The Boldest White: A Story of Hijab and Community by Ibtikhaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali illustrated by Hatem Aly
The third and final book in the standalone series is finally out and I absolutely love that Islam, salat, and the masjid are front and center. Faizah is once again brought to life through the incredible illustrations that provide all the emotional beats and make the book memorable. The story though is only just ok, to be honest, it is clunky and disjointed. I have read the book a half a dozen times to myself and twice aloud and I do not understand the Eid story line. I doesn’t fit the themes of fitting in, being a leader, being bold, it just seemed to be there to motivate a white hijab being purchased, and it was very distracting to the cadence and continuity of the story. Every time Faizah is self reflecting on her fear, suddenly a conversation about Eid with a friend named Sophie disrupts the story. Even the refrain that “Bravery grows in your mind. But its roots are in your heart,” sounds lovely, but is never explained or developed, so what are you to water it with? What are the right reasons? I’m sure most will be fine with the concepts and presentation and not be bothered, but this book is an auto buy for Muslims and non Muslims alike, and while I appreciate the packaging, I wish the story itself was more, well “Bold.”
The book starts with Faizah going to Jummah with her mom and sister, and loving being part of the crowd, she then goes to fencing and loves being part of the crowd, “it feels right. I feel right,” she says. But then the coach calls her name and she starts to worry. She doesn’t like when people stare at her, she worries she did something wrong. The coach has already reminded her to “saber first, then move forward,” so I’m not sure why she worries after if she did something wrong, it is a class, reminders and corrections are what happen in a class.
Then on Sunday, the trio is back at the masjid for salat before Asiya’s fencing lesson. The coach asks Faizah if she wants to come in for extra practice before the tournament. Faizah isn’t planning on participating in the tournament though and would rather think about Eid. Thinking about getting together in the future with Sophie to pick out Eid clothes, is more fun than fencing. The reader doesn’t know when Eid is, or why Faizah seemed to break into a day dream when asked about fencing. Furthermore the reader doesn’t feel the worry of being in a competition because Faizah is not shown to be worried.
Later that night Asiya teaches Faizah the moves she learned and Faizah practices alone. There is then a two page spread that I do not understand, on one page she is saying, “When no one is watching, I ‘m the best fencer in the world,” three lines later it says Even when others are watching, I can do it. I can be the best.” What happened in between? I get the following line, “but it’s hard to be my best when I have to stand out to do it,” but the the line in the middle makes no sense. What is the point of the book if she can do it and knows it at the mid point? And no, I’m not reading an arc, I checked out this copy from the library.
The family is back at the masjid on Friday and reassuring Faizah as they head to fencing, that she can do it even when people are watching, that bravery will come. She hasn’t been nervous at class before, and hasn’t signed up for the tournament, so why is she suddenly uncomfortable, when at the start she loved fencing class as she felt she fit in.
Then it is Saturday, and Sophie finally comes, but not to prepare for Eid, just to discuss, how they will prepare for Eid. At least now we know it will be next week. The next Friday, I know I feel like a calendar should have been included, it is fencing class again and Faizah is called up to demonstrate. She finds her strength and she is shy, but realizes they are not just looking at her, but looking at what she can do. She is leading, she is helping, she is being brave.
Finally it is Sunday, and Sophie and Faizah are at the hijab shop, and Faizah picks a white hijab because it matches the fencing clothes, and she is going to the tournament.
Yeah, sorry I spoiled it, I just really am sad that the book wasn’t as great as it could have been. It connected the dots eventually, but not in a memorable way, and for the team responsible for this book, it really could and should have been amazing.
