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A review by serendipitysbooks
Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices by S.K. Ali, Aisha Saeed
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Once Upon an Eid was a real delight to read. It’s a collection of fifteen stories, targeted for a middle grade audience, and centred around the celebration of Eid. There are two Eids each year. Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim celebration marking the end of Ramadan and will be celebrated in just a few days time, making now an ideal time to read this book.
Like all good celebrations Eid involves food, family, friends, presents, warmth and togetherness. And joy. The joy really shone through in this book. The stories were set in several different countries and many featured challenging plot elements - life in a refugee camp, a mother battling cancer, recently divorced parents, a family newly converted to Islam and less wealthy than others in their masjid. Yet despite the challenges everyone found at least some moment of peace, hope and joy during Eid.
This book will function as a welcome mirror for Muslim readers and a valuable window for non-Muslims. Those who didn’t celebrate Eid will learn something yet still find the bulk of these stories very relatable - the disappointment when a traditional treat doesn’t turn out as planned, the agony of a long car ride with younger siblings, the joy of receiving a much wanted gift, the warmth of doing the right thing and helping others. There are obviously differences between Muslims and non-Muslims, but there are also commonalities. Books such as this will help children (and adults) recognise and value both.
I felt privileged to have read this book and to have had a little peek at the special day which is Eid.
Like all good celebrations Eid involves food, family, friends, presents, warmth and togetherness. And joy. The joy really shone through in this book. The stories were set in several different countries and many featured challenging plot elements - life in a refugee camp, a mother battling cancer, recently divorced parents, a family newly converted to Islam and less wealthy than others in their masjid. Yet despite the challenges everyone found at least some moment of peace, hope and joy during Eid.
This book will function as a welcome mirror for Muslim readers and a valuable window for non-Muslims. Those who didn’t celebrate Eid will learn something yet still find the bulk of these stories very relatable - the disappointment when a traditional treat doesn’t turn out as planned, the agony of a long car ride with younger siblings, the joy of receiving a much wanted gift, the warmth of doing the right thing and helping others. There are obviously differences between Muslims and non-Muslims, but there are also commonalities. Books such as this will help children (and adults) recognise and value both.
I felt privileged to have read this book and to have had a little peek at the special day which is Eid.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia