NWMI Authors

Story Behind the Story

The dedication of I Am the Night Sky reads, “For our younger selves, who grew up needing this book, and for our young brothers and sisters, who will grow up with books like this.” Through this powerful collection, authors Ayah, Bilal, Fatima, Imaan, Iman, Leyla, Noor, Samaa, Sasa, and Ruqayyah declared a daunting — and exciting — mission: to try to capture through poetry, art, essays, and stories what it means to be young, Muslim, and American today. As author Salihah writes in the introduction, “We realized we had been given an opportunity to show who we are because for so long nobody believed us when we told them. False narratives and demonization made us feel as if we had to defend ourselves, but we were tired of fighting, we wanted to make something of our own.”

The result is a collection like no other, with contents as distinctive and varied as the authors themselves. Bilal writes about being a wannabe rock star. Imaan imagines a dystopian Underground. Samaa creates the cartoon Kabob Squad her 8-year-old self had always longed for. Ayah responds to online hate. Through poems, essays, artwork, and stories, readers see a kaleidoscope of young Muslim American identity, each fiercely authentic and unique.

Their book could not have been more urgent, or more necessary. It began when the Shout Mouse Press team reached out to local organizations serving Muslim youth in the summer of 2017, seeking a new book partner. Since the 2016 election, SMP had been prioritizing projects that would amplify the voices of youth from communities made most vulnerable by xenophobic rhetoric and policies, including American Muslims. The Next Wave Muslim Initiative (NWMI), whose mission is to build a diverse American Muslim community that nurtures the next generation, proved to be the ideal partner for this work. The organizations pooled resources and connections to make this book project possible: NWMI sent out a call for young people interested in changing narratives about Muslim youth, while Shout Mouse gathered a team of art and writing coaches, including award-winning author Hena Khan and celebrated artist Sobia Ahmad. 

For two weeks during the summer of 2018, Shout Mouse Press ran intensive art and writing workshops with these young artists, and then continued with one-on-one editorial sessions and group meetings throughout the fall and winter. The project culminated with the release of I Am the Night Sky in June 2019 at a reading and celebration at Busboys and Poets in Washington, DC. During a powerful Q&A session at the event, one member of the audience commended these young people for their leadership and vision: “It’s important for Muslims to read about and see themselves in books. And it’s equally, if not, more important for the wider community to know their stories, and to be able to understand struggles. Thank you.”   

In a post-911 era of increased and sustained anti-Muslim rhetoric more focused on cultural differences than shared humanity, we’re beyond honored to publish I Am the Night Sky. Since its release, the book has been named a 2019 Best Book by Kirkus Reviews, been featured on BBC and MuslimGirl, and included on multiple national book lists promoting inclusivity. Authors have spoken at multiple schools and universities and at professional development sessions for educators across the region. Their important book continues to do exactly what they intended: to build connections across difference, and to ensure that ALL young people have the chance to define themselves.