Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan

Take a look at the labels I have assigned to this post - curiosity, friendship and fear.

Safiyyah lives in the mosque in Paris. The German army have marched into the city. Luckily, they are not persecuting the Muslim residents of Paris and people are still able to attend the mosque. Safiyyah's father works at the mosque and her family live in one of the apartments. Everyone is living in fear. Safiyyah has two dreadful encounters with soldiers on her way to school and on her way to deliver medicine to an elderly Jewish man. 

Safiyyah's parents, especially her father, are smuggling Jewish people out of the city. Safiyyah becomes a messenger, so she has even more reason to be dreadfully afraid. Luckily, she is an intelligent girl and also luckily, she is incredibly curious. This means she finds out many more details about the rescue of Jewish people who are using the mosque so they can then escape to safety. She knows many more details than her father would have ever planned to tell her. Near the end of the book this information becomes vital as the men including her father are detained in the main prayer room and it is now up to Safiyyah to help over fifty people urgently escape. The tension in this book is so real and certainly keeps you turning the pages.

As with all the best books for Middle Grade and Upper Primary readers about the events of World War II, this book is told as a first-hand account from the point of view of a young child. I have added a few others at the bottom of this post including some special picture books that I used to share with my Grade Six students.

'Safiyyah's War has the soul of a classic & the urgency of a story for our times. A tale of tolerance, unthinkable bravery, and heart-in-mouth true events. I loved this book' - Kiran Millwood Hargrave

'All at once, Safiyyah's War broke my heart and filled me with immense hope. With its unforgettable characters and exquisite storytelling, this really is an extraordinary book' - A F Steadman

'Safiyyah is a protagonist I was rooting for all throughout; a lovely, kind-hearted girl whose story filled me in turns with despair and joy. This book shines through with kindness and empathy at its very heart' - Nizrana Farook

This is a high-octane venture suffused with sheer terror that Safiyyah’s family’s activities will be discovered by the wrong people. There are two important relationships which stand out, particularly the evolution of Safiyyah’s interactions with her father and of her growing respect for him and his work. The other one is with her beloved grandmother, Setti, who exerts a calming and wise presence and has some of the most profound ideas of the novel. Historical Novel Society

This is both a gripping and moving novel. Hiba Noor Khan brings her detailed research to life and introduces us to many less familiar aspects of occupied Paris. The plot is full of suspense and builds to a thrilling climax. Safiyyah is a courageous and compassionate heroine who reminds us that anybody can make a difference. Just Imagine (read this review for more plot details)

Listen to an audio sample from chapter one page 3.

Companion book:

Beyond Belief

You could type any of these titles into my search bar - all of these would be fabulous to share with a reader aged 10+ who has read Safiyyah's War or who has an interest in the events of  World War II.

Huda and Me by H Hayek

Mum and Dad have to rush back to Lebanon, to the city of  Beirut leaving their children in the care of a family friend called Aunt Amel. This "aunt" is the babysitter from hell.  On arrival she sets the six children (the seventh child is a tiny baby named Raheed) daily tasks. 

Omar "You will drive me everywhere I need to go."

Kholoud "You have a fine eye for beauty and fashion, I would love to hire you as my personal stylist and beauty expert."

Twins Suha and Layla "You will be my personal tea-and-cookie-makers ... get me whatever I need, whenever I need it, including tea and cookies."

Akeal "You will be the butler of the house."

Huda "You will help Akeal. He'll be the butler of the house and you will be the maid."

The twins have to stay home and cook all day; Omar is worn out with all the driving; Kholoud cannot seem to get anything right but it is Akeal and Huda who have the worst jobs.  Luckily Huda is a very clever girl. The children cannot contact their parents so Huda decides she and Akeal will fly to Lebanon and tell them what is happening. 

I loved the story telling in this book. The chapters alternate between the journey across the world and the events leading up to the children's departure. The hours on the plane felt very real and H. Hayek gives her reader a delicious amount of tension plus a splendid (spoiler alert) happy ending. I also enjoyed the honest, first person storytelling by Akeal. 

Huda and Me has been discussed on a few review sites so I was curious to read this new Australian middle grade novel. I picked it up this morning and finished the whole book in one sitting - yes it is that good! BUT as an adult reader you need to be prepared to suspend disbelief. Adults could 'pick holes' in aspects of the plot especially when the children arrive at the airport in Dubai and also when they catch a taxi across Beirut to the home of their grandparents, but really I suggest you put your critical eye aside and just enjoy the romp.

Hayek’s novel is a cheeky, fun and heartfelt adventure that will have you laughing out loud. It provides a wonderful insight into the lives of a loving Lebanese-Australian family, with all its complex relationships to culture, religion, family and food, as they navigate their adventure both at home and abroad. Readings Melbourne

Funny, quirky and charming Huda and Me is an adventure that is full of cheek, mischief and daring as the two children find their way somehow safely across the world, with a lot of help from friends made on the way simply by Huda, being Huda! Blue Wolf Reviews

Companion reads: