Noor
Noor
Noor was a junior at National Cathedral School in Washington, DC when she wrote I am in the Night Sky. During her free time she enjoys writing poetry, playing soccer, and relaxing to music.
Noor is Muslim Arab-American. She was born in the United States, the second-generation daughter of two Muslim-Iraqi parents. Some of her peers tell her that she doesn’t “look Arab”, but she speaks Arabic fluently at home, has grown up surrounded by the influence of Arab culture, and lives her life grounded by her faith.
“I know many others my age who talk about their identity with varying degrees of discomfort, but our generation of youth cannot afford that luxury when dealing with prejudice. The ideals that this country was built on, ones of equality, justice, and representation, are crumbling under a discriminatory narrative. I care about speaking up and putting forward my personal narrative because something has to change, and change has never originated from passivity.”
BOOKS BY NOOR
by the teen artists and writers of Next Wave Muslim Initiative
With a foreword by award-winning author Hena Khan
“Captivating and uplifting.” — Starred review in Kirkus Reviews + named a Best Book of 2019
“Get it soon… It would be difficult to ignore or forget these voices.” — Rich in Color Reviews
Included on the “2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List for Ages 0-18”
During an era characterized by both hijabi fashion models and enduring post-9/11 stereotypes, ten Muslim American teenagers came together to explore what it means to be young and Muslim in America today. These teens represent the tremendous diversity within the American Muslim community, and their book, like them, contains multitudes. Bilal writes about being a Muslim rocker. Noor reflects about speaking in multiple tongues. Samaa creates her own cartoon Kabob Squad. Ayah responds to online hate. Through poems, essays, artwork, and stories, these young people aim to show their true selves, to build connection, and to create more inclusive and welcoming communities for all.
ISBN: 978-1945434938
Age: 12+
Lexile: 830L
Page Count: 192
Published: 2019
