Imaan
Imaan
Imaan was a junior at Poolseville High School when she wrote I am the Night Sky. She serves as the president of the Muslim Student Association at her school, which holds food drives and food packaging for the poor. They also coordinate discussions where Muslims and non-Muslims can have a safe space to discuss Islam and address misconceptions.
In the future, Imaan plans to attend college and hopefully go to dental school. She enjoys Netflix, napping, and eating basically anything.
Imaan’s mother is from Pakistan, while her father is from India. However, they both grew up in the U.S. Growing up in Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the most diverse counties in the United States, I rarely encountered prejudice. However, the Syrian refugee crisis changed her perspective.
“The Syrian refugee crisis showed me how fear of unknown cultures can cause misunderstanding, discrimination, and disregard for human life. It hurt me that so many people feared Syrian families who were simply trying to find a safe home. This is why I joined this project – so that we as Muslims can share our diverse views and common human values, to shrink that distance between all of us and the unknown.”
BOOKS BY IMAAN
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
