar Ali Badr. Syrian artist Badr used ordinary beach stones to compose the three-dimensional collage art depicting the harrowing journeys that many present-day Syrians undertake. Ruurs's free-verse text, in English and Arabic, chronicles one specific journey of fictional girl Rama, whose family must flee its war-torn village. A memorable look at what it means to leave one's home in search of "a bright new future." Websites.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(4) K-3 Translated by David Henry Wilson. Illustrated by Rashin. In addition to helping break up the text-heavy pages, Rashin's muted-color, cartoonlike illustrations bring humor and a lively modern sensibility to sailor Sinbad's seafaring adventures. The formal, stilted narrative voice, while appropriate for the occasion, may be challenging to younger readers. An accessible and helpful introductory note provides context for the tales.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) YA The king has killed every bride he’s taken, so when he comes to their village, the sister of the prettiest girl convinces him to marry her to protect her sibling. But she has a plan to survive and also gain the power to save the tormented king from himself. Beautiful lyricism and dynamic characters offset a slow pace in this Arabian Nights retelling.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(2) YA After her father, the king of an unnamed Middle Eastern country, is assassinated, Laila, her mother, and brother find themselves living in a DC suburb, rescued by the CIA from certain death in exchange for Laila's mother's cooperation. The author, a former undercover CIA officer, tells a suspenseful story in which Laila, surrounded by lies, risks everything to do what's right. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2014

(3) 4-6 How could Tara let know-it-all Sheila Rosenberg get away with saying, "You're not even Jewish," when Tara's Indian-born mother converted "way before I was even born"? With her bat mitzvah on the horizon, Tara secretly wonders: "Was I about to become more Jewish, or less Indian?" A light, warm, humorous story about cultural identity, inner harmony, and ordinary middle-school trials and tribulations. Glos.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz