January 29 commemorates the victims of the 2017 shooting at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Québec City and serves as the Day of Action Against Islamophobia. Take some time to look at works from authors from North America’s diverse Muslim communities. This list highlights Muslim writers' growing body of contemporary fiction and non-fiction titles discussing Islam.
Thank you to the Islamic Society of Kingston for their recommendations.
Muslim Girls Rise: Inspirational Champions of Our Time by Saira Mir
Discover the stories of nineteen unstoppable Muslim women of the twenty-first century who have risen above challenges, doubts, and sometimes outright hostility to blaze trails in various fields. Whether it was the culinary arts, fashion, sports, government, science, entertainment, education, or activism, these women never took "no" for an answer or allowed themselves to be silenced. Ages 6 and up.
A Muslim Life by Cath Senker
Explore what it is like to be a follower of Islam and learn about the many fascinating celebrations and ceremonies involved in being part of the Muslim faith. Vibrant photographs and accessible text tie together current and relevant information about Islam's fundamental beliefs and traditions. Ages 8-11.
New Moons: Contemporary Writing by North American Muslims by Kazim Ali
This anthology shows the diverse experiences of writers within North American Muslim communities. Entries include poetry, fiction, political writing, cultural writing and memoir.
Love from Mecca to Medina by S. K. Ali
Adam and Zayneb embark on the Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. But as one wedge after another drives them apart while they make their way through rites in the holy city, they start to wonder if their meeting is just an oddity after all.
Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz
Zarqa Nawaz has always straddled two cultures. In Laughing All the Way to the Mosque, she tells the sometimes absurd, sometimes challenging, always funny stories of being Zarqa in western society.
Global Islam: An Introduction by Nile Green
This book presents the first comprehensive survey of the multiple versions of Islam propagated across geographical, political, and cultural boundaries during modern globalization. Showing how Islam was transformed through these globalizing transfers, it traces the origins, expansion and increasing diversification of Global Islam.
Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin
Hana Khan's family-run halal restaurant is on its last legs. So when a flashy competitor gets ready to open nearby, bringing the inevitable closure even closer, she turns to her anonymously-hosted podcast, and her lively and long-lasting relationship with one of her listeners, for advice.
Ayesha at Last: A Novel by Uzma Jalaluddin
A modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice for a new generation of love. When a surprise engagement is announced between Khalid and her cousin, Hafsa, Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and the unsettling new gossip she hears about his family. Looking into the rumours, she has to deal with what she discovers about Khalid and the truth she realizes about herself.
Un-Canadian: Islamophobia in the True North by Graeme Truelove
A provocative warning to Canadians that the values they cherish are being eroded through a pattern of political, legal and social prejudice directed towards Muslims in Canada. This book features interviews with key politicians and journalists, influential Muslim leaders and ordinary Canadians who have suddenly been thrust into what might become a full-fledged culture war.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley
Malcolm X, the Muslim leader and anti-integrationist, tells the extraordinary story of his life and the growth of the Black Muslim movement. His fascinating perspective on the lies and limitations of the American Dream and the inherent racism in a society that denies its non-white citizens the opportunity to dream.
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun run a house-painting business in New Orleans. In August of 2005, as Hurricane Katrina approaches, Kathy evacuates with their four young children, leaving Zeitoun to watch over the business. Told with eloquence and compassion, Zeitoun is a riveting account of one family’s unthinkable struggle with forces beyond wind and water.
Jameela Green Ruins Everything by Zarqa Nawaz
Jameela Green only has one wish: to see her memoir on the New York Times bestseller list. She seeks spiritual guidance at her local mosque when her dream doesn't come true. New imam and recent immigrant Ibrahim Sultan is appalled by Jameela’s shallowness but agrees to assist her on one condition: that she performs a good deed. Jameela reluctantly accepts his terms, kicking off a chain of absurd and unfortunate events.
