Review by Booklist Review
Soft, expressionistic artwork in a palette of pinks, peaches, and purples helps tell the story of Nayra, a Muslim teen who meets a djinn when she's at her lowest. Nayra deals with intense bullying, demanding parents with high expectations, and a frustrating friendship with the only other Muslim girl at her school, and she tries to keep to herself about nearly all of it. Lurking in an online community of other Muslim teens interested in collecting passed-down stories helps her feel a little connected, and that's where she meets the djinn, Marjan. Nayra loves the immersive stories Marjan tells her, but keeping the djinn a secret is a challenge, especially when Marjan's own problems emerge in Nayra's world. Ata's manga-inspired artwork is undeniably pretty, though occasionally it can be difficult to discern what's going on in the panels. Marjan's stories, marked by a shift in the visual style, nicely showcase Ata's ability to render fantastical scenes. With themes of self-acceptance, friendship, and finding strength in cultural heritage, this is a great pick for fans of Nidhi Chanani's Pashmina (2017).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A Muslim teen and a djinn's newfound friendship helps them both right past wrongs in this inviting, Islamic folklore--filled graphic novel by Ata (Mis(h)adra, for adults). Nayra Mansour is having a terrible Ramadan: not only is she light-headed from fasting all day, she's struggling with coursework, growing distant from her Muslim best friend Rami, contending with her family's criticism regarding her poor grades and withdrawn attitude, and being mocked by classmates for observing her faith. More than anything, Nayra feels alone, so when Marjan, a djinn made of purple smoke, mysteriously appears in Nayra's bedroom desperate for help and a place to hide, Nayra happily allows Marjan into her life. But Nayra's burgeoning friendship with Marjan widens the rift between her and Rami, and things become further complicated when Nayra realizes there's more to Marjan's story than they're letting on. Pastel purples, pinks, and blues heighten the graphic novel's mythical trappings with a soft, melancholy atmosphere and provide a skillful visual contrast between the djinn world and Nayra's real life. Though dialogue is occasionally stilted, Ata deftly constructs a narrative about the challenges surrounding asking for and granting forgiveness, and moving forward. Ages 10--up. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 6--9--Nayra wants to be accepted for herself, but between pressures put on her by her family for not being like her siblings and bullying she faces at school for being Muslim, there are very few places where she feels safe. Things get particularly bad during Ramadan when her classmates constantly make fun of her and her friend Rami for fasting. Nayra finds comfort in a chat channel for Muslim Americans who want to archive their folklore and oral traditions, and when a Djinn joins the conversation in search of help, Nayra jumps at the unbelievable opportunity. Marjan offers Nayra a glimpse into the otherworldly life of Djinns, and also friendship, advice, and affirmation. But Nayra's growth doesn't sit well with Rami, who feels that she is losing her only friend. The clock is ticking in this endearing graphic novel, and Nayra has until the end of Ramadan to fix her relationship problems and help Marjan return home. VERDICT A captivating use of Islamic beliefs and culture to share with readers the importance of rebuilding relationships and standing up for oneself.--Amanda Melilli
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Nayra Mansour's life gets a touch of magic in this story of friendship and djinns, set during Ramadan. Everyone is against Nayra: At school, classmates bully her because of her religion and culture, while at home she is scolded for her bad grades. Her friend Rami, her only Muslim classmate, and mythological stories from her culture used to keep her grounded, but now all she wants is to transfer schools. It's no surprise, then, that when the shadow djinn Marjan needs to make a pact with a human, Nayra jumps at the chance to bring some magic into her life. Marjan's story is complex, and it's only a matter of time before their truths come to light and Nayra's world starts to shift. Presenting a slice of life with a tinge of magic, the story's overall mellow tone is heightened by the color palette's deep jewel tones. The images are simple and attractive and represent aspects of Nayra's identity, such as praying with Marjan. Nayra makes decisions that are frustrating but relatable, as her focus on wanting something new leads her to neglect the good parts of her life. Marjan represents all the things Nayra wishes her life could be--mythical and larger than life--at a time when she can't seem to control anything around her. Nayra has light brown skin and dark hair; Rami is blond with light skin. Fresh and interesting. (Graphic fantasy. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
