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More to the Story
From the critically acclaimed author of Amina’s Voice comes a new story inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic, Little Women , featuring four sisters from a modern American Muslim family living in Georgia.
When Jameela Mirza is picked to be feature editor of her middle school newspaper, she’s one step closer to being an award-winning journalist like her late grandfather. The problem is her editor-in-chief keeps shooting down her article ideas. Jameela’s assigned to write about the new boy in school, who has a cool British accent but doesn’t share much, and wonders how she’ll make his story gripping enough to enter into a national media contest.
Jameela, along with her three sisters, is devastated when their father needs to take a job overseas, away from their cozy Georgia home for six months. Missing him makes Jameela determined to write an epic article—one to make her dad extra proud. But when her younger sister gets seriously ill, Jameela’s world turns upside down. And as her hunger for fame looks like it might cost her a blossoming friendship, Jameela questions what matters most, and whether she’s cut out to be a journalist at all...
When Jameela Mirza is picked to be feature editor of her middle school newspaper, she’s one step closer to being an award-winning journalist like her late grandfather. The problem is her editor-in-chief keeps shooting down her article ideas. Jameela’s assigned to write about the new boy in school, who has a cool British accent but doesn’t share much, and wonders how she’ll make his story gripping enough to enter into a national media contest.
Jameela, along with her three sisters, is devastated when their father needs to take a job overseas, away from their cozy Georgia home for six months. Missing him makes Jameela determined to write an epic article—one to make her dad extra proud. But when her younger sister gets seriously ill, Jameela’s world turns upside down. And as her hunger for fame looks like it might cost her a blossoming friendship, Jameela questions what matters most, and whether she’s cut out to be a journalist at all...
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2019
About the author
Hena Khan
50 books495 followersHena Khan writes books in a multitude of formats, including picture books, middle grade fiction, pick-your-path adventures, and graphic novels. Her stories are often centered around community, friendship, and family, and draw from her own experiences and culture. Hena’s novels include AMINA'S VOICE, MORE TO THE STORY, and DRAWING DEENA. She is the author of the Zayd Saleem Chasing the Dream, Zara’s Rules, and Super You! series. Hena’s picture books include GOLDEN DOMES AND SILVER LANTERNS, UNDER MY HIJAB, and IT'S RAMADAN, CURIOUS GEORGE, among others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 436 reviews
April 4, 2020
Read my review of this book on my blog, The Quiet Pond.
An incredibly wholesome and wonderful middle-grade story about illness, pursuing your ambitions, and family and sisterhood.
- Follows Jameela, a Pakistani Muslim girl who has to deal with some pretty tough stuff in her family while also taking on the big responsibility of being features editor at her school's newspaper.
- At its heart, this is a story about sisters and family, and how we get through tough times together and by supporting each other.
- The story also explores friendship, and how our ambitions can sometimes hurt the genuine relationships we have with others. I think this book explores Jameela's mistake wonderfully, and in a way that is empathetic with great lessons.
- Although this story deals with illness (specifically lymphoma) and no one dies, this book was so wholesome and lovely, and is mostly about what we can to help and support the people we love through a tough time.
Trigger/content warning:
An incredibly wholesome and wonderful middle-grade story about illness, pursuing your ambitions, and family and sisterhood.
- Follows Jameela, a Pakistani Muslim girl who has to deal with some pretty tough stuff in her family while also taking on the big responsibility of being features editor at her school's newspaper.
- At its heart, this is a story about sisters and family, and how we get through tough times together and by supporting each other.
- The story also explores friendship, and how our ambitions can sometimes hurt the genuine relationships we have with others. I think this book explores Jameela's mistake wonderfully, and in a way that is empathetic with great lessons.
- Although this story deals with illness (specifically lymphoma) and no one dies, this book was so wholesome and lovely, and is mostly about what we can to help and support the people we love through a tough time.
Trigger/content warning:
May 20, 2020
Book 11 completed for #RamadanReadathon
🥺💗🥺💗🥺💗a muslim middle grade retelling of Little Women 🥺💗🥺💗🥺💗
this is so bloody precious 😭😭😭
🥺💗🥺💗🥺💗a muslim middle grade retelling of Little Women 🥺💗🥺💗🥺💗
this is so bloody precious 😭😭😭
March 10, 2021
I didn't even read the description of this one. It was just one that I decided to pick up because I love what Hena Khan did with Amina's Voice. It's one of my favorite middle grade novels. Color me shocked to find out that this is an adaptation of Little Women and it was done so well. This, of course, is no surprise because it's Hena Khan
More to the Story feels like a story done in with two major themes in mind. One that focuses on the interconnectedness of sisterhood and another that focuses on understanding empathy, kindness, and friendship. The story itself is told from Jameela's point of view as she struggles with her relationships with her three sisters and her place on the school newspaper (she's had conflict with a member of the writing team for a while). As she aspires to be a great writer, Jameela writes an article about a family friend that ends up putting their relationship on the line. It is through this misstep that she learns the importance of empathy and friendship over ambition. At the same time, she's dealing with an illness that is impacting her younger sister.
One of the strongest parts of this book is the character development. Jameela is a not a perfect character. She not only struggles with respect and empathy in regard to her sisters, but she also struggles with this in regard to her friends at school. There are moments when her desire to be a great journalist outshine decisions she should make to protect those that she cares about. She has a really rocky relationship with her sisters that often turns into arguments and hurt feelings. But as the novel progresses, Jameela grows. It takes a few accidents/mishaps for her to realize the error of some of her decisions, but Khan allows her the space to grow with thoughtfulness and grace. Jameela is attempting to balance a lot: coping with the fact that her sister is extremely ill, her reputation working on the school paper, and the absence of her father due to work commitments. Every struggle that she encounters and every lesson that she learns when she can no longer handle that balance makes her into a more relatable character for middle grade readers.
Khan has a way with words and it's that ability that has attracted me to her works as a reader. There is an ease to the way in which she writes that makes the text accessible and easy to read. This doesn't take away from the story, but it broadens the amount of readers that would be able to enjoy her work. This is another book that has a plot, but it is more about the character development and the relationships that are created amongst characters. Their dynamics affect the way events happen and how they end up reacting to them. And for the length of this book, Khan is able to do a lot.
Overall, this was a great middle grade novel. It was both a refreshing and fun take on Little Women. You don't have to read Little Women in order to enjoy this story. I've never read it and it didn't detract from my reading experience.
More to the Story feels like a story done in with two major themes in mind. One that focuses on the interconnectedness of sisterhood and another that focuses on understanding empathy, kindness, and friendship. The story itself is told from Jameela's point of view as she struggles with her relationships with her three sisters and her place on the school newspaper (she's had conflict with a member of the writing team for a while). As she aspires to be a great writer, Jameela writes an article about a family friend that ends up putting their relationship on the line. It is through this misstep that she learns the importance of empathy and friendship over ambition. At the same time, she's dealing with an illness that is impacting her younger sister.
One of the strongest parts of this book is the character development. Jameela is a not a perfect character. She not only struggles with respect and empathy in regard to her sisters, but she also struggles with this in regard to her friends at school. There are moments when her desire to be a great journalist outshine decisions she should make to protect those that she cares about. She has a really rocky relationship with her sisters that often turns into arguments and hurt feelings. But as the novel progresses, Jameela grows. It takes a few accidents/mishaps for her to realize the error of some of her decisions, but Khan allows her the space to grow with thoughtfulness and grace. Jameela is attempting to balance a lot: coping with the fact that her sister is extremely ill, her reputation working on the school paper, and the absence of her father due to work commitments. Every struggle that she encounters and every lesson that she learns when she can no longer handle that balance makes her into a more relatable character for middle grade readers.
Khan has a way with words and it's that ability that has attracted me to her works as a reader. There is an ease to the way in which she writes that makes the text accessible and easy to read. This doesn't take away from the story, but it broadens the amount of readers that would be able to enjoy her work. This is another book that has a plot, but it is more about the character development and the relationships that are created amongst characters. Their dynamics affect the way events happen and how they end up reacting to them. And for the length of this book, Khan is able to do a lot.
Overall, this was a great middle grade novel. It was both a refreshing and fun take on Little Women. You don't have to read Little Women in order to enjoy this story. I've never read it and it didn't detract from my reading experience.
March 7, 2024
3.5 stars
More to the Story is a middle-grade novel that has four sisters and is inspired by ‘Little Women’. We follow one of the middle sisters, Jameela. I think I would have enjoyed getting the perspective of more than one of the sisters, but overall I enjoyed this one. I love how middle-grade novels can so flawlessly tackle difficult subjects for people of all ages.
More to the Story is a middle-grade novel that has four sisters and is inspired by ‘Little Women’. We follow one of the middle sisters, Jameela. I think I would have enjoyed getting the perspective of more than one of the sisters, but overall I enjoyed this one. I love how middle-grade novels can so flawlessly tackle difficult subjects for people of all ages.
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Priya Ayyar
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Middle Grade
Length: 4h 54m
February 20, 2022
So definitely, truly (and of course in my humble opinion), with regard to her 2019 novel More to the Story being approached and considered as a modern 21st century middle grade retelling and reimagining of Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Wonen, author Hema Khan has in my humble opinion done a great job.
For indeed and delightfully so, Khan’s four Pakistani-American Mirza sisters, they sufficiently do textually mirror Louisa May Alcott’s four March sisters that one can without any doubt whatsoever and very easily see and also pleasurably appreciate the many, the multitude of Little Women parallels in More to the Story, namely the general set-up of More to the Story and that family is first and foremost and as such all important even if or when there are sibling squabbles and rivalries, that Hema Khan’s four Mirza girls, that Aleeza, Jameela, Bisma and Maryam certainly and obviously correspond both emotionally and even rather physically to Louisa May Alcott’s Amy, Jo, Beth and Meg March, that Bisma’s lymphoma in More to the Story of course rather mirrors Beth’s illness in Little Women (but fortunately without a resulting tragedy) and that there are also some important and difficult lessons presented in More to the Story for in particular main protagonist Jameela Mirza to take to heart and learn, such as the necessity for integrity with regard to her writing, just like this is indeed also the case for Jameela’s counterpart in Little Women, just like this is equally the case for Jo(sephine) March. And yes and finally, the occasional incorporation by Hema Khan of entire passages from Little Women into More to the Story, this is for and to me both utterly delightful and also demonstrates how More to the Story is not just a wonderful retelling of Little Women in and of itself, but also and clearly a solid textual homage by Hema Khan, by an author who (like me) has obviously always adored both Little Women as a novel and Louisa May Alcott as its author.
But fortunately and thankfully, Hema Khan also puts more than enough themes and details into More to the Story which are novel, which are rather and often even completely different from Little Women, thus textually rendering More to the Story into an original story and not simply into a total carbon copy of Little Women, with Khan showing a clearly modern, contemporary narrative, and one that is also dealing with important issues such as for example both overt and passive racism (even towards the children of immigrants, so that in More to the Story Jameela might well feel American and Ali might well feel British as they were both born in the USA and England respectively but that even many of their friends and acquaintances still often will consider them as being first and foremost foreigners) and above all with Hema Khan making Aleeza, Jameela, Bisma and Maryam into their own persons, into practicing Muslims, into Americans of Pakistani background and not into Louisa May Alcott’s March girls wearing a thin veneer of modernity and ethnicity (and indeed, even though in More to the Story, I do sometimes tend to find Bisma as a character not as engagingly lovable as Beth is in Little Women, I do in fact also appreciate that Bisma is portrayed by Hema Khan as more than a bit differently than Beth, and that for More to the Story, Bisma works really well as a foil to her three sisters and that it sure makes sense for her not to be the all encompassing but doomed ministering angel that Beth March is in Little Women).
So yes, four solid stars for More to the Story, and indeed, the only reason for More to the Story not being five stars is that I do tend to consider the ending a bit abrupt and leaving readers hanging, in other words, I really wish that Hema Khan would give us a bit more information in particular regarding Bisma’s health and how her fight against lymphoma is progressing (and as such, I also rather hope that there will be a sequel to More to the Story).
For indeed and delightfully so, Khan’s four Pakistani-American Mirza sisters, they sufficiently do textually mirror Louisa May Alcott’s four March sisters that one can without any doubt whatsoever and very easily see and also pleasurably appreciate the many, the multitude of Little Women parallels in More to the Story, namely the general set-up of More to the Story and that family is first and foremost and as such all important even if or when there are sibling squabbles and rivalries, that Hema Khan’s four Mirza girls, that Aleeza, Jameela, Bisma and Maryam certainly and obviously correspond both emotionally and even rather physically to Louisa May Alcott’s Amy, Jo, Beth and Meg March, that Bisma’s lymphoma in More to the Story of course rather mirrors Beth’s illness in Little Women (but fortunately without a resulting tragedy) and that there are also some important and difficult lessons presented in More to the Story for in particular main protagonist Jameela Mirza to take to heart and learn, such as the necessity for integrity with regard to her writing, just like this is indeed also the case for Jameela’s counterpart in Little Women, just like this is equally the case for Jo(sephine) March. And yes and finally, the occasional incorporation by Hema Khan of entire passages from Little Women into More to the Story, this is for and to me both utterly delightful and also demonstrates how More to the Story is not just a wonderful retelling of Little Women in and of itself, but also and clearly a solid textual homage by Hema Khan, by an author who (like me) has obviously always adored both Little Women as a novel and Louisa May Alcott as its author.
But fortunately and thankfully, Hema Khan also puts more than enough themes and details into More to the Story which are novel, which are rather and often even completely different from Little Women, thus textually rendering More to the Story into an original story and not simply into a total carbon copy of Little Women, with Khan showing a clearly modern, contemporary narrative, and one that is also dealing with important issues such as for example both overt and passive racism (even towards the children of immigrants, so that in More to the Story Jameela might well feel American and Ali might well feel British as they were both born in the USA and England respectively but that even many of their friends and acquaintances still often will consider them as being first and foremost foreigners) and above all with Hema Khan making Aleeza, Jameela, Bisma and Maryam into their own persons, into practicing Muslims, into Americans of Pakistani background and not into Louisa May Alcott’s March girls wearing a thin veneer of modernity and ethnicity (and indeed, even though in More to the Story, I do sometimes tend to find Bisma as a character not as engagingly lovable as Beth is in Little Women, I do in fact also appreciate that Bisma is portrayed by Hema Khan as more than a bit differently than Beth, and that for More to the Story, Bisma works really well as a foil to her three sisters and that it sure makes sense for her not to be the all encompassing but doomed ministering angel that Beth March is in Little Women).
So yes, four solid stars for More to the Story, and indeed, the only reason for More to the Story not being five stars is that I do tend to consider the ending a bit abrupt and leaving readers hanging, in other words, I really wish that Hema Khan would give us a bit more information in particular regarding Bisma’s health and how her fight against lymphoma is progressing (and as such, I also rather hope that there will be a sequel to More to the Story).
March 21, 2021
I ADORED THIS BOOK from the very first sentence–I just knew it would be good. And I was right. More to the Story is a heartwarming, charming middle-grade novel about sisterhood, family, and following your passion. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a wholesome, riveting middle-grade book. This book would be perfect for fans of The Vanderbeeker series and Amina’s Voice. Read my full review on my blog.
Thanks to the author and Salaam Reads for an ARC of this novel.
Thanks to the author and Salaam Reads for an ARC of this novel.
April 28, 2020
So wholesome and lovely. I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Friendships, sisterhood, togetherness, family and love. ❤
January 6, 2020
4.5* A heartfelt, wholesome read and an absolute delight from start to finish.
This was a truly wonderful, modern day Little Women retelling. The story superbly explored topics such as family, religion, race, microagressions, childhood ambition and illness in a way that was brilliantly accessible to readers, both young and old and I adored the cleverly written parallels between the two stories.
This book has the power to be as moving, impactful and memorable to young readers as the original story and I hope it gets just as many tv/movie adaptations in the future (it deserves it.)
TW: Racist microagressions (challenged)
This was a truly wonderful, modern day Little Women retelling. The story superbly explored topics such as family, religion, race, microagressions, childhood ambition and illness in a way that was brilliantly accessible to readers, both young and old and I adored the cleverly written parallels between the two stories.
This book has the power to be as moving, impactful and memorable to young readers as the original story and I hope it gets just as many tv/movie adaptations in the future (it deserves it.)
TW: Racist microagressions (challenged)
April 12, 2021
This Muslim Little Women retelling was absolutely stunning!
September 18, 2021
This was a very good retailing of a classic book! Taking inspiration from Little Woman but still making it her own, this was as heartwarming as the original and such a sweet middle grade that had some serious moments as well with sickness and such.
May 6, 2019
This was such a lovely book about four sisters in a Muslim family dealing with some difficult things! I loved the main character, Jameela, and her relationship with everyone in her family. From her over-protectiveness of Bisma, to her constant fights with her youngest sister, Aleeza. I also loved how passionate Jameela was about writing and journalism.
All the other characters were also fantastic tbh. Even though the book is fairly short, all the characters were well-developed! I especially loved Ali, and his relationship with all of the sisters. It's so rare to see good rep for Muslim boys in fiction, and Ali was the sweetest!
I highly recommend this one!
All the other characters were also fantastic tbh. Even though the book is fairly short, all the characters were well-developed! I especially loved Ali, and his relationship with all of the sisters. It's so rare to see good rep for Muslim boys in fiction, and Ali was the sweetest!
I highly recommend this one!
June 4, 2021
A very sweet middle-grade retelling of Little Women. I'm glad I read it straight after the book that inspired it so I could pick out the easter eggs. This would be lovely for young readers 10-13.
August 24, 2020
I'm writing this review far too late, but what else is new. I loved More to the Story, even as someone who doesn't read a lot of middle-grade. I did go into it expecting something light and fluffy, but it evoked such fierce emotions within me - especially because one of the main threads re: illness hit so close to home, I felt like I was re-living parts of my childhood. Khan dealt with looking at serious topics through a child's eyes brilliantly. I loved Jameela and her relationship with her family, and I truly appreciated Khan giving her complexity that allowed her to grow throughout the course of the story.
I made a little note while reading my copy that "little Aimal could have done with this story when she was going through something similar," and I think therein lies the true value of stories such as these. Please read this. :)
initial reaction: i signed up for cutesy wholesomeness, then got punched in the gut a few times because this hit a little too close to home. but i loved it. 🥺
I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I made a little note while reading my copy that "little Aimal could have done with this story when she was going through something similar," and I think therein lies the true value of stories such as these. Please read this. :)
initial reaction: i signed up for cutesy wholesomeness, then got punched in the gut a few times because this hit a little too close to home. but i loved it. 🥺
I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2019
Although based on Louisa May Alcott's beloved Little Women, Hena Khan's juvenile fiction novel takes readers on a journey that's both new and informative. Following the antics of a close-knit American Muslim family, readers will learn about culture, customs, and holidays that give a sense of purpose and meaning to a group that is often misrepresented and misunderstand. Books can serve as windows to another culture and even create empathy. That's just what More to the Story does. Fan's of Little Women may enjoy this new, modern tale, but it's also a must read for fans of Wendy Mass and Raina Telgemeier.
I was fortunate to receive a free ARC of this book from Netgalley. The above thoughts, insights, or recommendations are my own meek musings.
I was fortunate to receive a free ARC of this book from Netgalley. The above thoughts, insights, or recommendations are my own meek musings.
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July 4, 2019This heartfelt, contemporary story about four Muslim American sisters in Georgia was inspired by Little Women and is a really fun read for fans of that classic book. I loved picking out the imaginative ways that Hena Khan paid homage to Little Women in updated, realistic ways. Instead of getting upset about missing out on the theater, for example, the youngest sister feels it's unfair that her sisters get phones and she doesn't have one yet.
Hand this to fans of family stories that center around sibling relationships like Jeanne Birdsall's THE PENDERWICKS or Dana Levy's THE MISADVENTURES OF THE FAMILY FLETCHER. Young readers interested in writing or journalism are also a great audience for this book.
Hand this to fans of family stories that center around sibling relationships like Jeanne Birdsall's THE PENDERWICKS or Dana Levy's THE MISADVENTURES OF THE FAMILY FLETCHER. Young readers interested in writing or journalism are also a great audience for this book.
May 2, 2020
this is such a beautiful story. i'm crying 😭💗
December 27, 2023
Every time I read a Little Women retelling I forget the entire plot of Little Women 😂
This was a modern middle grade take on Little Women surrounding an American Muslim Pakistani family. The "Jo" character is named Jameela and she is a journalist at her school and tries to tackle a few bigger topics all while her younger sister undergoes chemotherapy.
It was a little bit aggressively straight when I feel like Little Women was always a touch queer but I'm not really mad at it. It's a good book.
This was a modern middle grade take on Little Women surrounding an American Muslim Pakistani family. The "Jo" character is named Jameela and she is a journalist at her school and tries to tackle a few bigger topics all while her younger sister undergoes chemotherapy.
It was a little bit aggressively straight when I feel like Little Women was always a touch queer but I'm not really mad at it. It's a good book.
September 9, 2019
Jameela Mirza has a lot on her plate: her dad has taken a job on the other side of the world, her sister has taken ill, and Jameela is having trouble writing an article for her school paper that has personal meaning. More to the Story is a great tale of four sisters who squabble and fuss but, unexpectedly, who grow closer after facing difficulties together. It's a story full of both the remarkable elements of Pakistani-American culture as well as the common elements of life as an early teen.
I loved these characters, and I loved this family, and I loved this story.
I loved these characters, and I loved this family, and I loved this story.
November 3, 2019
*I received a review copy from Amazon Vine and voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect the opinion of the book or the content of the review.*
This was a nice story but I had a hard time getting fully invested. It centers around four sisters but I would have liked to have points of views from all of them and not just Jameela. This story deals with serious topics such as illness and racism. Overall it was a nice read but it didn't blow me away.
This was a nice story but I had a hard time getting fully invested. It centers around four sisters but I would have liked to have points of views from all of them and not just Jameela. This story deals with serious topics such as illness and racism. Overall it was a nice read but it didn't blow me away.
September 21, 2019
Great story with an ending I didn’t see coming.
May 28, 2021
A very sweet retelling of Little Women from the perspective of an American-Pakistani family living in Georgia in modern day - we follow Jameela as she has to deal with some changes in ehr life including her father's long distance job, and a new kid called Ali. She also needs to deal with everything that comes with having 3 sisters - Maryam, Aleeza and Bisma, while vying to become the next editor-in-chief of her school newspaper.
This was just a lovely book that I definitely enjoyed for the short time it took to read it. The Little Women elements were done well, and I feel like some characters more than others were brilliantly crafted to be very much like their LW counterparts - Aleeza most of all, she was very Amy without being petty or mean. Just a slightly spoiled little girl who still loves her family.
I loved the family moments in this book, from the various conversations Jam had with her Baba and how close they were, to how they looked after Bisma when she got ill. I also really appreciated the look of extended family and family friends who were like aunts and uncle flocking to help the family when they needed them - it was honestly lovely.
There are some really nice, important moments in this book that would serve a younger reader really well such as Jam's experience with casual racism and her response to teach her school about micro-aggressions. I liked how Jam's school newspaper experience was portrayed as well in the book, and I think if I was a younger kid reading the book in a country where schools had their own newspapers, I would be tempted to join in.
This was just a lovely book that I definitely enjoyed for the short time it took to read it. The Little Women elements were done well, and I feel like some characters more than others were brilliantly crafted to be very much like their LW counterparts - Aleeza most of all, she was very Amy without being petty or mean. Just a slightly spoiled little girl who still loves her family.
I loved the family moments in this book, from the various conversations Jam had with her Baba and how close they were, to how they looked after Bisma when she got ill. I also really appreciated the look of extended family and family friends who were like aunts and uncle flocking to help the family when they needed them - it was honestly lovely.
There are some really nice, important moments in this book that would serve a younger reader really well such as Jam's experience with casual racism and her response to teach her school about micro-aggressions. I liked how Jam's school newspaper experience was portrayed as well in the book, and I think if I was a younger kid reading the book in a country where schools had their own newspapers, I would be tempted to join in.
January 25, 2021
This was a very sweet modern day middle grade reimagining of Little Women starring a Pakistani American family. It was fun to be able to recognize certain parts of the original story and see how Hena Khan reworked them to fit her narrative. I think the story strikes a good balance of lighthearted sister moments and some more serious moments dealing with sickness or microaggressions. I do wish that Jameela wasn’t the only POV character and that we could’ve read from the other sisters as well. But overall I think this was a great book.
March 7, 2024
The book contained a theme that I am not a fan of in books—. Unfortunately, this element surfaced around the halfway point, had I been aware of this beforehand, I might have chosen to skip this particular read.
I should have read the blurb before picking up this book. My fault.
Audiobook source: Hoopla
Narrator: Priya Ayyar
Length: 4H 54M
August 23, 2022
This is a lovely book that explores the strength and challenges of family. I love how real the characters are and felt like I understood them well. I enjoyed the connection to Little Women and feel that this book does a good job of retelling the story in a modern setting. Excellent read for middle school.
October 18, 2019
I just loved this early #mglit modern day take on Little Women featuring a Muslim American family by @henakhanbooks 5/5; Thanks to the publisher for this free review copy! @salaamreads
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Here's my short review: wonderful book that explores the bonds of sisterhood, the importance of ethics in journalism, and identity. Jameela is headstrong just like her forbear Jo March and watching her discover how to channel her anger in the right ways is such a delight. I'm grateful that young Bisma's illness is treatable because it makes the story feel weighty and important without being tragic, which I know some of my readers can't take. The writing in this book flows beautifully, the dialogue in Jam's family feels realistic (even funny at times), and every character is well drawn and complete. Perfect for grades 3+.
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.
Here's my short review: wonderful book that explores the bonds of sisterhood, the importance of ethics in journalism, and identity. Jameela is headstrong just like her forbear Jo March and watching her discover how to channel her anger in the right ways is such a delight. I'm grateful that young Bisma's illness is treatable because it makes the story feel weighty and important without being tragic, which I know some of my readers can't take. The writing in this book flows beautifully, the dialogue in Jam's family feels realistic (even funny at times), and every character is well drawn and complete. Perfect for grades 3+.
.
#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
October 20, 2019
4.5 stars
RTC
RTC
October 1, 2020
This modern Muslim retelling of Little Women is a perfect MG read! I’ll confess that I’ve never read the original, so I can’t make any comparisons, but I can attest to the fact that this was a wonderful read, even without knowing the details of the story it retells. Jameela is a bright young girl whose greatest desire is to be a writer one day and make her father proud. But when her father has to go out of the country on business and her beloved little sister gets sick, Jameela’s life is turned upside down. In the meantime, she also faces a dilemma with her journalism that lands her in trouble with her new family friend (and kind-of crush?). The themes of this book seem truly timeless, so I’m not surprised that it’s a retelling of a classic. When Jameela’s sister gets sick, the thing that gets them through it all is the strong bonds they have with friends and family. This support system is the highlight of the book and shows how we can rally together in times of crisis. Kids who like to write will relate to Jameela’s journalistic ambitions, but even those who aren’t interested in journalism will find themselves pulled into Jameela’s dilemmas with how to write a worthy story (without ruining her friendships in the process). Overall, this was a wonderful read!
NARRATION: I ended up listening to the audiobook version, and the narration by Priya Ayyar was wonderful!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes (but then ended up listening to the audiobook from my local library). No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
NARRATION: I ended up listening to the audiobook version, and the narration by Priya Ayyar was wonderful!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes (but then ended up listening to the audiobook from my local library). No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
December 5, 2019
I adored this heartwarming and wholesome retelling of Little Women from a Pakistani-American family (living in Atlanta, GA USA) perspective for Middle Grade readers (and for all of us who are young at heart and enjoy MG reads). Thanks for the recommendation Afoma! It reminded me a bit of the Vanderbeekers in tone and content.
At first I wondered how I was going to connect the sisters and their personalities to the original but quickly I realized that the author matches the first initials of the names! There’s artistic, youngest sister Aleena (Amy); quiet, musical Bisma (Beth); impatient, independent Jameela (Jo); and beautiful, kind , oldest sister Maryam (Beth). This would make a great gift for a Middle Grade reader in your life! (Along with the movie of the classic?) If you’re looking for a lovely, quick, family-centered read, you will be pleased with this story! It would also be a wonderful mother/daughter read.
Trigger/content warning: childhood cancer (no one dies in the story which ends on a hopeful note).
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com
At first I wondered how I was going to connect the sisters and their personalities to the original but quickly I realized that the author matches the first initials of the names! There’s artistic, youngest sister Aleena (Amy); quiet, musical Bisma (Beth); impatient, independent Jameela (Jo); and beautiful, kind , oldest sister Maryam (Beth). This would make a great gift for a Middle Grade reader in your life! (Along with the movie of the classic?) If you’re looking for a lovely, quick, family-centered read, you will be pleased with this story! It would also be a wonderful mother/daughter read.
Trigger/content warning: childhood cancer (no one dies in the story which ends on a hopeful note).
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com
May 6, 2021
A Muslim Middle-Grade Modern Retelling of Little Women?!? Where do I sign up to form a halaal cult for this?!
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After reading Hena Khan's "Amina's Voice" I knew I had to read her other works. Need to amplify #ownvoices authors that bring forward the right Representation to the world.
What I love about "More to the Story" is that it doesn't necessarily preaches Islam ANYWHERE in the book in particular but presents Muslim characters & their families AS normally as any other family would be talked about in a story without forcing on the differences the religions have. If I would've read this book around 12 years or so ago I would've honestly felt so...INCLUDED (as a part of the society)
Since it's a retelling of Little Women, the plot is similar obviously, yet the characters were unique in their own way. They had dreams and aspirations but were younger & perceiving things happening around them in a different manner. It was a heart-warming and a very comforting read over all.
4.3/5⭐
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After reading Hena Khan's "Amina's Voice" I knew I had to read her other works. Need to amplify #ownvoices authors that bring forward the right Representation to the world.
What I love about "More to the Story" is that it doesn't necessarily preaches Islam ANYWHERE in the book in particular but presents Muslim characters & their families AS normally as any other family would be talked about in a story without forcing on the differences the religions have. If I would've read this book around 12 years or so ago I would've honestly felt so...INCLUDED (as a part of the society)
Since it's a retelling of Little Women, the plot is similar obviously, yet the characters were unique in their own way. They had dreams and aspirations but were younger & perceiving things happening around them in a different manner. It was a heart-warming and a very comforting read over all.
4.3/5⭐
August 21, 2019
I absolutely loved this modern retelling of Little Women, this time centering on a quartet of Pakistani-American sisters growing up in Georgia (the state, not the country). Given the way it was described in a few review journals, I wasn’t sure if this was going to read too young for my middle school students, but I was over the moon to discover this is one of those rare novels in which the characters ARE in middle school and it reads at that level! This will be joining my school library’s collection this fall as soon as it comes out!
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