April is National Arab American Heritage Month, honoring the contributions of Arab Americans and recognizing Arab culture. Initiated by the Arab America Foundation in 2017, National Arab American Heritage Month has been recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Department of State, the National Education Association, and 47 state governors.
The Bellingham Public Library offers a wide-ranging assortment of materials, including books, music, films, and digital resources that highlight the lives and experiences of Arab Americans. Specific recommendations from Library staff for adults, teens and children encourage everyone to celebrate and learn about the achievements and challenges past and present of people in the Arab diaspora.
According to the Arab American Institute, there are an estimated 3.7 million Americans who are able to trace their ancestries to one of the 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa identified as Arab. The 22 countries that people in the Arab diaspora originate from are:
- Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Arab American Fiction for Adults
BPL Public Service Librarian, Liz, has created a list of Contemporary Arab Fiction for adults. Click on the link below to see the selected titles!
Library Staff Recommend:
Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed (Adult Graphic Novel)
“This is a witty and heartbreaking fantasy set in Cairo, where most wishes come in expensive packages. And all wishes are, of course, extraordinarily dangerous.”
– Karen, Public Services Clerk
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
“The beauty and the horror of this work explores the choices we make when there are no good choices, and the many ways bonds can form between people (or even between a person and a slab of concrete). Readers are immersed in the narrator’s memories containing rich descriptions of the landscapes, communities, and cultures of Kuwait, Jordan, and Palestine. In a loveless world this book manages to explore many forms of love to be found or created – and the grief that always accompanies it.”
– Kate, Staff Development Coordinator
Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami
“A glimpse into the lives of four strangers, who we meet as they attempt to flee Morocco by boat under the cover of night, all hoping to reach Spain for the chance at a life of opportunity. Their hopes and dreams are relatable, but the risks they take are high.”
– Jenni, Community Relations Specialist
Katrina, Head of Public Services, has several recommendations:
A Master of Djinn by Djèlí P. Clark. “A fast-paced steampunk murder mystery set in an alternate 1912 Cairo, in which djinn and human are working together toward progress until a masked killer, claiming to be a long-disappeared Sudanese mystic and Master of Djinn, threatens to shake the foundations of their society. Agent Fatma el-Sha’arwi, an agent of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, must navigate a new partner, political schemes, societal injustice, the secrets of her goddess-worshiping lover, and many other twists, turns, and surprises as she works to uncover the identity and motives of the megalomaniac imposter who seems bent on the destruction of her city and everything she loves.”
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty. “Let S.A. Chakrabory transport you to Daevabad, a hidden djinn city, and show you glimpses of the political turmoil, prejudices, and societal unrest from the perspectives of Nahri, a Cairene human, new to the city and the magical forces at work in the world, Dara, an ancient and stubborn djinn warrior with a tumultuous past, and Ali, second son of the djinn king, devout Muslim, and sworn enemy of Dara. As Nahri discovers her powers, her constraints, and her allies and learns of the history of Daevabad and Dara, she finds herself torn between loyalties to Dara, Ali, and herself. Swept up by powerful forces, she’s ultimately left unable to make her own choice. Luckily there are two more books in the series.”
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. “The Golem and the Jinni is an immigrant story, set in 19th century Lower East Side Manhattan. It is also a stirring and beautiful account of friendship between a diametrically opposed duo: Ahmad, a free-spirited pleasure-seeking djinn, confined and powerless in the body of a human, and Chava: a subservient golem, masterless and untethered but curious and caring. The two learn to trust and depend on one another and the communities that tenuously hold them up and keep their secrets. With help from a Syrian tinsmith and a kind old rabbi, they try to adapt to their circumstances and navigate their new world, all while their past traumas threaten to catch up to them and destroy any chance of future happiness they can imagine.”
Apeirogon by Colum McCann. “Centered on the lives of two real peace activists and grieving fathers: Israeli graphic designer, Rami Elhanan, and Palestinian scholar Bassam Aramin, this story follows 1001 tangents including: the migratory patterns of birds; the resonating power of music, art, and performance; and the origins of words, weapons, and mathematical theorems; as they circle the truth and allude to the infinitely nuanced sides of the conflict in the West Bank and the devastating losses it has caused. McCann’s work is an intersection of fiction and nonfiction, of grief and hope, of anger and compassion, and ultimately a whole picture that you cannot see without exploring and celebrating each intricate and unique part.”
Arab American Nonfiction for Adults
Library Staff Recommend:
It Won’t Always Be Like This by Malaka Gharib
“A reflective graphic memoir about growing up between two worlds.” Recommended for adults and older teens
– Arbor, Public Services Clerk
Arab American Heritage for Teens
Jennifer, BPL Teen Services Librarian, has put together a list of great reads for young adults to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month. Check it out!
Library Staff Recommend:
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
“Salama is a young pharmacist-in-training who is pressed into duty as a surgeon due to the circumstances of the Syrian Revolution. Her very pregnant sister-in-law wants them to flee the terror and destruction that’s happening all around them, but Salama is torn by her desire to stay and help her people.”
– Jenni, Community Relations Specialist
Arab American Stories for Kids
Bernice, one of BPL’s Children’s Librarians, has created a book list for kids of all ages featuring Arab American voices. Follow the link below to check it out!
Library Staff Recommend:
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
“How would you feel if you had to leave half of your family and all your friends behind in a country that is at war? Jude and her mother do this when they leave Syria without her father or brother because town that they live in has become violent. At first America is fast, loud, and confusing and Jude must navigate this new world. She also needs to come to terms with the uncertainty of not knowing what is happening to her family and friends back home. This middle grade novel in verse is about family and friendships and is an amazing look into a child’s refugee experience. I loved Jude and how I really got to know her world. Highly recommend!” Recommended for grades 4-8
– Lesley, Children’s Programming Specialist
Film & Music
Looking for some great films to watch or music to listen to? BPL Librarian Liz has put together a great list to get you started! And don’t forget to visit Kanopy, our online film streaming service, for more films highlighting Arab American experiences.
Contemporary Arab Films and Music List
Digital Resources to Access with Your Library Card
Access information, entertainment, and even language learning for free with your Bellingham Public Library or Whatcom County Library System card. Many of these resources include information related to this month’s celebration of Arab American heritage!
To access most of these digital services, you’ll need to start by entering your library barcode number and PIN code.
Culture Grams
ProQuest CultureGrams has information on places and cultures, covering history, customs and lifestyles, family, recipes, economy and more. Use the World Edition for countries, States Edition for US States, Provinces Edition for Canadian Provinces, or Kids Edition for a kid’s-eye view of the world. Includes statistics, photographs, maps, biographies, video and audio. Click HERE to get started!
Exploring Race in Society
Content covering issues related to race in society today. Essays, articles, reports and other reliable sources provide an in-depth look at the history of race and provide critical context for learning more about topics associated with race, ethnicity, diversity and inclusiveness. Click HERE to visit Exploring Race in Society.
Freegal
Freegal Music is a free music service from your library. All you need is your library card number and password/PIN. Freegal offers access to 15 million+ songs. The collection includes hundreds of genres from over 40,000+ labels with music that originates in over 100 countries. Click HERE to get started!
Kanopy
Bellingham Public Library offers streaming films and documentaries to card holders. Kanopy is an on-demand film streaming service. No waiting, no holds, just instant access to more than 30,000 of the world’s finest films, award-winning documentaries, hard-to-find classic and indie titles, instructional videos, and content for kids – all free with your library card. Click HERE to get started!
Mango Languages
Learn 70+ languages, including courses for ESL learners. Lessons contain reading, writing, and listening components. Click HERE to get started!
NewsBank Access World News
News from sources around the world. Sources include a variety of news media featuring newspapers, videos and web-only content. Click HERE to get started!
Washington Anytime Library
Your Bellingham Public Library card is the key to access thousands of eBooks and eAudiobooks in the Washington Anytime Library via Libby. This digital collection has fiction and nonfiction titles for children, teens, and adults, as well as digital magazines. Click HERE to get started!
Need help accessing or using any of our digital services? Call 360-778-7323 to set up a one-on-one Library Basics Tech Coaching session with a librarian! Click HERE for more information about Library Basics Tech Coaching.
Links for More Information about Arab Americans
PBS Celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
Smithsonian Celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
Presidential Proclamation on Arab American Heritage Month, 2023
