They get hundreds of top reviews. And guess what? Most of us do not even know they're Muslims!
One thing most of them have in common: their reflection on life is deep. They love metaphors, djinns, desert, and magical/dangerous places. They pour their guts in their books. They talk about themes that touch them personally, that they have experienced, but they are not preaching any religion.
No, man!
Some names will surprise you.
Some names won't even sound Muslim.
They came up with characters that have even attracted the attention of publishers. Some have started as self-published, some won awards.
They're fantastic.
Some are people of colors, some are people of the world.
They're all hard-working and talented.
Check their books out.
She has 600 reviews on Amazon, and buckle up because she has 700 reviews on Goodreads, plus 4,000 ratings. Staggering!
Call her a successful entrepreneur.
Thorn is a retelling of The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale and the original Grimm brothers' fairy tale with unique villains and a princess who doesn't quite fit.
Check her other books, at:
Website: http://www.booksbyintisar.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5780445.Intisar_Khanani
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Thorn-Intisar-Khanani/
She has 9,000 ratings on Goodreads, and 1,300 reviews!
This novel is about a girl who decides to wear a hijab, but realizes that it comes with complications she is not ready to accept. The book is her struggle and how a girl can ride a crush while staying true to her faith.
Amazing! Her novel is full of heart, relatable, and fun to read.
Check her other book too, at:
Website:
http://www.randaabdelfattah.com
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/45465.Randa_Abdel_Fattah
You should lok now because her book Shatter Me has 2,000 reviews on Amazon!
This is a romance with darker tones.
This novel touches the theme of loneliness in an abysmal sort of way. Teens enjoy books like this. It's very touching too.
Her touch is power. Her touch is lethal. “All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.”
Website: http://www.taherehbooks.com/
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4637539.Tahereh_Mafi
With 100,000 ratings and 15,000 reviews, this novel is worth keeping in your personal library. The novel also boosts 1,400 reviews on Amazon.
That's because Sabaa Tahir's novel is brilliant. It has a romantic subplot that is not well developed in the first book, so it's mostly a novel of survival and sacrifice. The writing is amazing with so much depth it will make you want to read the book many times.
Website: http://www.sabaatahir.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/sabaatahir
Melati Lum doesn't even have a name that sounds Muslim (in my opinion) and that's because she's from Malaysia.
Ayesha Dean is like a Nancy Drew with a hijab. It's an adventure, it's an intrigue, no it's a rollercoaster.
Give her a chance to amaze you.
"Super excited by the new badass Muslim crime fighter Ayesha Dean rocking Istanbul with her sleuthing ways. Look forward to more Ayesha Dean adventures!" - Sarah Malik, Journalist and Writer, Australia."
Website: http://www.melatilum.com.au/
Facebook:www.facebook.com/melatilum.author/
This novel will talk to Muslim teens who are tired of being put in a box, who have impulses they must refrain because the world is judging them.
A Muslim teen often feels like a poster person whose behavior speaks for the entire Muslim community and that's oppressive and tiresome and pushes down who you really are. It's also unfair.
If you feel that way, this book is for you.
Website: https://skalibooks.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15615126.S_K_Ali
G. Willow Wilson (a Muslim from Egypt) writes this graphic novel inspired from a Muslim childhood.
Wikipedia says, "The conception of Kamala Khan came about during a conversation between Marvel editors Sana Amanat (creator & editor of Marvel's Comics) and Stephen Wacker. Amanat said, "I was telling him [Wacker] some crazy anecdote about my childhood, growing up as a Muslim-American. He found it hilarious.""
Website: http://www.gwillowwilson.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thisiswill
This story talks about an arranged marriage. It's important to know that forced marriages are not part of Islam. Although the story is well written, the experience only reflect a culture, not a belief.
Arranged marriages do exist in Islam, but the couple has to meet first and agree vocally. They need to feel they are compatible.
Website: http://www.aishasaeed.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8106586.Aisha_Saeed
This is a romantic contemporary story.
Ali has issues with death in his family and identity.
Amirah swears she will never marry because she has poor role models.
In all this confusion, they will still find each other. Beautiful, poetic, and dual point of view.
Website: http://naimabrobert.co.uk/
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/459760.Na_ima_B_Robert
I think it's worth celebrating.
You will find below a slideshow of Muslims in Hollywood. Lots of people of color who are multi-talented.
https://www.cnn.com/2014/06/27/living/gallery/muslims-in-hollywood/index.html