Ayah
Ayah
Ayah is an interdisciplinary writer and artist whose work explores culture, identity, and the complexities of belonging. She co-authored I Am The Night Sky at 14. Her stories, Pride and Sticky Notes and Standing Out, blend humor with emotion while reflecting on her experiences being visibly Muslim and confronting anti-Muslim hate in online spaces. When she is not writing, she can be found dilly-dallying or collecting journals.
“I have never wanted to fit in. I have no interest in changing who I am in order to be liked. I don’t want to twist my values or bend my faith or be Muslim in a way that others find acceptable. I don’t want to do that. I don’t need to prove anything.
I simply want to be respected, and to not have to live with rude stares, or fear. I ask this not because I am special, but simply because of what unifies everyone. When you take away race, religion, ethnicity, color, and fandoms, you are left with a human. Each with their own story, all in the same world.”
BOOKS BY AYAH
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
