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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, High School Librarian Title: Huda F Cares?
Author: Huda Fahmy Series: Sequel to Huda F Are You?
Publisher: Dial
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Graphic Novel, semi-autobiographical
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Islamophobia
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I love the titles of this book, and the first in the duology, Huda F are You? And it was recommended at our recent best books workshop.
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
Huda F Cares? You will!
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Review:
This book further explores the life of Huda Fahmy and picks up at the end of the first book, in which Huda is finishing her freshmen year in her new school in Dearborn, Michigan. This book finds Huda making great plans for summer vacation. She is getting contacts and is feeling confident that this "new look" will be the start of a new, improved HUDA! Huda's plans are thwarted by her parent's decision to take the family on a road trip to Disney World in Florida, 24-hours away! In a small car, with her sisters, crammed into the back seat.
This book delves more into the relationship between Huda and her four sisters. The reader gets a stronger sense of their individual personalities and Huda's role as a middle sister. As they travel together and pair up with each other to explore Disney World...and mayhem ensues! In this book Huda's "devil" and "angel", the mini-Huda's that serve as her conscience, have a bigger "role." They try to keep her from making bad decisions, but do not always succeed. Not surprisingly, this road trip brings the sisters together, and they come to realize that "sisters are forever" as their mother continually tells them.
The author continues to do an excellent job helping us to see the world through the eyes of a Muslim teenager. There is a letter to the reader in the beginning of both books that explains these characters "do not represent all Muslims or all Muslim experiences." The theme of coping with being considered "the other" is strong. And being a minority in Disney World is a challenge. A review from Booklist states, "conflicts about how to react to racism and prejudice [...] are neatly folded into the plot." And they are!
At the end of the book there are several pages devoted to the "making of a graphic novel." I found this fascinating, and I think many students will too. I think this would make the book a natural fit into the ELA or Art curriculums.
Number of party hats:
Find resources for Huda F Cares? at Teachingbooks.net
For more information about this book, see the Publisher's Website
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