Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices; ed. by S.K. Ali
2020; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 73; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2020.0389
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts
ResumoReviewed by: Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices; ed. by S.K. Ali Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor Ali, S.K., ed. Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices; ed. by S. K. Ali and Aisha Saeed; illus. by Sara Alfageeh. Amulet/Abrams, 2020 [272p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-4197-4083-1 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-68335-803-9 $15.54 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 4-7 Fifteen Muslim authors contribute to this celebratory story collection centered around Eid, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. Joyful reunions, irritating relatives, fancy clothes, and special, heartfelt gifts appear in many of the tales, giving an overall tone of warmth and playfulness, and even the stories that take a more somber approach end with possibilities of hope and optimism. Dessert plans go awry when Yusuf burns the brownies—made from an old recipe and meant to be the best of the post-feast snacks—in Aisha Saeed’s “Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake,” a comedy of errors that plenty of novice bakers will recognize. A chaotic eight-hour road trip with unruly younger siblings and increasingly frazzled parents makes for a comic holiday travel in Randa Abdel-Fattah’s “Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha’Allah,” while Asmaa Hussein’s “Kareem Means ‘Generous’” focuses on the moral principles emphasized by Eid. Several stories tackle the grief and sorrow that can come with celebration in the wake of loss, and one examines the refugee experience with realism and compassion. There’s a helpful amount of education for those unfamiliar with the holiday, but readers will also savor the mouthwatering descriptions of food that will likely inspire preteens to try their hand at a few of the dishes. [End Page 420] Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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