Safiyyah's War

by Hiba Noor Khan

Overview

Inspired by the true story of how the Grand Mosque of Paris saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II, this breathtaking tale of suspense, compassion, and courage stars an extraordinary young heroine readers will never forget. “A riveting read for children and adults alike.” —New York Times Book Review 

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BEST MUSLIM MIDDLE GRADE BOOK 2024

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Safiyyah loathes the brutal Nazi occupation of Paris, even though her Muslim identity keeps her safe—or, at least, safer than her Jewish neighbors. Violence lurks in the streets, her best friend has fled, and even her place of refuge—the library—has turned shadowy and confusing, as the invaders fear the power of books. Safiyyah longs to strike back and hates feeling powerless to help her Jewish friends. Worse yet, her father—who taught her to always fight injustice—is acting strangely and doing nothing to help them either.

Or is he?

Unraveling the mystery of her father’s odd behavior draws Safiyyah deep into the heart of the perilous underground resistance to the Nazis, where her bravery is put to the ultimate test. 

“A heartfelt story of the unsung, real-life Muslim heroes of the Resistance in World War II, whose courage and humanity transcended religious differences.” —Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee and Heroes

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063351882
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Hiba Noor Khan is a writer and activist engaged with issues of immigration and intercultural understanding. She has worked as a refugee advocate, a physics teacher, freelance journalist, and a TV presenter in the UK, where she lives.  

Editorial Reviews

★ 2024-05-04
In this novel inspired by a true account of French Resistance during World War II, a courageous 11-year-old Muslim girl joins the effort to save lives.

Safiyyah has an idyllic life in the Grand Mosque of Paris, where her father works and her family lives. Her existence revolves around browsing maps in her beloved library and spending Saturday afternoons with best friend Isabelle. But on the cusp of the Nazi invasion, everything is about to change. Safiyyah’s Algerian Muslim identity affords her an element of safety, but this fiercely brave girl internalizes the injustices perpetrated on her community—especially her Jewish friends and neighbors—and vows to help any way she can. Uncovering the secrets of her father’s recent strange behavior will force Safiyyah to summon incredible courage to support the Resistance and avoid revealing anything that would put lives at risk. Khan expertly weaves an engaging story filled with compassion, bravery, and commitment to one’s neighbors while addressing difficult truths and the ugly face of war in an informative yet still age-appropriate way. Many of the well-developed characters, such as Safiyyah and her family, are fictitious; others, including the mosque’s rector and imam, are real historical figures from an underrepresented episode in history who were integral to the mosque’s rescue of between 500 and 1,700 Jews. The book’s messages of interfaith cooperation and respect for human dignity are timely and compelling.

A must-read distinguished by its powerful plot and poignant writing. (glossary, historical note) (Historical fiction. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews