Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata, One sitting read; Middle Grade/Young Adult Graphic Novel
(CW: Islamophobia; bullying)
*mini review in honor of the Pages 4 Palestine Readathon*
What an absolutely delightful story. Nayra is, like many kids, dealing with a lot. Bullying, a friend whom she loves but feels overwhelmed by, and a family that won’t listen to her. Until, suddenly, a djinn who has run away from home enters her life. Together, Nayra and Marjan develop an unlikely friendship that helps Nayra tackle her problems, though some are handled better than ever. While it’s not a smooth ride, both Nayra and Marjan learn a lot about who they are, who they want to be, and how to be good friends to those they love old and new.
While in many ways Nayra and the Djinn is a familiar coming of age story, it is that familiarity that helps the reader see themselves in the story. Feeling like an outsider and not being sure how to connect with dear friends as one grows and changes are universal experiences that are wonderfully explored in this story. I also really appreciated the twist of the Marjan the Djinn being a friendly and lonely creature rather than the evil monster djinns are usually portrayed as. While a quick read, this beautifully illustrated graphic novel will suck you in from the first page and have you rooting for them both until the very end.
The Rita Reads 