LoveReading4Kids Says
Shortlisted for The Branford Boase Award 2024 | Children's & YA Winner Jhalak Prize 2024 : | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month August 2023
Richly imagined and vividly drawn, Safiyyah’s War is brilliantly told by a young girl whose life is changed when she gets caught up in the French Resistance in Paris in World War Two.
Growing up in the mosque, Safiyyah is an independent, adventurous and bookish child who spends a lot of her time in the library where her particular interest in maps is encouraged by the librarians.
When news of the war comes to Paris, Safiyyah’s life begins to change. She is sad when her best friend is taken away to live in the country by her parents and disappointed when the library no longer provides the welcome and support that it did.
Worse follows when she sees terrible scenes of unhappiness and cruelty on the streets of Paris as Nazi soldiers attack her Jewish neighbours. But things really change when her father begins to keep secrets from her and to behave in very unexpected ways. What is her father hiding?
When Safiyyah discovers his bravery and compassion as he and colleagues in the French Resistance work to save the lives of as many Jews as they can, she knows that she must do all she can to help, too. With a strong adventure to propel it this is a wonderful story of compassion and courage that illuminates how children’s lives can be changed by the big events of history.
Julia Eccleshare M.B.E
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Safiyyah's War Synopsis
War comes to the streets of Paris and Safiyyah's life changes for ever. Her best friend's family have fled, and the bombing makes her afraid to leave the mosque where she lives.
But when her father is arrested by the Nazis for his secret Resistance work, it falls to Safiyyah to run the dangerous errands around the city. It's not long before hundreds of persecuted Jews seek sanctuary at the mosque.
Can Safiyyah find the courage to enter the treacherous catacombs under Paris and lead the Jews to safety?
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781839133138 |
| Publication date: |
6th July 2023 |
| Author: |
Hiba Noor Khan |
| Publisher: |
Andersen Press Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
326 pages |
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Hiba Noor Khan Press Reviews
'Safiyyah's War has the soul of a classic and the urgency of a story for our times. A tale of tolerance, unthinkable bravery, and heart-in-mouth true events. I loved this book.' - Kiran Millwood Hargrave
'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
'Safiyyah is a protagonist I was rooting for all throughout; a lovely, kind-hearted girl whose story filled me in turns with despair and joy. This book shines through with kindness and empathy at its very heart' - Nizrana Farook
'This story of extraordinary bravery, based on little-known events, is both inspiring and uplifting - The Bookseller, Editor's Choice
Beautifully written, full of compassion and hope, Safiyyah's War is an important and much needed WWII story that puts a spotlight on a rarely heard part of history. Safiyyah's story is a must-read in schools exploring WWII, to encourage empathy. The story is superbly told, with adorable characters. A special, heartfelt book that I'm glad exists' - A M Dassu
'Beautiful, vivid writing . . . A moving story of resistance and unity, the power of community and faith. I absolutely loved it' - Radiya Hafiza
'Luminously written, this is an extraordinary story of bravery filled with truth and light and hope' - Katya Balen
'I was swept away by this richly evocative and beautifully told story. Heart-wrenching and hopeful, this is a book that shines a bright light in the darkness' - Rashmi Sirdeshpande
'A rich and inspiring story full of courage and resistance at the darkest of times' - Anna Fargher
'I adored this book in all its intricacies. I cheered for and cried with Safiyyah - a testament to Khan's talent for storytelling - and enjoyed every word. Safiyyah's War has the makings of a classic' - Aisha Bushby
'A beautiful and sensitively written story which will stay with me for a very long time' - A M Howell
About Hiba Noor Khan
Hiba Noor Khan is an England-based writer and activist, deeply engaged with issues in development, immigration and intercultural understanding. Her academic background is in Physics and Engineering and she completed postgraduate study in 2015 at the University of Oxford. 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. Hiba is studying an MA at SOAS.
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