ISLA - Islamic Schools League of America

Summer is an important time for children, young and old, to maintain their reading habits. While some kids love reading, others need a little push. Many times, schools will assign one or two books to students to read over the summer. Educational scholar, Dr. Freda Shamma, and educator Shifa Safadi have compiled reading lists that include books they have personally vetted, which you can find below!

Summer Reading Suggestions

Dr. Freda Shamma, 2021

Books reviewed in www.Islamicschoollibrarian.com are labeled “ISL” where you can find a very complete review by a Muslim.

Fiction

  • Aboulela, Leila. The Translator.
    Proper Islamic ethics including Muslim woman-non-Muslim love story. Sudanese in England.
    Good for older teens
  • Ali, S.K., Love From A to Z.
    Romance, both Muslims who don’t cross the line.
    ISL Review
  • Dumas, Firoozeh.
    It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel.
    Iranian, funny.
    ISL Review
  • Faruqui, Saadia.
    A Thousand Questions.
    Middle school, clean.
    ISL Review
  • Hasain, Aliya.
    Neither This nor That.
    Good Muslim girl in good family.
    ISL Review
  • Hiranandani, Veera.
    The Night Diary.
    Hindu author, but fair and accurate about partition in India, characters are half Hindu, half Muslim.
    ISL Review
  • Janomohamed, Z. Shelina,
    Love in a Headscarf.
    English Muslim trying for arranged marriage.
  • Joukhadar, Zeyn.
    The Map of Salt and Stars.
    Two girls 800 years apart make a perilous journey to safety. One is a modern Syrian, and the other is accompanying Al Idisi, the famous Muslim cartographer traveling during the Crusades
  • Juwayriyah, Umm,
    Tried and Tested.
    African American Muslim marries non-Muslim, abusive husband, runs away from him, has to deal with the consequences of her actions, but family and community help. For older teens.
    ISL Review
  • Karim, Sheba.
    Skunk Girl.
    Romance with a crush on a non-Muslim but realizes that it wouldn’t work; she realizes she’s happy to be a practicing Muslim
  • Kessler, Christine.
    Trouble in Timbuktu.
    Two Malian siblings help protect ancient manuscripts, including hazardous travel, good for young teens as well.
  • Khan, Sabina.
    Zara Hossain is Here.
    Pakistani immigrant deals with Islamophobia
  • Khanani, Intisar,
    Thorn.
    Retelling of a fairy tale, the heroine wisely refuses to marry the prince, attempt at sexual assault.
    ISL Review
  • Kullab, Samya.
    Escape From Syria.
    Accurate about the violence etc.
    ISL Review
  • LaValley, Josanne.
    The Vine Basket.
    Muslim Uyghur village under Chinese control, accurate information
    ISL Review
  • Lum, Melati
    Ayesha Dean in Istanbul.
    Mystery infused with history. For younger teens.
    ISL Review
  • Malharbe, Shereen.
    The Tower.
    Syrian refugee in tower hit by fire in London. A gripping book with some intense moments.
    ISL Review
  • Malek, Afshan.
    Pieces
    Syrian family in Texas, father has PTSD and mental problems.
  • Masood, M. Syed,
    More Than Just A Pretty Face.
    Romance with a male lead, more Islamic presence than in most YA romance,, talk of sex but not detailed.
    ISL Review
  • Mills, Wendy,
    All We Have Left.
    9/11 told from two points of view, one a Muslim girl who almost dies in the tower, and a contemporary non-Muslim whose family is destroyed by the death of her brother 15 years earlier in the tower.
  • Nelson, Colleeen.
    Sadia.
    Likes a boy, but clean.
    ISL Review
  • Paterson, Katherine.
    The Day of the Pelican.
    Historical novel, starts with the horrors in Kosovo in the late 90s and concludes with events of 9/11
    ISL Review
  • Riazi, Karuna.
    The Gauntlet.
    Muslim take on Jumaji
    ISL Review
  • Robert, B. Na’ima,
    She Wore Red Trainers,
    Romance but both Muslim, girl has creepy stepdad.
    ISL Review
  • Saeed, Aisha,
    Amal Unbound.
    Leaves Islam out, but overall tame.
    ISL Review
  • Shamma, Freda.
    Treasury of Muslim literature: 750 to 1250 CE.
    Anthology of Muslim writings selected for teens, some religious but mostly other topics. Fiction and nonfiction.
  • Sharafeddine, Fatima.
    The Servant.
    War torn Lebanon.
  • Umm Juwayriyah,
    Tried and Tested    .
    African-American marries non-Muslim, wife abuse, struggles to find her way back to Islam, helped by family and community.
  • Wilson W. G.,
    Ms.     Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal.
    One of three Ms. Marvel comics, otherwise known as graphic novels, she is a practicing Muslim whose faith influences her actions.
  • Warga, Jasmine,
    Other Words for Home.
    Syrian refugee facing life in America
    ISL Review
  • Williamson, Victoria.
    The Fox girl and the white gazelle.
    Muslim girl with strong values helps the school bully
  • Zia, Farhana.
    The Garden of My Imaan.
    Teen writes a series of letters to Allah hoping to strengthen her faith.
    ISL Review

Nonfiction and Historical Fiction

  • Barakat, Ibtisan.
    Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood
    Memoir of growing up in Palestine, war.
    ISL Review
  • Bernard, Bryn.
    The Genius of Islam: how Muslims made the modern world    ,
    good
  • Gratz, Allan.
    Allies
    WWII, D-Day, a Muslim Algerian French girl and her mother are spies for the French resistance.
    ISL Review
  • Gratz, Allan.
    Refugees
    Syrian boy fleeing violence trying to get to Germany.
    ISL Review
  • Hiranandani, Veera.
    The Night Diary
    Hindu author, but fair and accurate about partition in India, characters are half Hindu, half Muslim.
    ISL Review
  • Janomohamed, Z. Shelina,
    Love in a Headscarf.
    English Muslim trying for arranged marriage.
  • Javid, Mohammed.
    Walk to Freedom.
    Accurate portrayal of India’s partition.
  • Joukhadar, Zeyn.
    The Map of Salt and Stars.
     two girls 800 years apart make a perilous journey to safety. One is a modern Syrian, and the other is accompanying Al Idrisi, the famous Muslim cartographer traveling during the Crusades.
  • Karim, Sheba.
    Skunk Girl.
    Romance with a crush on a non-Muslim but realizes that it wouldn’t work; she realizes she’s happy to be a practicing Muslim.
  • Kullab, Samya.
    Escape From Syria.
    Accurate about the violence etc.
    ISL Review
  • LaValley, Josanne.
    The Vine Basket.
    Muslim Uyghur village under Chinese control, accurate information
    ISL Review
  • McKissack, Patricia and Frederick.
    The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay    .
    Accurate information
  • Mills, Wendy
    All We Have Left.
    9/11 told from two points of view, one a Muslim girl who almost dies in the tower, and a contemporary non-Muslim whose family is destroyed by the death of her brother 15 years earlier in the tower.
  • Mir, Saira.
    Muslim Girls Rise.
    Nonfiction, contemporary.
  • Muhammad, Ibtihaj,
    Proud: Living My American Dream.
    True memoir.
    ISL Review
  • Next Wave Muslim Initiative.
    I Am The Night Sky.
    Ten practicing Muslim teens share their thoughts and skills in art and various genre of writing.
  • Paterson, Katherine.
    The Day of the Pelican.
    Historical novel, starts with the horrors in Kosovo in the late 90s and concludes with events of 9/11
    ISL Review
  • Senzai, NH.
    Ticket To India.
    Partition of India,
    ISL Review
  • Shamma, Freda.
    Treasury of Muslim literature: 750 to 1250 CE    .
    Anthology of Muslim writings selected for teens, some religious but mostly other genres.
  • Yousafzai, Malala
    I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban.