A review by jessicaaaaaaa
Muslim Girls Rise: Inspirational Champions of Our Time by Saira Mir

5.0

People may tell you that you can’t do something because of the way you look, dress, or pray. Your name may sound different. Never forget that you are extraordinary. You are powerful, brave, and clever. Great things come from people like you.
—Saira Mir

This nonfiction picture book from Salaam Reads showcases nineteen contemporary Muslim women who are doing extraordinary things.

These are the women who are featured:
• Amanda Saab is a former cooking competition contestant as well as the founder of the Dinner with Your Muslim Neighbor initiative and her own bakery.
• Amani Al-Khatahtbeh is the founder of the MuslimGirl website.
• Hana Tajima is a fashion designer; she has worked with UNIQLO to make clothing for hijabi women.
• Dalia Mogahed is a researcher and political advisor.
• Hibah Rahmani is a flight control engineer at NASA.
• Ibtihaj Muhammad is an Olympic fencer.
• Ilhan Omar is a member of the US House of Representatives.
• Ilyasah Shabazz is a writer and activist.
• Linda Sarsour is an activist and was a leader of the 2017 Women’s March on Washington.
• Malala Yousafzai is the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize; she fights for the education of girls worldwide.
• Maria Toorpakai Wazir is a world champion in squash.
• Maryam Mirzakhani was the first female mathematician to win the Fields Award—the highest honor in mathematics.
• Muzoon Almellehan is a Syrian refugee who spoke about the importance of education at the UN.
• Negin Farsad is a comedian.
• Nura Afia is a makeup artist and advocate for beauty equality.
• Kamala Khan is a superhero! While she is fictional, there are two amazing Muslim women behind her character: G. Willow Wilson is the author behind the comic book series, and Sana Amanat is the artist at Marvel Comics who teamed up with Wilson to create her.
• Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is a filmmaker.
• Shirin Ebadi has been a judge and a lawyer, and she was the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Each spread includes an illustration of the featured woman at work, a quote from her, and her story. The stories focus on how the women turned their childhood interests into a way to be their most authentic selves and change the world.

The women who are included represent a range of interests and careers across the arts, sports, intellectual pursuits, and activism.
Never take no for an answer. If a door hasn’t opened up for you, it’s because you haven’t kicked it hard enough.
—Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

A copy of this book belongs in every classroom and library, and while this book is intended for children, I can see it being of interest to people of all ages.

As always, links to where you can find the book are on the blog.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.