Samira Surfs, Rukhsanna Guidroz
Samira Surfs, Rukhsanna Guidroz
List: $15.00 | Sale: $10.80
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Samira Surfs

Author: Rukhsanna Guidroz

Narrator: Reena Dutt

Unabridged: 4 hr 54 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/29/2021


Synopsis

A middle grade novel in verse about Samira, an eleven-year-old Rohingya refugee living in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, who finds strength and sisterhood in a local surf club for girls.

Samira thinks of her life as before and after: before the burning and violence in her village in Burma, when she and her best friend would play in the fields, and after, when her family was forced to flee. There's before the uncertain journey to Bangladesh by river, and after, when the river swallowed her nana and nani whole. And now, months after rebuilding a life in Bangladesh with her mama, baba, and brother, there's before Samira saw the Bengali surfer girls of Cox's Bazar, and after, when she decides she'll become one.

Samira Surfs, written by Rukhsanna Guidroz with illustrations by Fahmida Azim, is a tender novel in verse about a young Rohingya girl's journey from isolation and persecution to sisterhood, and from fear to power.

About The Author

Rukhsanna Guidroz is the author of Mina vs. the Monsoon and Leila in Saffron. She studied French at King's College, London, and political science at the Sorbonne, Paris, before living and working in Hong Kong as a journalist. After becoming a mother, Rukhsanna began her teaching career, working with students from kindergarten to high school. She now lives in Maui, Hawaii where she's taken up surfing. Learn more about her at www.rukhsannaguidroz.com.Fahmida Azim is an illustrator, author, and tea drinker. She immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh as a child and grew up in northern Virginia, graduating with a BFA in Communication Arts from VCUarts. Her art frequently addresses the themes of identity, culture, and autonomy and has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, and Vice. Fahmida now lives and works in Seattle. Learn more about her at https://fahmida-azim.com/.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jaclyn on June 28, 2021

Samira Surfs by Rukhsanna Guidroz is a novel in verse about a young girl’s journey from prosecution to sisterhood, and from fear to power as she reclaims her childhood. Samira is a 12-year-old Rohingya refugee living in Bangladesh. She and her family fled from their home in Burma, and Nani and Nana d......more

Goodreads review by Reading_ on February 26, 2022

The gender role discrimination and the racial discrimination/racial slurs are really triggering you know. I wish I had a deeper connection with the writing and the characters. The adult characters are either mum or snappy in most parts. I can understand and relate to the main character keeping mum an......more

Goodreads review by Anniek on March 02, 2022

It took me a while to pick this up because I just hadn't really been in the mood to read much middlegrade, but I'm so happy I finally got back into it and picked up this book, because it was beautiful. I tend to absolutely adore verse novels, and middlegrade verse novels even more so, because they'r......more

Goodreads review by Lori on April 01, 2021

I LOVED this book. Loved. First off, the writing is gorgeous - simple yet lush, and perfect for the thoughtful, strong, self-aware main character Samira. Next, Samira herself: what a joy to read a character so beautifully drawn, complex and lovely and real. The kindness that weaves its way through t......more


Quotes

An ALA RISE: A Feminist Book Project List 2022 selection
An NCTE Notable Poetry Book and Verse Novel of 2022 selection  
A Center for the Study of Multicultural Literature Best Books of 2021 selection  
A Society of Illustrators Original Art show 2021 selection
A Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2021 selection 
2022 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books List


 
★ “A compelling novel that spotlights the history and contemporary circumstances of the Rohingya while tackling universal themes of friendship, belonging, and identity.” —School Library Journal, starred review
 
“[T]his novel shines a light on a subject rarely addressed in middle grade fiction.” —Booklist

“This novel is peopled with layered, fully formed characters who experience trauma and triumph in equal measure . . . A compassionate and well-rounded picture of refugee life.” —Kirkus Reviews