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Muslim Girls Rise: Inspirational Champions of Our Time
By Mandie Caroll,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Lively bios of remarkable Muslim women inspire, entertain.
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What's the Story?
MUSLIM GIRLS RISE: INSPIRATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF OUR TIME offers brief biographical sketches of 19 girls and women who broke gender and cultural barriers and accomplished extraordinary things with their skills, intelligence, vision, and determination. The book's introduction tells readers that Muslim women today are making history, and "Once upon a time, they were children with dreams just like you." These life stories begin with a woman's name and what she loves or does. They highlight an array of fields, including STEM, writing, fashion, sports, politics, activism, comedy, and more and are from a variety of countries. The soft-hued digital illustrations depict the subject in her element: competing in her sport, writing, performing onstage, and so on. The closing pages remind readers that though some of these women faced dire circumstances for pursuing their dreams or their rights, they all refused to give up and achieved greatness.
Is It Any Good?
This heartfelt, lushly illustrated homage to an often misunderstood group of girls and women is sure to inspire and entertain both young readers and their adult caregivers. Muslim Girls Rise encourages readers to figure out their passions, ignore anyone who says they can't achieve because of who they are, and pursue their dreams with determination. The art is beautiful, with clean, uncluttered illustrations in soft, warm hues. The book is equally great as a read-aloud or as independent reading for older kids, and it shows all readers the many different paths and pursuits open to them.
The introductory page soberly acknowledges, "People may tell you that you can't do something because of the way you look, dress, or pray," but this collection shows readers that children with dreams can and should pursue their passions, and like the 19 women in this book, they can rise.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different girls and women in Muslim Girls Rise. Which stories do you like best? Why? Which of them had you heard of before?
What kinds of obstacles did these girls and women face as they pursued their dreams? What do you think you'd have done in their position?
Why do you think these girls and women were chosen for this book? Do you consider yourself a leader? Do girls still face barriers as they try to achieve great things?
Book Details
- Author: Saira Mir
- Illustrator: Aaliya Jaleel
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Activism , Cooking and Baking , STEM , Sports and Martial Arts , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publishers: Salaam Reads , Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: November 28, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 6 - 10
- Number of pages: 48
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: December 1, 2019
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Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Books with Stories of Extraordinary Women
Books with Strong Female Characters
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