Ramadan Reading Guide
Help celebrate Ramadan with this guide featuring books by and about Muslims from diverse backgrounds and countries. The word ‘Ramadan’ refers to the name of the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. In 2023, the holy month is recognized from the evening of Wednesday, March 22, 2023 to the evening of Thursday, April 20, 2023 during which fasting is observed by Muslims all over the world. A staff-created list with even more of our recent favourites can on our online catalogue.
Fiction – Evil Eye by Etaf Rum
The acclaimed New York Times bestselling Muslim author of A Woman Is No Man returns with a striking exploration of the expectations of Palestinian-American women, the meaning of a fulfilling life, and the ways our unresolved pasts affect our presents.
Fiction – Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin
From the Toronto-based romance and women’s fiction author of Ayesha at last and Hana Khan carries on comes a new Jane Austen inspired second chance romance that celebrates the vibrancy of Toronto’s Muslim community.
Memoir – Brown Boy by Omer Aziz
A compelling memoir from a first-generation Pakistani-Muslim man who grew up on the outskirts of Toronto. Weaving together his powerful personal narrative with the books and friendships that move him, Aziz wrestles with the contradiction of feeling like an Other and his desire to belong to a Western world that never quite accepted him.
Non-Fiction – Halal Sex: The Intimate Lives of Muslim Women in North America by Sheima Benembarek
An unprecedented glimpse into the sex lives of female and gender-expansive Muslims living across Canada and the United States as recounted to Moroccan Canadian journalist, Sheima Benembarek.
Graphic Novel/Memoir – Huda F are you? by Huda Fahmy
From the creator of Yes, I’m Hot In This, comes a cheeky, hilarious, and honest graphic novel that asks the question everyone has to figure out for themselves: Who are you? From a Michigan based hijab wearing Muslim woman.
Young Adult Fiction – Next New Syrian Girl by Ream Shukairy
A debut YA novel about the unlikely friendship between two very different Syrian girls, the pressures and expectations of the perfect Syrian daughter, and the repercussions of the Syrian Revolution both at home and abroad from a Syrian American Muslim author born and raised in California.
Middle Grade Fiction – Salma Makes a Home by Danny Ramadan; illustrated by Anna Bron
Charming, creative Salma takes on big feelings with even bigger ideas as she navigates life in a new country, Syrian identity, family changes and new friendships in this engaging and heartfelt early chapter book series from an award-winning Syrian-Canadian author, activist and public speaker.
Picture Book – Moon’s Ramadan by Natasha Khan Kazi
In this debut picture book, an anthropomorphized moon smiles down on Muslims in different countries around the world as the month of Ramadan takes place. Beautifully illustrated, this book does a great job showcasing the diversity of the Muslim population and the different aspects of this Islamic holiday.