TheBestFictionbyWomenin2020MarieClaireReadsfortheRestofUs:FeministBooksComingOutin2020Ms.MagazineMostAnticipatedBooksof2020LithubTwentyMust-ReadBooksof2020Bustle
MostAnticipatedBooksof2020RealSimpleMostAnticipatedBooksTheMillions
Oneof15BooksByWomentoReadin2020TheLily'Evocative'MarieClaire
'Striking'RebeccaMakkai
'Withgrace,empathyandwisdom'Ms.Magazine
'Indelible'LailaLalami
'Insightful'RajiaHassib
'Richlyempathetic'MauriceCarlosRuffin
'Haunting'LitHub
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AfafRahman,thedaughterofPalestinianimmigrants,istheprincipalofNurrideenSchoolforGirls,aMuslimschoolintheChicagosuburbs.Onemorning,ashooter―radicalizedbytheonlinealt-right―attackstheschool.
AsAfaflistenstohisterrifyingprogress,wearesweptbackthroughhermemories:thebigotryshefacedasachild,hermother'sdreamsofreturningtoPalestine,andthedevastatingdisappearanceofheroldersisterthattoreherfamilyapart.Still,thereisthesweetnessofthemusicfromherfather'soud,andthehopeandcommunityAfaffinallyfindsinIslam.
TheBeautyofYourFaceisaprofoundandpoignantexplorationofonewoman'slifeinanationatoddswithitsideals.
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'TheBeautyofYourFaceisastrikingandstirringdebut,onethatreachesitshandsstraightintothefire.SaharMustafahwriteswithwisdomandgraceabouttheunthinkable,theunspeakable,andtheunspoken'RebeccaMakkai,PulitzerfinalistforTheGreatBelievers
'Withgrace,empathyandwisdom,thisrobustlywrittendebutexaminesanAmericanMuslimimmigrantexperienceagainstthebackdropofaschoolshooting'Ms.Magazine
'Mustafah'sarrestingdebutaboutamassshootingataMuslimgirls'schoolgrappleswithissuesoffaith,identity,hatred,andforgiveness...Throughout,Mustafahpowerfullydemonstratesthehumancapacityforredemptionandrenewal.Thisinviting,topicaltalewillstaywithreaders.'PublishersWeekly
'Profoundinsightsandglitteringwords...acomplexgenerationalnovelthatisalltoorelevantintoday'sdividedAmerica...themessageringsloudandclear.Maybeviolencecouldbeavoidedifpeopletookthetimetounderstandotherpeople'spainandfindcommonalitiesintheirsharedhumanexperience.'TheMichiganDaily
'MustafahwritesimpressivelyandconvincinglyofherPalestinianAmericanimmigrantcommunity...anadeptauthorwellworthreading.'TerryHong,Booklist
'Mustafah'snovelisfrequentlymoving,especiallyinherdepictionsofAfaf'sinnerstate.ThesectionsofthebookthatdescribeAfaf'searlylifeareespeciallyvivid.'Kirkus
'TheindeliblestoryofaPalestinian-Americanwomanwhoselifeistornapartbyloss,findssolaceinherfaith,andfacesaviolentthreatthattestshowfarshehascome.SaharMustafahwritesaboutfamilyandcommunitywithcompassionandsensitivity.TheBeautyofYourFaceisagifttoreaders'LailaLalami,awardwinningauthorofTheOtherAmericansandTheMoor'sAccount
'RichwithdetailsofIslamicfaithandArabculture,TheBeautyofYourFaceisaninsightfulandbeautifully-drawnstudyofthecomplexityofbeinganAmericanMuslimimmigrant.Thiscompellingnovelbrilliantlychallengesthenotionofaunifiedreligiousandethnicnarrativewhilelayingbarethemostuniversalofdesires:forlove,acceptance,andbelonging'RajiaHassib,authorofIntheLanguageofMiracles
'Mustafahwriteswithagraceandprecisionthatshowsadeepunderstandingforthewaystraumacandistortalife.TheBeautyofYourFaceisarichlyempatheticworkaboutthepoweroffaith,family,andlove'MauriceCarlosRuffin,authorofWeCastaShadow
'TheBeautyofYourFaceexploresfaith,family,andhatewithhauntingprecision'EmilyFiretog,LitHub