Hail Mariam

Gr 3-7–A young Muslim girl attending a Catholic middle school ponders questions of faith and life while dealing with her sister’s serious illness. On an ill-advised sleepover at a friend’s house, Mariam is startled to see a picture of Jesus, knowing that her own Muslim faith forbids the portrayal of prophets. Her confusion grows as she starts at a new Catholic middle school, where such pictures and statues abound. Is she betraying her faith by looking at them? Will her classmates accept her even though she is not Catholic? How should she behave during Mass? All of these questions come to a head when Mariam presents an unscripted passage about Mary taken from the Quran during the annual Christmas play. Mariam gradually comes to understand that religion—as most things in life—is complicated, and cannot be reduced to a simple right versus wrong understanding. Based on the author’s own life, and described by the publisher as “an interfaith Muslim take on Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” the book skillfully weaves a story of a typical middle school girl in a not-so-typical situation. Family relationships are portrayed as both loving and frustrating, especially when Mariam’s beloved younger sister becomes ill and requires extra care and attention, leaving Mariam to try and make decisions on her own. Muslim customs and holidays, including Ramadan, are woven into the story, and Arabic phrases are used throughout. Includes an author’s note.