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Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
The Muezzin by Nicholas L. Hart is a story of courage and survival. Jamila is thirteen years old, a normal young Muslim girl who loves her family, her school, and her friends. Her father is the town’s Muezzin, the man who calls the faithful to prayer each morning. Jamila’s twin brother, Ali, was being groomed by their grandfather to be the next Muezzin, which Jamila felt was basically unfair. She wanted to do the job, and besides, everyone said she had the voice of an angel. When their grandfather advises Ali that he will have to do the call tomorrow, he is terrified and certain he will fail miserably. But Jamila has a plan – she and Ali will climb the minaret together, and although Ali will stand on the balcony and proclaim the call to prayer, it will actually be Jamila reciting the words into the microphone. Suspicion and doubt about their act will be immediate, but as the political situation worsens in their country and conservative violence spreads to their hometown, their act of defiance of the rules may be the least of their worries.
Nicholas L. Hart has created a wonderful story of one girl’s courage and endurance against the odds. I appreciated the depth he managed to develop in all the characters. The idea of telling Jamila’s story as a series of memories from the worldwide successful singer, Louna, who emerged from the frightened runaway refugee that was Jamila, was an inspired choice. It immediately puts readers at peace that, as they read Jamila’s harrowing story, they are already aware that she has escaped and is safe. The story is a useful reminder that the first casualty of war is not actually truth; it is the poor, unfortunate civilians, with no political agenda, who are caught up in the violence that is not of their making or wish. I also appreciated the underlying message that Muslims are no different from the rest of us. They have dreams, aspirations, and hopes for a peaceful existence and a successful life, just like we all do. This is a fast-paced, deeply emotional read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend it.
