SALMA WRITES A BOOK

As she prepares to be an older sister, a young girl encourages her mother to make amends with her own sibling.

When Salma finds out her mother is pregnant, she’s determined to become the best big sister ever! She can’t find any books about being a good older sibling that speak to her family’s experiences—they are Syrian immigrants who have settled in Canada—and she decides to write her own guidebook. While researching, she feels extra lucky that her uncle, Khalou Dawood, is back in touch with her family for the first time in years. Although Salma doesn’t know why she’s never met him, she’s sure that she can learn how to be a great sibling from him and her mother—that is, until she discovers that her mother hasn’t spoken to her brother for years, simply because he married a man. While helping her mother overcome homophobia, Salma realizes that being a sibling is a lot more complicated than she expected. She also learns that people can change—and that even adults sometimes need help figuring out how to be the best sibling ever. This tender, gentle book conveys the complexities of sibling relationships while also matter-of-factly describing a loving same-sex relationship. Purposeful though never didactic, this tale weaves multiple strands together for a satisfying ending.

An affirming tale of family and acceptance.