By Zainab KhanWithout giving away spoilers or details of the occurrences in “A Bit of Earth”, I’m here to tell you that this coming-of-age novel was whimsical, thought-provoking, and inspirational. The novel, written by Karuna Riazi follows the journey of an orphan, Maria Latif who is struggling to find her place in New York City. Arriving at…
By Asiya BharadiaLife isn’t simple. We’re constantly being tested, whether it’s in significant, life-changing ways or minor ones. Sometimes we feel like the whole world is against us – and then there are moments in which we feel we have conquered the entire world, yet we are still unsatisfied with our accomplishments. While at times we may…
By MG StaffMuslim women are a diverse group, differing in many ways. Even the term “Middle East” is too broad a term to describe a culturally diverse area — and a Eurocentric, orientalist term at that. Stereotypes of Muslim women rooted in Eurocentrism and orientalist tropes have pervaded the news, TV shows, and pop culture. While Muslim…
By Fatimah SAt this point, none of us are strangers to COVID. It crept into our lives slowly, forcing us to move online, inside, and distance ourselves from others. We wore masks, sanitised, and socially distanced. However, what about those whose occupation requires them to step in? Those who couldn’t hide from COVID, but instead rose to…
By Asiya BharadiaLadies, it’s time to acknowledge and celebrate the many feats we Muslim women have achieved in the past few years. From being part of the Forbes 30 Under 30 list as the first — and only — niqabi (Hafsah Faizal), to having sold more than a million books globally and in 30 different languages (Tahereh…
By Asiya BharadiaA good contemporary novel has a way of making you feel at home. The characters, the plot, the storyline, and even the themes are all ways for you to connect and see yourself in them. For the last two decades, several Muslim authors have published outstanding contemporary novels that deal with family, love, hatred, drama,…
By Asiya BharadiaEvery once in a while, it’s nice to sit down in your comfiest chair and unwind with excellent science fiction, fantasy, or dystopian novels that can transport you to a different world. It’s a shame that only a few of these amazing novels and series are written by Muslim women. The publishing industry is one…
By Rokia HassaneinFinding books with a decent representation of Muslim women without a biased lens is hard in the Western literature sphere. Thankfully, more and more Muslim authors this generation are writing beautiful novels with nuanced portrayals of what it means to be a Muslim woman, and the Muslim experience. Whether you want a book to read…
By Bint AbdulSelf-esteem is such a tricky topic. In my opinion, anyone who thinks it’s a simple concept is mistaken. I used to think that increasing self-esteem would consist of a long, painstaking journey, with numerous steps and stages. I thought that even if someone managed the journey, they may still end up dissatisfied, heartbroken, or confused….
By Amani SalahudeenIf you are wondering what you can do to stay conscious about racism, we recommend you read the following books: 1. Beloved by Toni Morrison Beloved is about Sethe, who was a former slave and lived in 1870s Ohio. This book will explain to you the harsh reality and how cruel humanity can be. It…
By Amani SalahudeenOnce Upon an Eid is the #ownvoices anthology you need on your shelf! This book came out on May 5th, 2020, and is the perfect book for elementary and middle school readers. It’s a collection of short stories edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed. In Islam, there are two eids: Eid-ul-Fitr, the feast to…
By Amani SalahudeenFeeling bored in quarantine? Already tackled the iconic Harry Potter or To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy? Well, don’t you worry, because I’ve got you covered with 15 of the most exciting and captivating novels of the year! Don’t forget to read all the way to the end to find out how you…
By Amani SalahudeenWell, a new decade is officially upon us, and the holiday activities are slowing down. What’s a girl to do to keep the magic alive? Lose yourself in exciting books and literature by your favorite authors, of course! There are so many new books coming out this year, and excitingly enough, a lot of them…
By Jasmin KaurThe first time I saw the name “Kaur” in a bookstore, I cried. Like, tears-streaming-down-my-face-as-I-try-not-to-be-seen cried. As a Punjabi and Sikh woman, holding Rupi Kaur’s milk and honey in my hands felt like a victory. And there’s a very important reason why. I grew up lost in the pages of my favorite books. Whether it…
By Shireen HakimLove From A to Z by S.K. Ali dropped April 30th, 2019, and deserves to be at the top of everyone’s spring reading list. In the book, hijabi heroine, Zayneb, is an empowered Muslim female, and in real life, author Ali inspires Muslim women! In her highly anticipated second YA novel, Ali tackles Islamophobia towards…
