National Arab American Heritage Month 2025

Happy National Arab American Heritage Month! This year’s theme is “Arab American Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.” Learn more at the Arab American Foundation website:

https://arabamericafoundation.org/national-arab-american-heritage-month/.

Here are a couple books by Arab American authors I recommend for the next time you’re looking for a great read:

A Strange thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga (MG mystery)

http://jasminewarga.com/a-strange-thing-happened-in-cherry-hall

Rami’s mom works in the Penelope L. Brooks Museum, and is under suspicion when a painting goes missing. Rami wants to solve the mystery. Thanks to a floating girl, a turtle, and a chatty classmate, he finds adventure, too. This cozy mystery is also about embracing the impossible and finding your voice.

Man O’War by Cory McCarthy (YA coming of age/romance)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/670630/man-o-war-by-cory-mccarthy/

This the newest edition to my favorite book list! River McIntyre is drawn to the Sea Planet theme park. When they meet a happy queer person there, they start a journey through gender dysphoria to self-acceptance and true love. Heart-wrenching at times, hysterically funny at others, you’ll be glad you joined River on their coming-of-age trip. Thanks to McCarthy for writing such a brilliant, life-giving book.

Here's a bonus recommendation:

If you’re into poetry, I recommend Naomi Shihab Nye. While I haven’t read a whole book of hers, I enjoy her poems and she was lovely when I met her at a conference. Learn more about her at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/naomi-shihab-nye.