Muslim Authors - The Keysmash Blog

8 Things I Loved About Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad

I have been thinking a lot about Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad lately, especially given that we are entering 9 months of a genocide that is being broadcasted live but NOTHING is being done to bring it to an end. I want to write a thoughtful piece that can explain why the world is so eager to dehumanize us, but I cannot seem to find the words.

But Aisha Abdel Gawad did. In her debut novel, an unforgettable coming-of-age story about what is like to grow up as an immigrant Muslim girl, she captures the realities of Arab and Muslim communities in the most authentic ways. If you haven’t already picked up this book, here are some reasons why you should read Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad.

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Book Corner, Contemporary, Diverse Books, Home, Own Voices, Reviews, Young Adult

Book Review: Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad

January 12, 2024January 8, 2024 tanazmasaba

To be honest, I don’t know where to begin with this book. It’s one of my favorite books of 2023, but I feel like no matter how succinct I try to be with my review, I will not be able to do it justice.

I’ve had Aisha Abdel Gawad’s debut novel, Between Two Moons, on my most anticipated summer releases list last year and finally got the chance to pick it up from the library a couple months ago. As someone who loves coming-of-age stories, I was super excited to see a book that featured not only Muslim main characters but an entire novel full of Muslim people and the Muslim community at large.

And I knew this book would break my heart, simply after reading the blurb. And yet, I couldn’t stop the tears when I reached the end of the story.

A gorgeous, and truly authentic story about what it means to grow up as Muslim teenagers struggling with identity and faith in a country where Islamophobia runs rampant, Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad is a shockingly realistic novel about family, girlhood, and the immigrant experience.

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Book Corner, Home, Other Bookish Stuff, Young Adult

Review: Hana Khan Carries On By Uzma Jalaluddin [Exclusive International Giveaway]

June 12, 2021 tanazmasaba

As a South Asian Muslim woman myself, I was beyond excited to get my hands on Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin, a delightful love story featuring a bold, brilliant and ambitious young Muslim protagonist, two competing rival halal restaurants, and a diverse cast of colored characters. I have to admit, this is definitely going to be one of the best book of 2021. Hana Khan Carries On takes all the things you love in a romantic-comedy and gives it a refreshing new twist.

Thank you so much Colored Pages Tour for having me as a tour host for this amazing book, and to Atlantic Books for sending me a review copy. Read on below for my full review (or get the TL;DR version here) & participate in an exclusive giveaway to win ONE FINISHED COPY OF Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin.

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Weekly Wrap Up: The Final Week of April 2020

April 26, 2020 tanazmasaba

It feels surreal that another week has passed us by–April is coming to an end and we will soon be well done with the first four months of this year. This is a hard pill to swallow, but I am glad that I’ve managed to slowly get back into some kind of routine for myself this week. Here’s a quick wrap of my week.

Weekly Wrap Up: The Final Week of April 2020

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Home, Romance, Young Adult

Review: An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (Ember Quartet #1)

April 1, 2017 tanazmasaba

I have read many amazing YA fantasy books, but it’s not often that I read a YA fantasy that leaves me breathless with excitement and anticipation with every page, and keeps me up all night even when I have a midterm early morning the next day.

With a simple, yet captivating narration style, immensely likable protagonists, well-developed characters, and a uniquely diverse plot that explores Islamic/Pakistani cultures and myths, An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir is a book that I recommend to everyone to read, especially to those who are looking for a bit of diversity in their reading.

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