While I was reading this I was comparing the story of religious fasting with my own personal experiences. I related to Shirin because I always wanted to fast during holy times like the older people in my family. The childlike desire to participate in a holy event is universal, so if I could relate to Shirin then anyone can. ( )

This coming of age story is about a young girl who is too young to fast for Ramadan. Her older makes fun of her for being too young, but eventually she catches him cheating during the fast. Instead of getting back at him she covers up for him and doesn't get him in trouble. This shows the bond that siblings have no matter how much they tease each other.

A girl too young to fast with her famly. She gets made fun of. Looking to the moon for advice. Catches her older brother eating halfway through the fast.
Coming of age for girls.

1-4 ( )

Theme: determination and coming of age
Ramadan is a Muslim holiday of fasting, praying, charity for a whole month.

Shirin is not yet old enough to participate in the traditional fasting and feasting of Ramadan, so decides to embark on another tradition of Ramadan: doing good deeds. This book tells a nuanced story about how Shirin uses her faith and traditions to inform her decisions and how she eventually find her perfect role in her family's celebrations. I liked the way that the book teaches about Ramadan without portraying it as overly exotic or foreign. Shirin is just a normal girl who is celebrating this holiday and coming of age within her family's culture. The illustrations are beautiful and portray both traditional aspects of Ramadan as well as Shirin's family in a modern context.