Silver Brook: Yumna and the Golden Horse by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

There is a lot going on in this book - corrupt developers arrive in this small English village. There are four kids - three girls and a boy - they are Muslim and related. You are sure to anticipate that the kids save the day and stop the nasty developers, but there is more to this story. These kids share great grandparent ancestors - one human one djinn - which means they have magical abilities - the boy Kareem can turn into a golden horse, one girl Nafisa can summon and communicate with birds, and the other girl Sadeeqa can summon insects. None of this 'magical' action kicks in until page 45 (I kept waiting for the fantasy) and readers need to wait until Chapter 16 to read about the djinn.

This is a very complex story, and I found the words "fantasy series" on the back cover misleading. I also wish this book had a glossary - there are lots of references to Muslim culture and religious practices (see below). Although I was keen to reach the end of this story and see how the 'magical' kids might thwart the developers and even more importantly regain the trust of their community. I did cheer when Yumna spoke out against the Maidstones.

There are themes of betrayal; endangered animals; and xenophobia. This last one is important. The developers use cunning ways to persuade the people in this village that the Muslim families are causing trouble and should be evicted. This has already happened once before to this family. 

Now back to the subtitle - Yumna does not have the magical abilities of her cousins - she aspires to be a detective which, in the context of this story, seemed to me to be a little 'childish' to me. Her part in the story at times, felt like an episode of the Midsummer Murders television series.  The Golden Horse is also referenced in the subtitle. In the story the author mentions Buraq - the mystical horse. Buraq is a mythical creature from Islamic tradition, described as a white, winged horse with a human face. According to Islamic beliefs, Buraq carried the Prophet Muhammad on a miraculous journey known as the Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj). The journey took the Prophet from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascended to the heavens.  

In his horse form Kareem is captured by the evil couple (Hector and Sybil Maidstone) and he is shackled with golden bracelets which conveniently Yumna with her detective skills can unlock! I was unsure why the Maidstones wanted the Golden Horse. 

Because Yumna does not have magical abilities she feels rejected by the other teens especially when they block her from their social media chat group. Yumna's mother was a djinn and that is given as a reason to explain why she left the Yumna and her father. At the end of this book (it will be a series) the stage is set for Yumna to now look for her mother. 

Publisher blurb: Thirteen-year-old Yumna lives in a sleepy town where nothing ever happens. So when her friends start sneaking into the woods at night, curiosity gets the better of her and she follows. There, she discovers something unbelievable. Kareem can turn into a golden horse. Sami can touch fire without burning. Even her cousin Nafisa has a strange new power. Everyone's changing . . . except Yumna. But when Kareem vanishes and a mysterious new family, the Maidstones, seem to be hiding something, Yumna is the only one asking the right questions. As secrets unravel and danger creeps closer, it's up to Yumna to rally her friends and uncover the truth. In a town full of secrets and powers, can one ordinary girl become the hero they all need?

Listen to an audio sample from Chapter One.

There is a little mild swearing in this book and as for an age recommendation I would say mature readers aged 10+. The main characters are aged 13+ and Yumna is waiting for her period to begin - she is very embarrassed when her dad tries to talk about this. 

Examples of words that are used in this book:  Fajr; habibti; abaya; Dhuhr; and Asr.  And there are prayers such as - Ya Allah, Bismillah, Allahu, Akbar! Towards the end of the story there is also a mention of Surat-al-Nas. Surah Nas is the 114th and last chapter of the Qur’an, consisting of 6 short ayats. Many Muslims recite Surah al Nas and Falaq together for protection from the evil eye, envy, black magic, and spiritual harm.

Thanks to Gleebooks Kids for sharing a copy of this book which was published earlier this year. 

These two reviews give more plot details. Here is the Book Trust review:

Themes of identity and belonging are explored in this mystery, along with true friendship, family secrets and what it means to feel that somewhere is your home.  

and the one from The Book Muse:

The mystery is unique, something I have never seen before, and I was drawn into the story, wanting to know more about Yumna, the secrets and her culture. Because it is our culture that shapes who we are and how we see or interact with the world as much as where we grow up. ... Fantasy can be written in so many ways, and I enjoy seeing how different authors navigate the fantasy genre and what they do with it. This one captured a vibrant culture, the modern world and family, community and the strength of community. It shows that it is possible to stand up to bullies and people who want to divide us whilst also showing the unity of a family and friends navigating secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, the mystery, the magic, and the characters.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied has published five books, most recently Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism (Walker, 2023), named a Best Book of 2023 by School Library Journal and longlisted for the 2025 UKLA Book Award and 2024 SLA Information Book Award. Her previous books include ... two novels for younger readers, You Must Be Layla (Puffin, 2019) and Listen, Layla (Puffin, 2021). Listen, Layla was longlisted for Book of the Year by the Children's Book Council of Australia, and named a 2022 Honor Book for Children's Africana Book of the Year by the Center for African Studies at Howard University in the U.S. Her TED Talk on bias has been viewed over 2.7M times. Sudanese by birth, raised in Australia, Yassmin now lives in London.

Huda was Here by H Hayek

Huda is part of a large family but the main focus in this book is on Huda herself and her older brother Akeal. Their father has lost his job as a neighborhood security office and now he has been forced to move across the country to Western Australia to take up a new job, leaving the family behind. Huda is a problem solver and a young girl of action with a capital 'A'!  She is determined, yes determined to get her dad back and better yet to get his job back. Since his job was about security it seems obvious to Huda that she needs to instigate more crime in her area. If the crime rate rises, then her father will get his old job back. She does pledge not to hurt anyone. Her plans are for low level, but annoying crimes, that will surely make the authorities change their mind. Garbage bins are knocked over, graffiti is sprayed, shoes are moved while people are praying in the mosque and then, maybe she does go too far, there is a kidnapping!

"We make crime. we do things, here and there, to make everyone think there are criminals on the loose. ... We just do a couple of small, teeny tiny, harmless things to get people to believe real 'crims' are lurking around. Everyone gets scared. Then voila, they bring Pops back."

There is another intriguing layer to this story that hints at corruption. Why did dad really lose his job? Why does Uncle Ahmed give Huda $100. Is something going on at the corner shop? And does that lady across the road have some thing to hide?

There is also a delicious layer of humour in this story. Huda is mortified when her mother is employed by the school as a teacher's aide working with 'remedial kids' like Huda who actually cannot read very well and who certainly cannot spell as evidenced by her graffiti and the word crimanimals! Huda is also suspicious of their new friend Fadey and she is utterly infuriated when he keeps calling her Pip-Squeak. 

I loved the way H Hayek made me work hard reading this story. The plot is not linear but rather jumps back and forth between events and readers need to stay focused to join up all the puzzle pieces. The opening scene is gripping with Huda and her brother in jail - both refusing to talk to the police. You could easily read the first chapter as a book taster or book talk with your library group. This story certainly is a romp and a page turner, and I loved the voice of Huda.

Huda was Here is a title from the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) 2024 Younger Readers Notable list.

Here are the CBCA judges comments: A layered and engaging novel that captivates the reader from its intriguing prologue through to its positive, heartwarming conclusion. Centred on Lebanese Australians, Akeal and his younger sister Huda, it is a fast-paced, stand-alone sequel, told from the perspective of Akeal, through clearly labelled dual narratives. Huda’s strong-willed determination respectively combines with Akeal’s sensitive loyalty to deliver wondrous episodes of suspense, humour and misbehaviour, revealing their love for each other and for their family. This novel creatively and simultaneously explores multicultural Australia, family life, corruption, community, hardship and determination in the context of living as part of a minority group. Humour pervades this delightful story, lifting it to deliver a relatable, skilfully crafted, age-appropriate and engaging mystery adventure.

The story is filled with heart and love of family, and will draw young readers in right away. Reading Time

Every reader will be instantly invested and pulled in by the strong connection; with Huda’s tenacity and sympathies with Akeal and what he must tolerate. As each chapter cleverly meanders back and forth in time, we discover how and why Huda and Akeal found themselves in this predicament…. And even more importantly how this will all end! Each twist and turn, keeps the reader completely invested and captivated. Read Plus

We are given an insight into the trials and delights of a family that is living in multi-cultural, contemporary Australia. Themes of courage, family, problem solving, conflict and current financial stress, all come together in an enjoyable and easy to read story of modern times and age-old family unity.

Here is a video review of the two books from this series. 

Huda and me is the sequel to Huda was here but it does completely stand alone. Here is the web page for H Hayek.

Huda and me

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:

A house without walls by Elizabeth Laird illustrated by Lucy Eldridge

Safiya is a young girl living in Syria. Her family are forced to flee to Jordan. Safiya has a complex past. Her mother died when she was a baby. Safiya is a twin but her twin sister Saba was taken away when the babies were just a few weeks old. Safiya has never seen Saba who is supposed to be living with relatives in America but in Jordan, Safiya discovers Saba. Uncle Hassan and Aunt Israa have moved back to Jordan and are living in a nearby city.

Safiya is a very resourceful girl. She knows the name of the company where her uncle works. She has been extraordinarily lucky to get some work in a Beauty Salon helping with paper work and answering the telephone. This gives her access to a computer and a telephone, Safiya cleverly phones up the company where her uncle works and spins a tale about a delivery of flowers for Saba. The unwitting receptionist at Askil International supplies an address so now she can surely find her long lost twin sister. 

This fragment of information is vital but Safiya is living in a tent. She is a girl in a Muslim community so she is expected to cook and clean and keep silent. Basic care of herself, her father and brother is very difficult.  They have hardly any money. She is not allowed to travel alone and while her Baba (father) does love her he cannot talk to Safiya about the death of her mother or the loss of her twin sister.  She really has no one to turn to for advice. Safiya is sure her twin will recognise her and that they will immediately become firm friends. This is an important dream which keeps Safiya buoyant with hope but sadly this is really only a dream and the reality is far harsher than she could ever have anticipated.

The strength of this book comes from Safiya herself and from the vivid descriptions of her struggles living in the tent.

"The only thing I knew how to make was pasta with tomato sauce, but it was going to be horribly difficult doing it on a little gas burner outside by the water tank where I'd made a sort of kitchen space. I had to squat on the ground because we didn't have a table, and cut up the onions on a plate with a blunt knife."

"Sweeping out the tent was the next job, and the one I hated most. Masses of dirt crept into the tent every day and grit got caught in the woven matting, even though we always took off our shoes when we came in and left them by the open flap. It took forever to clean up."

There are some extraordinary moments of kindness in this book. The grocery man across the street gives Safiya "stale" cakes and he orgainses a monthly charity food box. The owner of the beauty salon gives Safiya a prettier hijab printed with pale blue flowers. Her uncle Malik joins the family. He is skilled with his hands and repairs and builds things for their tent helping Safiya to make their small space so much more comfortable.

The illustrations in this book by Lucy Eldridge are perfect.

Why will no-one tell her anything about her dead mother?Will she ever find her lost twin sister? Is she being set up for an unwished-for early marriage? Chapters often end on these or other urgent questions still hanging in the air, hopefully to be answered in the next. This is story-telling at its most skilled and experienced. Books for Keeps

Here are some background notes about this book. I have always loved the storytelling of Elizabeth Laird in books such as Secret Friends and The Lost Riders. I also highly recommend you search out Oranges in No Man's Land.

I would pair a House without walls with No Ballet shoes in Syria and The Night Diary.

Welcome to Planet Omar Book One - Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian

The real pleasure of this book is Omar - his imagination, the pleasure he finds in ordinary things, his infectious zest for life make this irresistible reading. The book also offers insight into the life of an ordinary Muslim family, something we don't often get ... LoveReading4Kids

My local bookseller Beachside Bookshop has kindly given me a big bag of books to read this month. Yesterday I picked up Welcome to Planet Omar. This is new book - I had an advanced reader copy. This book will be available this month. I read it all in one sitting and yes it it that good. I thought I might post some quotes from the author:

People like me simply weren’t in story books, when I was young.

Muslims may just be the most misunderstood group of people on the planet. I had to set it straight somewhat, which is why I chose to write a funny middle grade book about an ordinary Muslim family.

When I heard of the surge in faith-based bullying in schools, I knew I had to contribute something positive to the world that would challenge these stereotypes.

For those readers that don’t have Muslim friends, I thought it would be great to use humour as a tool to open a window into the lives of a Muslim family, to shed some light on things that they might have always wondered about, but were too polite to ask – for instance, why we fast or why we wear hijab.

In this book I learnt about Ramadan, the two Eid festivals and iftar in an easy to read and very funny story which at times was also surprisingly poignant. I totally agree with the endorsement on the back cover - this book is perfect for fans of Tom Gates and Diary of a Wimpy Kid but it is also so much more.

Here is an excellent review with more plot details. This book was originally published under the title The Muslims.  Take a look at the trailer to see the format of the text which uses different fonts and text features and lots of white space making this book very easy to read. I don't like to use the words "an important book" but I would like to put this book into the hands of some young readers and hear their thoughts especially children in schools where they have perhaps had no contact with children from other faiths.