Any Way You Look

     Like many of us, Maleeha Siddiqui, author of Any Way You Look, was aware that our society lets boys and men get away with totally unacceptable behaviors and comments. Then she read Barbara Dee's Maybe He Just Likes You (Recall I reviewed it a few years ago.) and realized that sexual harassment narratives have a place in juvenile fiction. That was also when hijab wearing had become political. Some wanted to mandate it while others wanted to ban it. But nobody was consulting Muslim women. 

     "Ainy's story was born from these two ideas coming together: a story about a girl who must find a way to stand up for herself when she starts getting unwanted attention from a boy who doesn't know when to quit, as well as my attempt to remind people that hijab is a part of a very personal spiritual journey."

     Ainy is sure the summer after sixth grade will be awesome. She'll be hanging out with her best friend, Safiya, and working in her mother's new store, maybe even convincing her mom that she has what it takes to become a professional fashion designer. 

     There's one fly in the ointment. A classmate, Yasir, has been behaving increasingly inappropriately toward Ainy. She would like to tell him to get lost. But the situation is complicated. Her father is overseas taking care of her ill grandmother which makes her mother the sole support of the family. Yasir's mother is a vindictive woman who thinks her son can do no wrong. And her order for eight elaborate bridesmaids' dresses feels essential to the family's financial survival. 

     No matter how hard Ainy tries to stay away from Yasir, even sacrificing the summer fun she's been so looking forward to, he always finds her. She's heard that guys are less attracted to hijab wearing women. Although she's been waiting for the time that feels right, maybe making the transition will repulse Yasir enough that he will leave her alone. 

     In her author's note Siddiqui tells us "Though this is a work of fiction, many of the uncomfortable situations, conversations, and comments Ainy is subjected to throughout the book or either drawn from my own personal experience or the experiences of people I know." She hopes that Any Way You Look will help empower readers in similar situations to speak up and seek help.

On a purrrsonal note, the second day of the blood drive, back in mid September, was as good as the first. In all the Red Cross harvested 110 pints and nobody fainted. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated. 

Jules Hathaway 

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