REVIEW | Once Upon An Eid, edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed (Muslim)

"Special days start when you run towards them."

In Once Upon An Eid, S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed bring us a powerful and heartwarming collection of stories by Muslim authors and about all kinds of Muslim families celebrating the major Islamic holidays of Eid-ul-Fitr and/or Eid-ul-Adha. 

I wish I had this collection when I was 12-years-old and navigating being the only Muslim girl in my middle school (as far as I knew). It's rare for EVERY story in an anthology to be equally enjoyable to a reader. However, I genuinely liked every single piece in Once Upon An Eid. My two favorite stories, "Don'ut Break Tradition" by S.K. Ali and "Taste" by Hanna Alkaf almost brought me to tears. 

What I deeply appreciated about these stories was that they offered such a varied representation of all kinds of Muslims. There were African American, African, and Southeast Asian/Arab Muslims. There were Muslims who lived in the US, Australia, and overseas. There were reverts and those who had been Muslim for generations. There were girls who wore hijab and those who didn't. There were all types of family makeups as well as diverse experiences, including refugees, divorce, and death/grief. This collection is important for Muslims and Non-Muslims alike because even Muslims can learn about other Muslims who might be different from themselves.

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Full Synopsis/Blurb: Eid! The short, single syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it's waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it's the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it's the gift giving and the holiday parties, or carnival rides to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy.

Contributors include G. Willow Wilson, Hena Khan, N. H. Senzai, Hanna Alkaf, Rukhsana Khan, Randa Abdel-Fattah, Ashley Franklin, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Candice Montgomery, Huda Al-Marashi, Ayesha Mattu, Asmaa Hussein, and Sara Alfageeh.

Get a copy for yourself, your classroom, local library, or as a gift at Tuma's Books!