Safiyyah's War
by Hiba Noor Khan (Author)
Inspired by the true story of how the Grand Mosque of Paris saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II, Hiba Noor Khan weaves a breathtaking tale of suspense, compassion, and courage, starring an extraordinary young heroine readers will never forget.
Safiyyah loathes the brutal Nazi occupation of Paris, even though her Muslim identity keeps her safe—or, at least, safer than her Jewish neighbors. Violence lurks in the streets, her best friend has fled, and even her place of refuge—the library—has turned shadowy and confusing, as the invaders fear the power of books.
Safiyyah longs to fight back and hates feeling powerless to help her Jewish friends. Worse yet, her father—who taught her to always do the right thing—is acting strangely and doing nothing to help them either.
Or is he?
Unravelling the mystery of her father’s odd behavior draws Safiyyah deep in the heart of the perilous underground resistance to the Nazis, where her bravery is put to the ultimate test…
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Review quotes
"With vital relevance for today's readers, Safiyyah's War is truly the whole package: action, suspense, danger, family, and friendships. An endearing character, an indelible setting, an unputdownable story based on fascinating real—and overlooked—history. I want to grab everyone I know and say, 'You HAVE to read this book!'" — Linda Sue Park, Newbery medalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Long Walk to Water
"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, New York Times bestselling author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
In both Jewish and Muslim traditions, to save one life is to save all of humanity. In this beautiful book, based on actual events, we follow the heart-stopping journey of the brave Safiyyah as she helps to repair the world, one injustice at a time. I laughed, cried, cheered, and cried again as Safiyyah showed me what it is to be a hero, a daughter, and, most of all, a devoted friend." — Deborah Heiligman, award-winning author of Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship"
Hiba Noor Khan is a young writer and activist, deeply engaged with issues in development, immigration and intercultural understanding. She completed a Postgraduate degree in Engineering/Physics from the University of Oxford in 2015 and is currently studying for her third university degree. Since then she has worked as a Refugee Advocacy Worker for The Children's Society, a Physics teacher and TV presenter. She also contributed to policy research carried out by the Government's Commission on Religion and Belief in Public Life. Hiba has worked on various sustainable development projects in rural Tanzania, and delivered aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey. Her books with Macmillan Children's Books include the picture book The Little War Cat and, for older readers, One Home.
Rachael Dean is a British children's book illustrator based on the coast near Liverpool. She creates vivid scenes and portrays lively and engaging characters throughout her work. She is inspired by nature, particularly when visiting the gorgeous national park and beach on her doorstep and when travelling to scenic places in other countries. Rachael paints traditionally with gouache, as well as draws digitally, and she enjoys working on middle grade fiction and picture books.JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV016060 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | Holocaust
JUV033270 - Juvenile Fiction | Religious | Muslim
JUV075000 - Juvenile Fiction | War & Military
