Fatima
Fatima
Fatima was a junior at Oakton High School in Vienna, Virginia when she created art for I am the Night Sky. She likes many different things, like drawing, taekwondo, graphic design, math, chemistry, psychology, reading… The list goes on. Basically, she tries to keep herself occupied with learning as many new skills as she can, so that she can make the most of the time she has as a teenager.
She is the first in her family to have been born in the U.S. Both of her parents are from Iran, and she is the first of their four children. Despite their physical detachment from Iran, Fatima and her siblings have been able to learn a lot about their culture and traditions, in some cases even more than about American culture. In fact, she and her first sister didn’t even speak English until they started pre-school.
But there was one thing that set their family apart from most of their American neighbors: Islam. Her whole life Fatima had heard the West say negative things about her faith, but in her experience, it had taught her nothing but how to live a peaceful and humble life. Fatima wants to do exactly that.
“I decided to join the NWMI x Shout Mouse team -- to dispel negative perceptions of Islam that have been fueled by fear and ignorance. And to let it be known that Islam is neither a race nor an ethnicity, it is a religion, a way of life that welcomes all who wish to experience it, regardless of their background.”
BOOKS BY FATIMA
by the teen artists and writers of Next Wave Muslim Initiative
With a foreword by award-winning author Hena Khan
“Captivating and uplifting.” — Starred review in Kirkus Reviews + named a Best Book of 2019
“Get it soon… It would be difficult to ignore or forget these voices.” — Rich in Color Reviews
Included on the “2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List for Ages 0-18”
During an era characterized by both hijabi fashion models and enduring post-9/11 stereotypes, ten Muslim American teenagers came together to explore what it means to be young and Muslim in America today. These teens represent the tremendous diversity within the American Muslim community, and their book, like them, contains multitudes. Bilal writes about being a Muslim rocker. Noor reflects about speaking in multiple tongues. Samaa creates her own cartoon Kabob Squad. Ayah responds to online hate. Through poems, essays, artwork, and stories, these young people aim to show their true selves, to build connection, and to create more inclusive and welcoming communities for all.
ISBN: 978-1945434938
Age: 12+
Lexile: 830L
Page Count: 192
Published: 2019
