Black History Month may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean our work is over. This tradition was not only created in order to celebrate and recognize the achievements African Americans have made throughout history, but so that all Americans can learn, acknowledge and understand their experiences and the role they played in the U.S’s creation and history as well. One of the ways we can continue to celebrate, honor, and participate in this tradition is by educating ourselves, reading stories by and about the Black community, and supporting, sharing, and discussing their work.
So in light of this, we’ve rounded up 51 worthwhile reads written by Black Muslim women. The fact that this article in and of itself was a bit challenging to put together is telling enough that these talented writers and the important stories they are sharing are not getting the recognition they deserve. But we hope this list will help change that.
Read on to learn more about these amazing stories crafted by the knowledge, experiences, and imaginations of skilled Black Muslim women that you need to add to your book collection stat!
Note: Not every book in this list is necessarily about Muslim-related topics or Black history. This is a curated list of works written by Black Muslim women in a range of genres, about a variety of topics, and for various age groups. This article also contains affiliate links, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. However, AM Women Magazine only promotes products we genuinely believe in, presume to be of high-quality and interest, and we make these recommendations based on personal use and experience, or thorough research.
YA & Adult
1. Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz
“In Detroit in 1945, eleven-year-old Betty’s house doesn’t quite feel like home. She believes her mother loves her, but she can’t shake the feeling that her mother doesn’t want her. Church helps those worries fade, if only for a little while. Speeches from guest activists like Paul Robeson and Thurgood Marshall stir African Americans in Betty’s congregation to stand up for their rights despite widespread racial prejudice.
In this book-inspired by real life and fictionalized through collaboration with lauded novelist Renée Watson-Ilyasah Shabazz illuminates four important years in her mother’s childhood. Here is an inspiring portrait of a girl overcoming challenges of self-acceptance and belonging that will resonate with young readers today as they put down their
own roots in the fight for equality.” Purchase the book, here.
2. NbA Muslims-Black Muslim Reads by Layla Abdullah-Poulos, Fatimah Abdulmalik, and Umm Juwayriyah
“Black Muslim authors tell hybrid stories. They fuse Islamic and American literary traditions. Like other African American writers, they use fiction to articulate their experiences, raise consciousness and effect social change. American literature is rich and variegated. So is Black Muslim literature.
The Black Muslim Reads anthology includes a spectrum of fiction and non-fiction genres. Here, you’ll find poetry and prose; memoir; children’s stories; mysteries; and contemporary, romance, and urban fiction. All reflect the authors’ intersecting identities. All subvert the tenacious stereotype that associates being Muslim with being foreign. Native-born American Muslim writers take ownership of their faith and their citizenship and interweave them dynamically. In doing so, they reveal their layered, complex social and emotional experiences of being Black and Muslim in America.” Purchase the book, here.
3. American Street by Ibi Zoboi
“ON THE CORNER of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie good life. But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess: the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own. Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola must learn that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream? In her stunning debut, Pushcart-nominated author Ibi Zaboi draws on her own experience as a young Haitian immigrant, infusing this lyrical exploration of America with magical realism and Vodse culture. Unflinching yet filled with joy, American Street is an evocative and powerful coming-of-age story.” Purchase the book, here.
4. Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim by Leah Vernon
“In Unashamed, Leah Vernon takes to task the myth of the perfect Muslim woman with frank dispatches on her love-hate relationship with her hijab and her faith, race, weight, mental illness, domestic violence, sexuality, the millennial world of dating, and the process of finding her voice.
She opens up about her tumultuous adolescence living at the poverty line with her fiercely loving but troubled mother, her deadbeat dad, and her siblings, and the violent dissolution of her 10-year marriage. Tired of the constant policing of her clothing in the name of Islam and Western beauty standards, Vernon reflects on her experiences with hustling paycheck to paycheck, body-shaming, and redefining what it means to be a “good” Muslim.” Purchase the book, here.
5. Seven by Sadiyah Bashir
“A many-faceted artist, born from a family of writers-Sadiyah Bashir’s talents run deep within her and embodies anything she touches. She is a fashion blogger, aspiring entrepreneur, and writer. Currently she hopes to create a media outlet of her own for marginalized voices and is the author of Seven. Her book Seven is where she explores her writing and herself from adolescence to the present day. Discussing battles with internal and external sexism, racism, radical self-love, healing, and trying to navigate life as a young Muslim woman.” Purchase the book, here.
6. Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream by Ibtihaj Muhammad
“Growing up in New Jersey as the only African American Muslim at school, Ibtihaj Muhammad always had to find her own way. When she discovered fencing, a sport traditionally reserved for the wealthy, she had to defy expectations and make a place for herself in a sport she grew to love.
From winning state championships to three-time All-America selections at Duke University, Ibtihaj was poised for success, but the fencing community wasn’t ready to welcome her with open arms just yet. As the only woman of color and the only religious minority on Team USA’s saber fencing squad, Ibtihaj had to chart her own path to success and Olympic glory. Proud is a moving coming-of-age story from one of the nation’s most influential athletes and illustrates how she rose above it all.” Purchase the book, here.
7. Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
“Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, because of a biased system he’s seen as disruptive and unmotivated. Then, one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood escalates into tragedy. “Boys just being boys” turns out to be true only when those boys are white.
Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it? With spellbinding lyricism, award-winning author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam tell a moving and deeply profound story about how one boy is able to maintain his humanity and fight for the truth in a system designed to strip him of both.” Purchase the book, here.
8. The Shoulders on Which I Stand by Karimah Grayson
“Daria Van is a US History teacher in Broward County, FL. She is trying to wrap her head around one of her students being attacked after leaving her class room. Believing that US History should include everyone, her principal at South City High School in Broward County, FL, attacks her daily accusing her of inciting race riots. After her husband takes a second wife and her principal begins following her, Daria reaches back into her past to locate her brother whose been on the run for twenty years to help her to bring normalcy back into her life.” Purchase the book, here.
9. American Muslim Women: Negotiating Race, Class, and Gender within the Ummah by Jamillah Karim
“American Muslim Women explores the relationships and sometimes alliances between African Americans and South Asian immigrants, drawing on interviews with a diverse group of women from these two communities.
Karim investigates what it means to negotiate religious sisterhood against America’s race and class hierarchies, and how those in the American Muslim community both construct and cross ethnic boundaries.
American Muslim Women reveals the ways in which multiple forms of identity frame the American Muslim experience, in some moments reinforcing ethnic boundaries, and at other times, resisting them.” Purchase the book here.
10. Nomad Diaries by Yasmeen Maxamuud
“Nomad Diaries is an endearing, heartbreaking story of loss, despair, and family bonds tested by the destruction of a country. Nomad Diaries examines the human condition at its weakest. The corridors of Cedar Springs Luxury Apartments hold many secrets. If you were to peek into the lives of Somali refugees who call this notorious run-down high-rise home, you will find all that eighteen years of civil war has produced.
Strong-willed women dealing with language barriers, hardships, and a new country called America where everything is vastly different from what they were used to, Americanized children and polygamous husbands. Come and eavesdrop on the lives of these colorful refugees to get a slice of American immigrant life with strong willed women, rebellious teens and a rare taste of American immigrant life with a twist.” Purchase the book, here.
11. I Bear Witness: Part 1 by Amani-Nzinga Jabbar
“Set in the city of New Orleans, I Bear Witness offers the reader a rare glimpse into the private journey and internal conflict of a young Muslim woman at a crossroads in her life. Anaya was taught from a young age that if she followed rules and tenets of Islam, she would be successful. So just as she adhered to her mother’s strict recipes cooking and baking in the mosque‘s kitchen, Anaya obeys the edicts of her religion. Yet, despite her best efforts, things don’t turn out exactly as planned. While pregnant with her first child, Anaya discovers a secret about her husband that makes her question her marriage, her upbringing, and even her beliefs. With the life she had so carefully put together collapsing around her, Anaya must learn the true meaning of faith. Described as “a beautifully written and honest book,” I Bear Witness is a story of one woman’s struggle and triumph that many can relate to.” Purchase the book, here.
12. Spilt Milk by Aisha Ali
“Spilt Milk pens the journey of a young woman navigating through love and loss – and the accompanying stages of grief – while rebelling against cultural and societal norms, and ultimately finding acceptance and forgiveness within herself. This book is for all those who are desperately looking for a light on their darkest days, and a reminder that they too can live to tell their story.” Purchase this book, here.
13. Salt. by Nayyirah Waheed
“Salt. is a journey through warmth and sharpness. This collection of poetry explores the realities of multiple identities, language, diasporic life & pain, the self, community, healing, celebration, and love.” Purchase this book, here.
14. Tried & Tested by Umm Juwayriyah
“From bestselling author, Umm Juwayriyah, comes a new urban Islamic fiction novel about one American Muslim woman’s personal journey through abuse, addiction, family discord, and finding the courage to renew her faith in Allah.
Tried & Tested casts an intimate look into the lives of millions of indigenous Muslim American families and the hardships and blessings that bind them together against the odds. Umm Juwayriyah’s unique voice and undeniable characters will not disappoint you.” Purchase the book, here.
15. What We Learned Along the Way by Nadirah Angail
“What We Learned Along the Way gives meaningful voice to the stories of young Muslim women, while maintaining a broad appeal that transcends religion. With no map to lead the way, these four friends take a journey into womanhood, and learn the life-changing lessons of love, heartache, redemption and identity.” Purchase the kindle version, here.
16. The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela
“From the first-ever winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing, Leila Aboulela, The Kindness of Enemies is a powerful historical journey across time and continents and a riveting epic of love, betrayal, and war. It’s 2010 and Natasha, a half-Russian, half-Sudanese professor of history, is researching the life of Imam Shamil, the nineteenth century Muslim leader who led the anti-Russian resistance in the Caucasian War.
When Natasha discovers her star student, Osama (Oz), is not only descended from the warrior but also possesses Shamil’s legendary sword, the Imam’s story comes vividly to life. But when Oz is suddenly arrested at his home one morning, Natasha realizes that everything she values stands in jeopardy.
Told with Aboulela’s inimitable elegance, The Kindness of Enemies is both an engrossing story of a provocative period in history and an important examination of what it is to be a Muslim in a post-9/11 world.” Purchase the book, here.
17. Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
“Everything Good Will Come introduces an important new voice in contemporary fiction. With insight and a lyrical wisdom, Nigerian-born Sefi Atta has written a powerful and eloquent story set in her African homeland. It is 1971, a year after the Biafran War, and Nigeria is under military rule–though the politics of the state matter less than those of her home to Enitan Taiwo, an eleven-year-old girl tired of waiting for school to start. Will her mother, who has become deeply religious since the death of Enitan’s brother, allow her friendship with the new girl next door, the brash and beautiful Sheri Bakare? This novel charts the fate of these two African girls; one who is prepared to manipulate the traditional system and one who attempts to defy it.” Purchase the book, here.
18. The January Children by Safia Elhillo
“In her dedication Safia Elhillo writes, ‘The January Children are the generation born in Sudan under British occupation, where children were assigned birth years by height, all given the birth date January 1.” What follows is a deeply personal collection of poems that describe the experience of navigating the postcolonial world as a stranger in one’s own land.’
The January Children depicts displacement and longing while also questioning accepted truths about geography, history, nationhood, and home. The poems mythologize family histories until they break open, using them to explore aspects of Sudan’s history of colonial occupation, dictatorship, and diaspora. Several of the poems speak to the late Egyptian singer Abdelhalim Hafez, who addressed many of his songs to the asmarani—an Arabic term of endearment for a brown-skinned or dark-skinned person. Elhillo explores Arabness and Africanness and the tensions generated by a hyphenated identity in those two worlds.” Purchase the book, here.
19. Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
“YEMEN, 1935. JAMA IS A ‘MARKET BOY,’ A HALF-FERAL CHILD scavenging with his friends in the dusty streets of a great seaport. For him, life is a thrilling carnival, at least when he can fill his belly. But when his mother dies far too young, leaving him an amulet stuffed with just one hundred rupees, Jama decides to embark on a search for his never-seen father. So begins Jama’s extraordinary thousand-mile journey on foot across an Africa torn asunder by the horrors of World War II and its painful wake. Black Mamba Boy is ‘a beautifully rendered debut, inspired by [Mohamed’s] father’s life.'” Purchase the book, here.
20. The Kitchen-Dweller’s Testimony by Ladan Osman
“Winner of the Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets, The Kitchen-Dweller’s Testimony asks: Whose testimony is valid? Whose testimony is worth recording? Osman’s speakers, who are almost always women, assert and reassert in an attempt to establish authority, often through persistent questioning. Specters of race, displacement, and colonialism are often present in her work, providing momentum for speakers to reach beyond their primary, apparent dimensions and better communicate. The Kitchen-Dweller’s Testimony is about love and longing, divorce, distilled desire, and all the ways we injure ourselves and one another.” Purchase the book, here.
21. The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed
“From one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists, a stunning novel illuminating Somalia’s tragic civil war. It is 1987 and Hargeisa waits. Whispers of revolution travel on the dry winds, but still the dictatorship remains secure. Soon, through the eyes of three women, we will see Somalia fall. Nine-year-old Deqo has left the vast refugee camp where she was born, lured to the city by the promise of her first pair of shoes. Kawsar, a solitary widow, is trapped in her little house with its garden clawed from the desert, confined to her bed after a savage beating in the local police station. Filsan, a young female soldier, has moved from Mogadishu to suppress the rebellion growing in the north. As the country is unraveled by a civil war that will shock the world, the fates of these three women are twisted irrevocably together.” Purchase the book, here.
22. Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire
“What elevates ‘teaching my mother how to give birth’, what gives the poems their disturbing brilliance, is Warsan Shire’s ability to give simple, beautiful eloquence to the veiled world where sensuality lives in the dominant narrative of Islam; reclaiming the more nuanced truths of earlier times – as in Tayeb Salih’s work – and translating to the realm of lyric the work of the likes of Nawal El Saadawi. As Rumi said, “Love will find its way through all languages on its own;” in ‘teaching my mother how to give birth’, Warsan’s début pamphlet, we witness the unearthing of a poet who finds her way through all preconceptions to strike the heart directly.” Purchase this book, here.
23. Real Muslim Wives of Philly by Elle Muslimah
“In the city of brotherly love, you’ll find a growing Muslim population flourishing in society. The outside images of women draped in Islamic attire and men wearing distinguished garments and beards are common. This tale of fiction goes beyond the outside image. It is a rare view into the thoughts, family life and intriguing practices such as plural marriage. You’ll meet four friends that share the bond of sisterhood, Layla, Sumayah, Juwariyah, and Sakinah are examples of how Muslim women live. This dramatic urban tale has an Islamic twist that will surely arouse emotions as you read what it’s like being one of the Real Muslim Wives of Philly.” Purchase the book, here.
24. An Unproductive Woman by Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali
“Adam is desperate for a son, but after ten years of marriage, he and his wife Asabe remain childless. Fueled by desperation and a long held secret, Adam marries a second wife. Fatima is very young and beautiful, but she has no affection for her new husband. Despite the jealousy and bitterness that can often exist between co-wives, Asabe and Fatima become as close as sisters. Yet too young, Fatima dies giving birth to Adam’s twin children, but still he is not fated to have the son he desires above all else.
In an added cruelty, Adam loses his business to fire. Adam compounds his difficulties by making a deal with a wealthy businessman to marry his spoiled divorced daughter Sauda in exchange for the funds necessary to rebuild. Read An Unproductive Woman to learn how Asabe finds the strength to live with the cunning, deceptive, and willful Sauda, and to learn what secrets Adam has withheld that would explain his unreasonable longing and pursuit of a son at all costs.” Purchase the book, here
25. Khadijah’s Got Her Groove by F. A. Ibrahim
“Khadijah Aziz seems to be the perfect Muslimah, and prides herself on running the perfect household. However, below the surface, a slew of challenges are simmering which threaten to shake the relationships she holds most dear. Khadijah desperately struggles to maintain her facade, but inevitable change is already in motion. Will Khadijah lose everything she’s worked for when her life erupts like a volcano of heart issues, or will she push on to forge a new path for herself: choosing mastery over weakness, peace over strife, and love over fear?” Purchase the book, here to find out.
26. Muslim Girl by Umm Zakiyyah
“Faith turns to shame, confidence to doubt, and conviction to rebellion. Inaya was only nine when her mother converted to Islam and moved the family to Saudi Arabia. Now, at sixteen years old, Inaya returns to America and decides to remove her Muslim clothes and hide her religion at school. …And she hopes to get the attention of a boy she likes. But she has no idea how to hide this double life from her mother, and from everyone who admires her strong faith.” Purchase the book, here.
27. Khadijah’s Life In Motion by Jatasha Sharif
“Khadijah isn’t the woman she used to be. She’s still got beauty, brains, and class – but since accepting Islam, her life has undoubtedly changed. In Khadijah’s Life in Motion, Khadijah has to face challenges that will shatter her perception of the world she thought she knew. Dark secrets lie ahead when she thinks she’s overcome her biggest hurdles. With faith as her guide and prayer as her weapon, she quickly finds out that losing what she once had only makes room for that which is bigger and better than she ever dreamed of. Journey with her down a road filled with love, hate, growth, loss, passion, betrayal, reinvention, and happiness.” Purchase the book, here.
28. Embracing the Light: Stories of Love and Forgiveness by Yerusalem Work
“A short story collection that inspires faith and embraces our interconnected humanity.” Purchase the kindle version of this book, here.
29. Open to Love by Lyndell Williams
“The last thing Hafsah wants is to get wrapped up in another marriage, let alone with a younger man. Despite the desire Faheem reawakens in her, she is not going to fall into another trap. Faheem is undisturbed by the age difference and undeterred by Hafsah’s doubts. He feels the passion surging between them and is determined to get her to open to love. Hafsah grows closer to Faheem, falling hard, but flirting can be a dangerous thing when committing to no sex outside of marriage. The two play with some serious fire that might burn them both.” Purchase the book, here.
30. The Ducktrinors: Hanifa Book 1 by Papatia Feauxzar
“The world is coming to an end and Hanifa Ducktrinor can feel it. The Seculars rule the world and keeping the sunnah and the deep intact become a challenge then. Hanifa, the cadet of the Ducktrinor family, is a courageous young Muslim living in a time where practicing her religion is really hard. She wants to be the courageous educated coreishy woman she dreams of every day. Hanifa also wants to find the people of the cave and fights alongside with them, Jesus (Issa, aleihi-salam), and Mahdi with the vouching cloud, when the cave opens and the prediction about Yajud and Majud (Gog and Magog) will occur.” Purchase the book, here.
31. Mirage: A Novel (Mirage Series, 1) by Somaiya Daud
“In a world dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated home.
But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.
As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty―and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection…because one wrong move could lead to her death.” Purchase the book, here.
32. Between Sisters, Svp! by Papatia Feauxzar
“Aïda Mubarak and her best friend Nellie Diouf-Kofee have not seen each other in quite some time. Their upcoming reunion is going to shed some light on Aïda’s life since her recent marriage. So much has happened that no one in her girlfriend entourage knows or suspects…Nellie learns and discovers deep and eccentric secrets about her friend Aïda that are both sensually exciting and unsettling for an outsider with a novice experience in both Islam and love-romance.” Purchase the book, here.
33. Dowry Divas by Zara J.
“Talia, Layla, and Nadia are three friends that have made a pact in regards to picking the perfect spouse– don’t settle for less! But will their materialistic view on marriage leave them emotionally bankrupt? Layla and Malik are newlywed attorneys with the image of the ultimate power couple. However, after an unexpected guest crashes their wedding, skeletons from Malik’s past begin pouring out of their lavish walk-in closets. Talia’s jealousy leads her to the non-traditional route of finding love– the internet. After a few staggers, she stumbles upon Amir and finds herself planning the wedding of a lifetime. The only thing is Amir may have some plans of his own. For the first time in Nadia’s young life, she finds herself desiring to marry an already married man. Lateef is a handsome businessman with all the right things to say, he assures Nadia that she will have her fairy-tale marriage, as his other wife. Will Nadia be able to put her pride to the side to find true love and happiness?” Purchase the book, here to find out.
34. Jihad of the Soul by Zarinah El-Amin Naeem
“The first book of its kind, Jihad of the Soul: Singlehood and the Search for Love in Muslim America, by Zarinah El-Amin Naeem, blends first-hand accounts of the attitudes, experiences, and emotions of single Muslim adults with an anthropological exploration on issues of identity, religion and desire into an intimate, rare look at young Muslim singles’ navigation of love and faith. Through interviews with single Muslims aged 18-32, Zarinah identifies nine key reasons singlehood is a “jihad.” The book ends with key recommendations to the community as well as the ways the author feels we can improve the marriage process and build strong communities.” Purchase the book, here.
35. Surviving Marriage in the 21st Century by Rufus and Jenny Triplett
“Surviving Marriage is more than a book of general rhetoric. It is a book of relatable experiences written from the viewpoint of a man and woman, in their own humorous way, who committed to the institution of marriage at the young age of 21. From tip number one to tip number thirteen, you will get a true understanding of how you and your significant other can stay bonded in matrimony for decades and maybe even into the golden years. As troubled times arise in any marriage, these co-authors offer a guideline on how to apply a little duct tape and keep the wheels of happiness moving.” Purchase the book, here.
36. Keep Your Muslim Man Monogamous: A Muslim Girl’s Guide To Avoiding Polygamy by Khadijah Rashid
“Two years into my marriage, I received the shock of my life. I discovered that my husband and the father to my newborn son, had been unfaithful. The next two years would be spent repairing the damage that had been done. But most importantly, to get to the root of where our relationship had gone wrong. What I discovered would leave me floored. Including the fact that a hijab-clad former friend had been the culprit. Her point of entry? A “sext” message, and a request to be his second wife. It was only by the grace of God, that I, and my marriage survived. And now I want to pass these lessons onto you. Whether you are thinking about marriage, or already married, Inshallah this book will give you the tools to properly combat the “Polygamy Problem,” currently plaguing our communities. If you are a polygamist, or interested in it, Inshallah this book will help you to see the hurt and destruction it can cause, if you don’t handle it correctly.” Purchase the book, here.
37. A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar
“Jevick, the pepper merchant’s son, has been raised on stories of Olondria, a distant land where books are as common as they are rare in his home. When his father dies and Jevick takes his place on the yearly selling trip to Olondria, Jevick’s life is as close to perfect as he can imagine. But just as he revels in Olondria’s Rabelaisian Feast of Birds, he is pulled drastically off course and becomes haunted by the ghost of an illiterate young girl.
In desperation, Jevick seeks the aid of Olondrian priests and quickly becomes a pawn in the struggle between the empire’s two most powerful cults. Yet even as the country shimmers on the cusp of war, he must face his ghost and learn her story before he has any chance of becoming free by setting her free: an ordeal that challenges his understanding of art and life, home and exile, and the limits of that seductive necromancy, reading.
A Stranger in Olondria is a skillful and immersive debut fantasy novel that pulls the reader in deeper and deeper with twists and turns reminiscent of George R. R. Martin and Joe Hill.” Purchase this book, here.
38. The Muslim Family Guide to Successful Homeschooling by Jamila Alqarnain
“If you are already a homeschooling parent or are considering homeschooling your children, then this book is for you! The Muslim Family Guide to Successful Homeschooling is jam-packed with the latest homeschool research as well as useful information from a variety of homeschool veterans. The Muslim Family Guide to Successful Homeschooling is a valuable handbook that will help you and your family get the most out of your homeschooling experience.” Purchase the book, here.
39. She Wore Red Trainers: A Muslim Love Story by Na’ima B. Robert
“When Ali first meets Amirah, he notices everything about her—her hijab, her long eyelashes and her red trainers—in the time it takes to have one look, before lowering his gaze. And, although Ali is still coming to terms with the loss of his mother and exploring his identity as a Muslim, and although Amirah has sworn never to get married, they can’t stop thinking about each other. Can Ali and Amirah ever have a halal ‘happily ever after’?” Purchase the book, here to find out.
Children’s Books
40. You Are Beautiful by Robyn Z. Abdusamad
“Sisters Zaynab and Zakiyyah experience their first encounter with racial prejudice and are saddened by what they hear. Read about how they overcome intolerance and how they realize the beauty of ethnic diversity in this touching story about the importance of countering ignorance with knowledge and kindness.” Purchase this book, here.
41. Bashirah and the Amazing Bean Pie by Ameenah Muhammad-Diggins
“Invite your children to enjoy the rich and beautiful culture of African American Muslims. Bashirah and the Amazing Bean Pie shares a fantastic story of a multi-generational African American Muslim family. A Ramadan and Eid story, and a heart-warming tale filled with faith, food And family. Join Bashirah as she celebrates the Eid holiday! Celebrating diversity.” Purchase the book, here.
42. Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
“Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl’s mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city. Empowered by this newfound understanding, the young girl is ready to return the next day to share her knowledge with her class. Your Name is a Song is a celebration to remind all of us about the beauty, history, and magic behind names.” Purchase the book, here.
43. Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin
“Tameika is a girl who belongs on the stage. She loves to act, sing, and dance—and she’s pretty good at it, too. So when her school announces their Snow White musical, Tameika auditions for the lead princess role.
But the other kids think she’s “not quite” right to play the role. They whisper, they snicker, and they glare. Will Tameika let their harsh words be her final curtain call? Purchase the book, here to find out.
44. Ngozi’s Little Brown Princess Tea Party by Asiyah Muhsin-Thomas
“Ngozi and her cousins love Saturdays. This Saturday is their special day! They drink special island tea and put on their prettiest princess attire. On this special Saturday, the girls get a special surprise. Glitter!
The girls share stories of why they love the skin they’re in, and are little brown princesses, while crowns of glitter dance in their beautiful naturally kinky, curly hair.
This story of self-love is the 1st of the Royal Brown Girl book series. Royal Brown Girl books touch on African American culture, nutrition, family, and self-esteem through imaginative play and storytelling.” Purchase the kindle book, here.
45. The Power of Dua by Hadiatou Wann
“Seven-year-old Amina fears her parents will get divorced. She discovers who God is through her teacher, and learns to rely on Him to save her parents’ marriage. While waiting on God’s help, she is taught that hope, patience, and selflessness are key to unlocking the door of mercy and getting her dua (prayer) answered. This picture book instills faith in children. It is a reminder that no problem is too grand for God to solve, and children can pray for adults in times of difficulty.” Purchase the book, here.
46. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
“When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering. She wanted to be an astronaut. Her mom told her, “If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.”
Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents’ encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space.
This book will inspire other young girls to reach for the stars, to aspire for the impossible, and to persist with childlike imagination.” Purchase the book, here.
47. The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali
“With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It’s the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it’s her older sister Asiya’s first day of hijab–a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong. Paired with Hatem Aly’s beautiful, whimsical art, Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad and Morris Award finalist S.K. Ali bring readers an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond between siblings, and of being proud of who you are.” Purchase the book, here.
48. Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
“A young girl plays dress up with her mother’s headscarves, feeling her mother’s love with every one she tries on. Charming and vibrant illustrations showcase the beauty of the diverse and welcoming community in this portrait of a young Muslim American girl’s life.” Purchase the book, here.
49. Hind’s Hands- A Story About Autism by Umm Juwayriyah
“From bestselling author and educator Umm Juwayriyah — a story told by a big sister who learns coping skills to befriend and lead her autistic younger sister. ‘You see, my sister Hind has Autism. And I know that sounds like a really big word, but it’s not. Autism just means that Allah made her to learn and act and think differently than other kids her age.’ In the story Hind’s Hands, big sister Juwayriyah learns just how special her younger sister is, despite the challenging behaviors that she often has to deal with. Author Umm Juwayriyah collaborates with her oldest daughter, Juwayriyah Ayed on this book to help spread awareness about Autism.” Purchase the book, here.
50. The Princess and the Good Deed by Umm Juwayriyah
“From bestselling author and educator Umm Juwayriyah and her daughter, Juwayriyah Ayed, comes an original Islamic fairy tale of kindness, friendship, and animal rights!” Purchase the book, here.
51. My Voice is My Superpower by Shariea Shoatz
“All superheroes have special powers and secret missions. Join our hero, Buddy and his team on their adventure to help empower children to use their voice as their superpower, and speak out against childhood sexual abuse.
Our heroes know the body safety rules, their importance, and how they can help keep all children safe. These three heroes are powerful, courageous, and ready to take on the world. After reading this book, you will have the knowledge you need to join their team.” Purchase the book, here.
Have you read any of the books on this list? If so, which ones and what are your thoughts? Are there any you have read that aren’t on this list that you would recommend? Let us know in the comments below!
