Middle East Outreach Council Annual Book Award Winners, 2009-2014
The Middle East Outreach Council established the MEOC Book Awards in 1999 to recognize
books for children and young adults that contribute meaningfully to understanding of the Middle
East. Books that are nominated for awards are judged on the authenticity of their portrayal of a
Middle Eastern subject, as well as on their characterization, plot, and appeal for the intended
audience. Awards are announced in the Fall for books that were published from January of the
previous year through June of the current year. For more information, contact Jean Campbell, Book
Awards Chair, jeanbcamp@comcast.net, (541) 343-1007. Award winners and honorable mentions
are listed below by Picture Book, Youth Literature, and Youth Non-Fiction categories.
2014 MEOC Book Awards
PICTURE BOOK AWARD
Razia’s Ray of Hope: One Girl’s Dream of Education by Elizabeth Suneby,
illustrated by Suana Verelst, Kids Can Press, 2013.
Set in a village in Afghanistan, Razia and her family watch as a new school is being
built--just for girls! She hopes more than anything to attend but faces resistance due
to a traditional gender roles, family needs, and a community overcoming the effects
of war. Based on a true story, Razia’s Ray of Hope offers a view of Afghan culture in
real world context, emphasizing the role of family members in problem-solving and
the importance of education. Razia’s dream of going to school reflects the wide
understanding that educating girls offers immense personal benefit but also has
positive impact on families and national development. This book provides a vehicle
for discussing current events and cultural issues with younger students. They will
enjoy and learn from the story and gorgeous mixed media illustrations. Sunesby has
included background on the actual story and efforts to promote education in developing nations, a glossary,
and teaching activities.
PICTURE BOOK HONORABLE MENTIONS
The Camel in the Sun by Griffin Ondaatje, illustrated by Linda Wolfsgruber,
Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2013.
A sad but hard-working camel belongs to an unfeeling merchant Salim. As they
travel and trade through the desert in what is now Saudi Arabia, Salim pays little
attention to the comfort and needs of his increasingly forlorn camel. After a visit to
Salim by the Prophet Mohammed, who shows empathy toward the camel, Salim has a
much-needed change in heart and behavior. The story is based on an Islamic hadith,
an account of the Prophet’s words or actions that has been passed down through the
centuries. Although initially a sad story, younger students will be engaged by the
message of kindness to animals and compassion in general. The muted but colorful
illustrations are appealing and well-suited for the story.
Never Say A Mean Word Again: A Tale form Medieval Spain by Jacqueline Jules,
illustrated by Durga Yael Bernhard, Wisdom Tales, 2014.
Two boys, one Jewish and one Muslim, grow up as close friends in medieval southern
Spain, or Al-Andalus. One of their fathers, a powerful vizier, comes up with a creative
strategy for settling a conflict between the boys. It resolves the issue and sheds light
on the challenges of friendship any time but especially when there are cultural and
status differences. The story is based on a real-life actions of the Jewish poet Samuel
Ha-Nagid, a royal advisor in 11th Century Muslim Spain. Young students will enjoy
and relate easily to the lovely illustrations, humorous story, and lesson about how to
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Middle East Outreach Council Annual Book Award Winners, 2009-2014
keep a friend.
YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD
Fear of Beauty by Susan Froetschel, Seventh Street Books, 2013.
Fear of Beauty by Susan Froetschel offers a compelling portrait of a rural Afghanistan
village, Laashekoh, and its complex relationship with a recently established American
military outpost. All of the novel’s players--villagers, Americans, and Taliban--work to
figure out each other’s multiple, and sometimes conflicting intentions. The novel
begins with a mysterious death and maintains this initial tension. Weaving back and
forth between the voice of Joey, the American Special Operations officer, and Sofi, the
clever and knowledgeable Afghani mother, Froetschel creates suspense right up to the
final and surprising revelation. With complex perspectives on a changing Afghanistan,
the U.S. role there, and gender issues, Fear of Beauty is both educational and
entertaining.
2013 MEOC Book Awards
PICTURE BOOK AWARD
Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt’s Treasured Books, by Karen
Leggett Abouraya, illustrated by Susan L. Roth Dial, 2013.
This remarkable picture book features beautiful and varied illustrations of an
actual event, with photo montages at once captivating and playful. It makes the
Egyptian uprising accessible to young children through the lens of the library
and offers useful background information and possible extensions across the
curriculum. Reviewers were pleased to note the inclusion of Arabic writing,
details in illustrations with Alexandria’s seacoast setting, colors and
significance of the Egyptian flag, and issues important to those protesting.
Highly educational and suited for extension on many topics and subject areas.
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors, by Hena Khan, illustrated by Mehrdokht
Amini. Chronicle Books, 2013.
This book impressed reviewers with its beautiful illustrations and easy-to-read
yet engaging prose. The text in rhyme makes it pleasing to younger students
who may be hearing the book read aloud. Reviewers pointed out that the
glossary at the end further supports learning about Islam.
YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD
The Girl Who Fell to Earth: A Memoir, by Sophia Al-Maria , HarperCollins, 2013.
With its insight into the rapidly changing society in the Gulf, a world infrequently read
about by American youth, and a central character caught between two worlds, one of
her American mother and the other of her Qatari Bedouin father, Sophia Al-Maria’s The
Girl Who Fell To Earth is this year’s Middle East Book Awards winner. The memoir not
only reveals conditions in another part of the world, but will help readers be more
aware of similarities, good and unfortunate, between the “other” culture and their own.
The central narrator’s engaging and witty, voice manages to weave references from
Eastern and Western culture in the 1980s and now. Where else could you read about
the starry night in the Qatar desert; Carl Sagan’s videos; star-crossed lovers from East
and West; the oilification of the Gulf or Ziggy Stardust- David Bowie as an alien? Humor,
surprises, plot twists make this memoir very appealing to readers
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Middle East Outreach Council Annual Book Award Winners, 2009-2014
A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return, by Zeina Abirached, Graphic Universe, 2013.
With its compelling plot, characterization and imagery, this graphic novel gives
faces and stories to the families from the Lebanese civil war trying to survive. The
historical content focuses on the civic geography of living so close to a green zone
which divides a city during a war. It is a story about families, war, survival, and
above all community. The stark black blocked illustrations work well to convey the
content of fear during war. Because of its simplicity, Game for Swallows is a book
for all ages; young children will grasp the basic situation: two young children like
themselves whose parents are away but who are looked after by other adults.
Older readers will be interested in the background of the story and want to discuss
why the writer-illustrator created the book as she did. Adults will focus on the
subtleties–slight changes in facial expression, for instance–that can reveal a lot
about characterization and relationships. This is a compelling and meaningful book
for all readers.
A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story, by Qais Akbar Omar, Farrar,
Straus, and Giroux, 2013.
Described from a young person’s point of view, A Fort of Nine Towers gives a vivid,
intimate, and detailed picture of life in another culture and the violence besetting
the society of Afghanistan in the 1980s and 90s. The memoir is a complex cultural
tapestry of a range of Afghan tribes and dialects through the travels made across
nine years of fleeing to safety during the war. The narrator’s openness to the
novelty and differences amongst the people he and his family meet is a fantastic
contrast to the strife bred by religious differences between warring factions in the
country. Told from the perspective of an Afghan youth experiencing what no adult
should ever have seen, the memoir brings new perspectives to Western readers.
YOUTH NONFICTION AWARD
The Compassionate Warrior: Abd el-Kader of Algeria by Elsa Marston, Widsom
Tales, 2013.
A well-written account of a 19th century Algerian freedom fighter, Abd el-Kader, who
won respect in the West for his humanitarian values and compassionate policies during
the struggle against French colonialism. In fact, Abd el-Kader is commended by
Abraham Lincoln, has a town in Iowa named after him, and is the subject of a yearly
essay competition for U.S. high school students. Evaluators felt that this book will be an
excellent addition to any high school classroom or library because of its clear,
interesting writing style and relevance to World History, U.S. History, and Constitution
classes.
The Arab World Thought of It: Inventions, Innovations, and Amazing Facts by
Saima Hussain, Annick Press, 2013.
A wonderful, compelling book with “sufficient text to explain the beautiful
photography.” Middle school and high school students will love learning about
developments in the medieval Islamic world that affect our lives today. They will
be intrigued by stories – and photos – showing how soap was invented, how the
scalpel was developed for use in surgery, how wind was first harnessed for
power, and many others. Teachers will love the accompanying map, timeline, and
index, which make the book useful and informative as well as fun.
2012 MEOC Book Awards
PICTURE BOOK AWARD
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Middle East Outreach Council Annual Book Award Winners, 2009-2014
Folktales from Turkey: From Agri to Zelve by Serpil Ural, illustrated by Dilara Arin,
Citlembik Publications, 2012.
Folktales from Turkey is a wonderful combination of folktales and stories in combination
with historic, geographic, and cultural content. Evaluators especially enjoyed the format:
short stories with side panels that offer information on a wide variety of topics. The book is
well-written, nicely illustrated, and offers teachers many opportunities for follow-up
research or art projects. Overall, “it is an unusual book and reflects tremendous research and
creativity on the part of the author and illustrator.”
The Wooden Sword: A Jewish Folktale from Afghanistan by Ann Redisch Stampler,
illustrated by Carol Liddiment, Albert Whitman and Co., 2012.
The Wooden Sword is a charming story with “vibrant illustrations with rich, sensuous
colors that epitomize the beauty of the Middle East.” Reviewers also loved the repetition
of the phrase “I have faith that everything will turn out just as it should,” which is
reassuring to children. It is well-written, engaging, and colorful.
HONORABLE MENTION: What’s the Buzz? Honey for a Sweet New Year by Alison
Ofanansky, photographs by Eliyahu Alpern. Kar-Ben Publishing, 2012.
What’s the Buzz? received praise for its information on the Jewish celebration of
Rosh Hashanah traditions, the bee industry, and life in Israel. Written for young
children, it fills a huge hole in non-fiction for early grade levels. Reviewers
especially loved the photographs showing real Israeli children in everyday life.
YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson, Grove Press, 2012.
Alif the Unseen is a witty fantasy written for the cyberage and its youthful
inhabitants. During the course of a mythical and political thriller, it teaches about
Islam, jinns, gender relations, Gulf politics, the importance of freedom with
responsibility, and much more. With themes that teenagers will embrace, settings
that fascinate, and characters that are bizarre and entertaining, it is a book for high
school students who loved Harry Potter but want to explore a gritty fantasy world of
both magical and internet wizardry, grounded in the issues and complexities of the
Middle East. Note: Some strong language and sexual content.
Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City by Guy Delisle, Drawn and Quarterly
Jerusalem is a graphic “novel” that gives an account of daily life in contemporary
Israel by an outsider who is unsentimental but drawn in, bemused but empathetic.
Delisle, a Canadian, sees and wonders at the complications, absurdities, and joys of
living in East Jerusalem, and explores other communities in Israel and the Occupied
Territories. He came with little knowledge and few preconceptions, but while on the
ground, he provides a map for students, teachers, and readers for what it’s like to live
and travel in this complex region. His drawings are informative and entertaining.
They will draw students in and delight teachers.
YOUTH NONFICTION
Beyond Bullets: A Photo Journal of Afghanistan by Rafal Gerszak, Annick Press.
Beyond Bullets documents photo-journalist Rafal Gerszak’s experiences during the
year that he spent embedded with American forces in Afghanistan. However, it is
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Middle East Outreach Council Annual Book Award Winners, 2009-2014
much more than a war story. There are textures and layers to the book as the author struggles to get beneath
the surface and reach a deeper understanding of life in Afghanistan. Reviewers commented that the book
“shows the power of photojournalism and gave a unique perspective” and that it is especially powerful for
high school students whose parents served in Afghanistan but have not yet unwrapped the experience.
Overall, the book is an insightful, highly personal reflection.
Bye Bye Babylon: Beirut 1975-1979 by Lamia Ziade, Interlink Publishing Group.
Bye Bye Babylon is a graphic novel/memoir of the author’s experiences as a child (age 711) in war-torn Lebanon. Reviewers described the book as “fun and colorful” but also
appreciated how it “took the graphic novel approach a little further by adding historical
context to the memoir.” They concluded that young people will love it – and will also
learn more about the transformation of everyday life in Beirut during the 1970s conflict.
HONORABLE MENTION: Living through the Arab-Israeli War since 1948 by Alex
Woolf, Heinemann-Raintree.
Living through the Arab-Israeli War since 1948 is commended as an excellent resource
on the Arab Israeli conflict because of its “honest attempt to present both sides while
not offending any moderates.” It is also very readable, making a complex subject
accessible to a high school audience.
2011 MEOC Book Awards
PICTURE BOOK WINNER
Mirror by Jeannie Baker, Candlewick Press.
Without words but through creative binding and exquisitely detailed
collages, Mirrorprovides parallel accounts of the lives of two families: one Moroccan
and one Australian. Despite their differences, both families have similar routines and
needs, therefore, the metaphor of a mirror. Reviewers were highly impressed with
the book’s message, layout, and subtle teachings as well as the opportunities it
presents for comparison, cultural analysis, and countering stereotypes.
HONORABLE MENTION: Time to Pray by Maha Addasi, illustrated by Ned Gannon, Boyds
Mills Press.
Time to Pray provides a clear explanation of Muslim prayers as well as aspects of Islamic
practice. The story revolves around a loving relationship between a girl and her grandmother
and is enhanced by beautiful illustrations, including calligraphy. Reviewers commented that
the book will help readers learn about Islam in the daily rhythm of life, has a strong
educational value, and is a good story with females as the main characters.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Secret Message by Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by
Bruce Whatley. Disney/Hyperion Books.
Based on a true story by Rumi, The Secret Message describes an encaged parrot who finds
a way to freedom and enlightens his keeper. The book will appeal to younger readers
through its gorgeous presentation and a tale that could lead to discussion of the Silk Road
and comparison with other folktales. Reviewers commented that the story makes the Silk
Road personal; raises questions about captivity, loyalty, and fairness; and makes Rumi
relevant for 21st century youth.
YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD
Where the Streets Had a Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah. Scholastic Press.
Where the Streets Had a Name offers an intriguing story set in today’s Palestine, where
political realities affect daily life. The narrative is real, sensitive, and often very funny. The
young main characters (both Muslim and Christian) are well-developed and easy to relate
to, and their adventures on the way to Jerusalem will appeal to young readers. One
teacher reviewer commented, “I appreciated the fact that the author’s telling showed
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Middle East Outreach Council Annual Book Award Winners, 2009-2014
multiple perspectives on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, but did so without sounding preachy from any one
perspective.”
How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden. Vertigo.
How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less is a graphic “novel”/true account. The
author, a Jewish-American, describes her heritage trip to Israel and her attempts to
come to grips with the complex social and political situation in that country. High
school readers will appreciate the colorful illustrations and the travel story; more
discerning readers will also respect the thoughtful, balanced look at modern Israel.
The Genius of Islam: How Muslims Made the Modern World by Bryn Barnard. Alfred A. Knopf Books for
Young Readers.
The Genius of Islam is an excellent introduction to the inventions and innovations of the
medieval Muslim world. Rather than attempting a general overview of the subject, author
Bryn Barnard highlights a few representative topics – for example, optical science, the
development of paper, and calligraphy. Reviewers noted that late elementary, middle
school, and even older readers will love the book’s wonderful illustrations and
organization into short, manageable topics.
2010 MEOC Book Awards
PICTURE BOOK AWARD
How Many Donkeys? An Arabic Counting Tale by Margaret Read McDonald, Nadia Jameel Taibah;
Illustrated by Carol Liddiment .
In this Saudi folktale, Jouha loads ten donkeys with dates to sell at the market. As
he rides along, he counts nine and believes one is lost. Yet when he walks, he
counts all ten and is grateful that the missing donkey is back. Alternately lucky and
unlucky, depending on whether he walks or rides, Jouha sells his dates and returns
home with all of his donkeys. Arabic numbers from one to ten are written from
right to left at the bottom of the pages, both in Arabic and in English transliteration,
and invite youngsters to count along with the silly date merchant. A great
introduction to Arabic numbers for younger readers, as well as the
Joha/Goha/Hoca character known throughout the region.
HONORABLE MENTION: Kings and Carpenters: One Hundred Bible Land Jobs You
Might have Praised or Panned by Laurie Coulter and Mary Newbigging.
Life was tough in the time of the Old Testament! A fact-filled introduction, detailed
timeline and thorough index make this book perfect for research projects, while the
humorous illustrations and snappy text provide an entertaining read. Kids will look at
history in a whole new way thanks to this unique approach.
YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD
Shooting Kabul By N. H. Senzai.
In July 2001, as 11-year-old Fadi and his family hastily board a truck to begin their escape
from Afghanistan, six-year-old Mariam lets go of her brother’s hand and is tragically left
behind. Their arrival in San Francisco is bittersweet as they are all too concerned about
Mariam to appreciate their newfound safety and freedom. Fadi struggles with integrating
himself into American middle school culture, eventually finding solace in the photography
club. Still, he is most concerned with the part he played in losing Mariam and getting her back.
A photography contest with the prize of a trip to India seems to be his best means of finding a
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Middle East Outreach Council Annual Book Award Winners, 2009-2014
way back to Afghanistan to help in the search for his sister. An age-appropriate tale relevant to current
events.
YOUTH NON-FICTION AWARD
A Brief History of Saudi Arabia By James Wynbrandt
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has experienced changes that have both altered the internal
structure of the country and affected its foreign relations, and many works continue to
propagate stereotypes about what the Kingdom was, while paying little attention to
recent developments. This title is written in a clear, concise style that is approachable to
the younger reader (but informative enough for older readers as well), and manages to
steer an even course through a subject that is often treated with skepticism or
defensiveness.
HONORABLE MENTION: Encyclopedia of Muslim-American History by Edward E.
Curtis IV, editor
This illustrated two-volume encyclopedia includes some 300 articles covering historical
and contemporary issues, events, people, court cases, themes, and activism relating to
Muslim- American history. The reference also includes 50 original documents, a master
chronology and an extensive bibliography. Given the little that has been published on
the topic, especially for a younger audience, this book is a welcome addition to the field.
2009 MEOC Book Awards
PICTURE BOOK AWARD
The Butter Man by Elizabeth Alalou and Ali Alalou
While Nora waits for the couscous her father is cooking to be finished, he tells her a
story about his youth in the high Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Every day, he would
wait for the butter man to come … surely today would be the day, wouldn’t it?
Along the way, we meet the villagers who inhabit his world, and get to know life in
the Berber villages of Morocco. Peppered with Amazigh (Berber) phrases, this
story provides an introduction to Berber culture augmented by an informative note
from the authors and an accompanying glossary.
The delightful illustrations round out this simple tale that landed at the top of our
list this year.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How
Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust by Karen Gray Ruelle and
Deborah Durland DeSaix
The Grand Mosque of Paris is based on a true story of how North African
Muslims who ran the Grand Mosque of Paris hid Jews from the Nazi forces
occupying France, frequently sweeping the city looking for Jews to send to
the concentration camps in Eastern Europe.
In a world in which Muslims are often stereotyped as terrorist, this story
instead focuses on the many humanitarian deeds Muslims have been done
and continue to do in the world. This is a must read in any study of the
Holocaust by fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-graders. The illustrations are beautifully
done often using dark colors to emphasize the dire circumstances of people
during those dark days.
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Middle East Outreach Council Annual Book Award Winners, 2009-2014
YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD
Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan
Inspired by a true story, the winning title has all the makings of tragedy: the
titular Mor (“Mother” in Dari) passes away as the story opens, leaving Jameela
and her father to seek a new life in Kabul. Jameela’s weak willed father,
dominated by his addiction to opium and the will of his new wife, is persuaded
to abandon Jameela in the marketplace, and she is taken to an orphanage
where she meets a similar group of abandoned children.
Rather than succumb to the tragic overtones, however, Khan constructs a
multi-layered, nuanced tale about a girl making her way in a patriarchal
society, finding those who are willing to bend the rules, and figuring out how
to use the strict societal norms to her advantage.
Much can be made of the differing forces and how they play off of each other (rural vs. urban; religious vs.
secular; ethnic vs. ethnic; Afghan vs. American). There is a great deal here to explore.
HONORABLE MENTION: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valérie Zenatti
Also inspired by true events, A Bottle in the Gaza Sea is the story of Tal Levine,
an Israeli teenager who longs to strike up a correspondence with “someone on
the other side.” She convinces her brother, who is serving in the Israel Defense
Forces along the Gaza border, to throw a bottle containing a message into the
Gaza Sea in the hopes that someone will pick it up and respond.
In this way, she meets “Gazaman,” a sarcastic Palestinian who, at first, only
mocks her. As their correspondence continues, however, their casual e-mail
exchange turns into something deeper.
This “letter in a bottle” tale for the Web 2.0 generation does not shy away from
deeper issues, especially in the wake of tragedies that afflict both Tal and
Gazaman along the way. This timely, topical tale is sure to inspire a myriad of follow-up classroom activities.
HONORABLE MENTION: Extra Credit by Andrew Clements
This second honorable mention title is directed at readers in upper elementary
and middle school. Abby Carson is a sixth-grade student in rural Illinois whose
head is everywhere but her schoolwork (“it’s not that she can’t do her
schoolwork, it’s just that she doesn’t like doing it”).
In order to be spared the embarrassment of being left behind a grade, she
agrees to an extra credit assignment involving writing to a pen pal in another
country—and so she meets Sadeed Bayat and his sister Meriem in rural
Afghanistan. As their friendship flourishes, problems arise on both sides.
This is an appealing book with complex Afghan characters, providing a
nuanced view even for younger readers. As if this wasn’t enough, the title
received enthusiastic praise from the Award Committee’s school aged
children! As with the other two recognized titles, there is much here to explore, and Extra Credit is sure to
inspire much classroom discussion and follow up activities.
YOUTH NON-FICTION AWARD
The Iranian Revolution by Brendan January
Part of the Pivotal Moments That Changed the World series, this entry focusing on the
Iranian revolution of 1979 won much praise from the Book Award Committee for its
thoroughness, clear writing, and the use of supplemental primary sources.
Instead of succumbing to the “clash of civilizations” argument, author Brendan January
instead delves into the deeper causes of the Iranian revolution, and brings the story
forward to describe how the forces that triggered the revolution continue to play out in
the troubled relationship between the United States and Iran today. An excellent
addition to any middle- or high school library, this book is a welcome entry to the
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Middle East Outreach Council Annual Book Award Winners, 2009-2014
corpus of research literature for younger people.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Arabia by Mary Beardwood
This detailed encyclopedia entry focuses on the geography, cultures, and, especially, the
flora and fauna of the Arabian Peninsula. With many photographs, charts, maps, figures,
asides, this exhaustive and beautifully illustrated text will answer every question you never
knew that you had about Arabia on subjects from pearling to fossils, migratory birds to the
many uses of the date palm. The sheer breadth of information will eliminate the narrow
geographic and social stereotypes so many students have about the Middle East.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical & Cultural Perspectives by Dona
J. Stewart
This textbook provides a clearly written, concise introduction to the modern Middle East.
Short, easy-to-digest pieces are augmented by textboxes and maps, exploring all aspects of
the region from politics and government, to history, geography, and various cultural
perspectives.
While perhaps too advanced for some high school students, this book would find a home in
Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes or libraries meant to support
them, and is also suitable for many university level survey courses on the Middle East.
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