Huda and Me
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley April 21, 2021
Author H. hayek
Distributor: Allen & Unwin Children's
ISBN: 9781760526023
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children's
Release Date: April 2021
Website: https://www.allenandunwin.com
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Huda and Me is an absolute gem and as it the debut novel from H. Hayek, she has possibly inadvertently, created the challenge for a series to be born featuring Huda, a charmer of a little girl who somehow, seems to always get what and where she wants to go, once way or the other.
The story commences with Huda and her brother sitting in the airport waiting for a flight to take them to Lebanon. Huda is excited, while Akeal is just plain terrified; terrified of things going wrong, getting caught and ending up in some serious trouble. Huda is convinced her plan will go smoothly as how can it not, as although they are running away from home, they going to their parents in Lebanon.
Their parents, Hend and Ibrahim left to go to Hend’s mother in Lebanon who was very ill and her father needed her to come home and help. Although it was only for two weeks, and they were being ‘minded’ by Hend’s friend Aunt Amel, right from the first hour things were going terribly wrong.
Aunt Amal had turned them into slaves, each one had their specific tasks which were many, and life in the once happy home was a complete nightmare! Even baby Rasheed was kept with Aunt Amal all the time.
But there came a time when Huda had enough and between her and their beloved neighbour Mr Kostiki, they created a plan to go to their parents to tell them what had been happening. And so begins Huda and her favourite brother Akeal’s outrageous adventures to get to Lebanon without being stopped and sent home in serious trouble.
Crafted carefully within the storyline is a tilt at racism, when Huda is taunted about her pink, glittery Hijab and Akeal takes a stand to address the issue. Insight it offered to life in a Lebanese Australian Muslim family which adds to the warmth of the storyline, showing that regardless of culture or religion, life in family is the same for everyone, especially if they have brothers and sisters with which to contend on a daily basis. Especially mischievous siblings like Huda!
Funny, quirky and charming Huda and Me is an adventure that is full of cheek, mischief and daring as the two children find their way somehow safely across the world, with a lot of help from friends made on the way simply by Huda, being Huda!
Fast paced and engaging, Huda and Me will captivate readers in the 8-12 age range along with people who are much older, who enjoy a very good story.