N. H. Senzai

The bittersweet story of Abdulrahman Ibrahima Sori’s early life, enslavement, and eventual freedom.

Warrior, scholar, devout Muslim: Abdulrahman (1762-1829), son of the king of West Africa’s Fouta Djallon, is everything a prince should be. But when he’s captured by an enemy tribe and sold to English traders who traffic enslaved African people, his royal title cannot shield him from the brutal reality of the Middle Passage and the nearly 40 years of enslavement by a Mississippi planter show more that will follow. Abdulrahman gains a reputation for integrity, wisdom, and expertise. Having never forgotten his home, his faith, or himself, he leverages the influence of several white men—from an acquaintance he first met in Fouta Djallon to a newspaper printer to President John Quincy Adams—and finally secures his freedom. Drawing directly from Terry Alford’s biography as well as from the work of various African studies scholars, Senzai retells an incredible story of devastation and resilience, emphasizing the historical presence and impact of Muslim identity in America and beyond. The text is heavy with weighty truths of racial violence and enslavement, and although Abdulrahman dies in Liberia without seeing his home again, the author balances tragedy with themes of hope and togetherness. The narrative ends with Abdulrahman’s dream realized as his African and American descendants gather nearly 200 years later. Rich’s illustrations strike a similarly nuanced balance, offering visual counterweights of gentleness and community alongside powerful emotional spreads.

A captivating biography and history made accessible for younger readers. (author’s note) (Picture-book biography. 7-10)

-Kirkus Review show less

Really well done -- alternating point of view between Noura, newly arrived refugee from Syria, and Jordyn, Tampa, FL swimmer. Noura suffers panic attacks associated with water. Jordyn has worsening anxiety after her mother's miscarriage. There are a lot of big current issues in this book -- racism and religious based attacks against Muslims, grief and loss (friend, miscarriage, young soldier, mother with breast cancer), injury and extreme change of circumstances. It's also packed with people show more of all faiths helping each other, supporting each other's mental health, and finding ways to volubly stand up for their rights. It's also a quickly moving plot that centers on friendship. Good stuff all around. show less

ESCAPE FROM ALEPPO by N H Senzai
War is terrifying. When you are 15 and suddenly separated from your family in the middle of a desperate flight with family members slated for imprisonment, civil war becomes a terrifying reality.
Nadia, raised in an upper middle class family with all the modern conveniences Americans enjoy, is left in war torn Aleppo on her own after a bombing raid. Her family is making their way to safety in Turkey. ESCAPE FROM ALEPPO makes war real while presenting the show more political realities of an international crisis. The book does not sugar coat the situations Nadia encounters in her flight from the city. The situation is realistic. The characters are complex. The politics are presented from a Syrian’s point of view. The writing and plotting is intense. The devastation in once beautiful and vibrant Aleppo is made clear.
The novel is aimed at Middle Schoolers but might be too intense for this younger group. High schoolers will identify with Nadia, a “modern” teen. This would be a good book for discussion, especially of politics and the repercussions of decisions made by foreign leaders.
5 of 5 stars show less

11-year-old Fadi's father earned a doctoral degree in agriculture from a Wisconsin university, and returned with his family to help the war-torn nation of Afghanistan recover after the Taliban took over. The Taliban government, at first open to scholars like Habib, became more and more repressive and restrictive. In the summer of 2001, Fadi and his family pay smugglers to make a desperate midnight escape from Afghanistan into Pakistan. In the chaos of trying to get everyone on the truck in show more the crowd, with the Taliban fighters closing in, Fadi's 6-year-old sister Mariam lets go of his hand and is left behind. The family searches as long as it can before the travel visas expire, and they sadly continue on to San Francisco without Mariam, though relatives continue to search for her in Afghanistan. Family is everything in their Pukhtun culture, which makes Miriam's absence that much worse. Fadi experiences 9/11 just after school starts, and he is the target of anti-Muslim bullying. Others are as well, and there is a subplot involving realistic events, choices and consequences. Fadi finds a kind ally in his art teacher, who encourages him to join the photography club. There he finds friends and a contest where the grand prize is a trip to India... close to Pakistan. If he could win it, he and his father could search for Mariam! Fadi's Afghani culture is something to experience, with food, customs, traditions, visits to the mosque and the message of peace from the imam's sermons and readings from the Qur'an. The ending may be a little too set-up for some, but I liked the way it wrapped all of the parts of the story together. This is a wonderful walk in someone else's shoes, and one that I hope you all pick up. 6th grade and up. show less