Safiyyah's War
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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Hiba Noor Khan is a writer and activist engaged with issues of immigration and intercultural understanding. She has worked as a refugee advocate, a physics teacher, and a TV presenter in the UK. Hiba is also a freelance journalist and the author of two picture books. Safiyyah's War is her first novel.
"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"
"A welcome example of interfaith solidarity and an underrepresented addition to the WWII Resistance conversation." -- Booklist
"[The] conviction that all people are deserving of safety is deeply felt, and readers will appreciate [the] belief in Safiyyah's ability to do what needs to be done. Recommended." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
