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Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month with these books

Désirée Worrall-Bélanger
Reading Diverse Books
“As a young reader, I didn’t even look for books with Arab protagonists," the author Jackie Khalilieh told me in an interview once. "Because one, I didn’t think they existed, and two, if they did, the stories would likely be about ‘being Arab’ and what that means, and less about the growing-up, coming-of-age experiences I longed to read about.” She’s the author of "Something More" and "You Started It," two teen romance novels filled with relatable coming-of-age moments, autism and anxiety representation, and, of course, plenty of swoon-worthy moments.“I’m also autistic (but I didn’t know then), and I was drawn to certain types of characters. Girls who had big mouths and weren’t afraid to speak their minds. Every book I love features a character that mirrors an aspect of my life or personality. And they’re also very different because it’s hard to find a character who fits exactly who you are when you’re Palestinian-Canadian and autistic,” she concluded. “When we expose ourselves to new foods and books, or visit new countries (if we can’t afford to travel, perhaps new parts of the city or country we already live in), we are expanding our understanding of people and the world,” Khalilieh added.Diverse books help everyone feel like they belong, humanizing people traditionally marginalized in our society. We need to fight for more diverse books in our communities.To celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, I put together a list of more books we can read...

"Something More" by Jackie Khalilieh

A contemporary teen romance novel featuring a Palestinian-Canadian girl trying to hide her autism diagnosis while navigating her first year of high school.

"Evil Eye: A Novel" by Etaf Rum

A striking exploration of the expectations of Palestinian-American women, the meaning of a fulfilling life, and the ways our unresolved pasts affect our presents.

"Weavingshaw" by Heba Al-Wasity

This yearning, slow-burn gothic fantasy romance follows a young woman haunted by the ghosts of her past and a ruthless merchant known as the Saint of Silence, who promises her greatest desire in return for her darkest secret.

"If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English" by Noor Naga

A dark romance exposing the gaps in American identity politics, especially when exported overseas, If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English is at once ravishing and wry, scathing and tender.

"Dawn of the Firebird" by Sarah Mughal Rana

A breathtaking fantasy novel about the daughter of an overthrown emperor from an exciting new voice.

"You Started It" by Jackie Khalilieh

Better Than the Movies meets Olivia Rodrigo's Sour in a new YA romance novel.

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Désirée Worrall-Bélanger
Désirée Worrall-Bélanger

Senior Partnerships & Editorial Coordinator

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