Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata

What worked:

The Muslim faith is at the center of the conflict as Nayra faces various issues. She is celebrating the Ramadan holiday which requires her to fast during daylight hours. Consequently, she feels weak and has trouble focusing in school. Gym class is especially a problem since she can’t perform while the class plays volleyball. A classmate bullies Nayra and isn’t understanding or tolerant of her faith. People can be really mean. Nayra’s mother only tells her to be tougher so every day at school presents overwhelming challenges while home life doesn’t provide an emotionally safe haven.

A djinn named Marjan escapes problems in the djinn-world by pleading for help and bonding with Nayra. Marjan and a djinn-friend made a pact regarding a gem but Marjan breaks the promise and needs to flee. The majority of magic in the book arises when Marjan shares visions of her past so the story doesn’t get complicated by impossible events. The djinn offers advice as Nayra struggles with the bully, her best friend Rami, and other social interactions. However, Nayra doesn’t always listen to the djinn’s suggestions so her friendship with Marjan faces challenges of its own.

Nayra’s problems begin to carry over into their relationship with Rami. The pair have an isolated location where they feel safe and can discuss religion and life at school. Rami always offers support but she feels ignored at times when Nayra becomes self-absorbed in her problems. These feelings make sense since Rami is unaware that Nayra has started confiding in her djinn. Nayra doesn’t realize what’s happening so the unspoken conflict simmers throughout the plot.

What didn’t work as well:

I’m not an art expert so my comments come from my role as a reader. Some parts of the graphic novel cause me to pause with unclear scene transitions, abstract drawings, and panels of text that don’t always add to the story. The concepts in the narrative are still intriguing.

The Final Verdict:

The book highlights a young girl’s struggles to practice her Muslim faith despite conflicts arising at school, at home, and with her friends. The abundant colorful pictures with text help the narrative flow although it feels like there needs to be more development. Give the book a shot!