August 1, 2021
After a traumatic experience, Nisrin decides to wear a hijab; however, the road to asserting her identity is not that simple. It's 2002 in Oregon, and anti-Muslim sentiments are on the rise. Muslim Bangladeshi American Nisrin and her best friend, Firuzeh, who is cued as Iranian and Black, become victims of a gruesome hate crime at the end of eighth grade. Afterward, Nisrin, who lives with her single mother and maternal grandparents, slowly recuperates physically and mentally. When she enters high school, Nisrin decides to wear the hijab, partly as an act of resistance. This is met with a mix of concern and strong disapproval, especially from her domineering grandfather. Neither Nisrin's mother nor grandmother are hijabi, and Nisrin herself only starts actively learning about Islam after this point. She struggles at school with discrimination from teachers and fellow students alike, made worse because Firuzeh seems to be avoiding her as well. As family tensions rise, Nisrin learns more about her family's past and Bangladeshi history, context that helps her understand her family's complicated feelings about her decision. This gripping graphic novel is fast-paced and dramatic, with full-color illustrations that intensify the heightened emotions. The darkness is tempered by a happy ending, with friendships--both old and new--blossoming, a family growing closer, and a teenager finding more peace in her own skin. Remarkable storytelling presents a multilayered struggle around identity and power in an anti-Muslim climate. (information about Bangladesh) (Graphic fiction. 13-16)
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September 15, 2021
Grades 7-10 Presenting a perspective and experience rarely seen in graphic novels for middle-grade students, debut Bangladeshi American Huq tells the story of Muslim teen Nisrin, who experiences a wide range of Islamophobia in the early 2000s. Set in Oregon, the story begins with a horrifically violent hate crime that leaves Nisrin physically hurt and traumatized, and it continues with the chronicling of the many discriminatory acts that she faces at her new high school. In an effort to heal, she decides to wear the hijab and learn more about Islam, but in doing so, she learns painful truths about her own family's relationship with the religion. Some young readers may find the discrimination Nisrin faces difficult to take in, especially since Huq does an outstanding job of using expressive characters and color to present the harshness of her experience. But the story is buoyed by quiet moments of beauty and an uplifting ending that emphasizes the crucial role supportive friends and family can play in helping young people face trauma and move toward healing.
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September 17, 2021
Gr 7 Up-In Portland, OR, in 2002, eighth grader Nisrin Moniruzzaman is proud to share her Bangladeshi heritage and cultural dress with her school community during a celebration of world cultures. But on her way home from school with a friend who is Black and Iranian, the girls suffer a violent racist attack, and Nisrin's orna, a shawl-like scarf, is ripped from her head. In the following months, both girls struggle to heal. After visiting the home of a young cousin who wears a hijab, Nisrin decides to start wearing the headscarf as she begins high school. Her choice challenges her mother and her maternal grandparents, with whom she lives, and makes her a target for Islamophobia at school; it also serves as a catalyst for her to learn more about Islam and her family's feelings about the religion, their experiences in Bangladesh, and the country's tumultuous history, including Bangladesh's relationship with Pakistan (although readers will need to look elsewhere for a nuanced account of conflict in the region). Vivid illustrations capture the characters' raw feelings and move the narrative along quickly, making it feel slightly rushed at times. "A Guide to Bangladesh'' written from the perspective of Nisrin at the end of the novel includes a map of the region and provides additional insight about the country, its people, and the author's family. VERDICT 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.-Mahasin A. Aleem, Oakland Public Library, CA
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