Title: Salaam, with Love
Author: Sara Sharaf Beg
ISBN: 9780593482629
Publisher: Underlined
Copyright Date: 2022
Genre: Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Novel
Reading Level/Interest Level: Grades 7-12, Lexile 710
Awards or Honors: None
Plot Summary
Ramadan is right around the corner, and Pakistani-American teen Dua has just received possibly the worst news imaginable. She and her parents will be spending the month of Ramadan in Queens with her Uncle and his family, who she hasn’t seen in years. Though she isn’t too enthusiastic about settling down in this strict Muslim household with cousins she doesn’t remember how to connect with, Dua does her best to uphold the traditions of Ramadan, fulfill the intentions she set for the month, and get to know all five of her cousins.
Dua must navigate more than family dynamics, fasting, and meeting her goal of memorizing six chapters of the Qu’ran when she meets Hassan, the cute drummer in a Muslim band and the younger brother of Mahnoor’s fiance. The quiet boy immediately catches her attention and becomes a stable presence in the household, helping her memorize her passages and offering advice on the Muslim faith. When tragedy strikes the family, Dua’s faith is put to the test and she must rely on what she has learned over the month to stay strong in the face of adversity and support her family.
Author Background
Sara Sharaf Beg is a Pakistani-American author and mental health counselor who lives in Houston, Texas with her husband. Sara received her B.A. in Radio/TV from the University of Central Florida before earning an M.A. in Counseling from Northwestern University. She enjoys food, and cats, and has a wide knowledge of Pakistani and Bollywood dramas (Beg, n.d.).
Critical Evaluation
Salaam, with Love is full of rich descriptions of the Muslim religion, including clothing, food, and Ramadan practices. I was fully immersed in all the details the author provided, from the process of brewing chai tea right down to Dua’s high heels. Another strong point of this novel is the supporting characters. Each and every one was unique and fun, helping Dua through this month in their own way. Dua herself was also a great character, full of quirks and interests that shone throughout the novel. I feel that both Muslim and non-Muslim teens will love the ensemble characters in this book and appreciate the details surrounding the Muslim culture. One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the portrayal of Muslim teens from three families and the unique ways they celebrate their culture, which is something I think teens will enjoy as well.
In terms of plot, there’s is both a lot and not much happening in this novel. A month is a long time to fill with movement and it felt like a lot of what happened for the majority of the book was filler. The stakes for Dua also weren’t very high and I ended up feeling like she was a fairly passive character being shuffled along to whatever shenanigans the other characters were up to. The author also weaves in a storyline of Islamaphobia that I think was realistic but also didn’t go anywhere. For a novel that has a light tone, this aspect was very dark and I would have liked to see it explored more and gotten more thoughts and feelings on it from Dua.
Creative Use for a Library Program
At the beginning of Ramadan, Dua and her family make a list of intentions they wish to carry out over the month. To replicate this, hold a session at the library where teens can make a list of goals and intentions for their upcoming month, complete with snacks inspired by the book, such as samosas and chai.
Speed-Round Book Talk
Pakistani-American teen Dua has a lot planned for Ramadan this year: a long list of intentions, connecting with her extended family, focusing on her music, and of course, the cute boy that interrupts all of these activities. Join Dua as she learns more about her faith, her family, and the values that are important to her in this delightful coming-of-age story from new author Sara Sharaf Beg.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation
As a book that was published very recently, there are no challenges to date. If I had to speculate, I can imagine that the Islamaphobia in this book might be triggering for readers, as well as some brief descriptions of violence. These instances play a role in Dua’s story and the story of many teens, so in defense of these issues, I think representation is important, and if it can happen in reality, teens deserve to be able to read about it.
Reason for Inclusion
The representation of the Muslim faith from the perspective of a Pakistani-American teen is what initially drew me to this novel. After reading, I feel confident that teens who share Dua’s faith will understand her experiences, and those not familiar will have the opportunity to learn about a culture different than theirs.
References
Beg, S. S. (n.d.). Meet Sara. Sara Sharaf Beg. https://sarasbeg.com/about-sara/
Beg, S. S. (2022). Salaam, with Love [Cover Image]. Underlined. Retrieved from https://sarasbeg.com/
Happy-go-lucky-things. (2021, April 18). Jazak allah khair [Image]. Tumblr. https://happy-go-lucky-things.tumblr.com/post/648816168976678912/falaaafeels-aiklahori-jazak-allah-khair
Islamic-aesthetic. (2019, June 5). Eid-Al-Fitr Mubarak [Image]. Tumblr. https://islamic-aesthetic.tumblr.com/post/185387718654/eid-al-fitr-mubarak
Papenathys. (2021, February 24). Desi pride moodboard: Aro pride [Image]. Tumblr. https://papenathys.tumblr.com/post/677077684026753024/desi-pride-moodboard-aro-pride-kisi-aur-ki
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