I REMEMBER...

Many consider World War I a European ordeal, but the young protagonist of this book keeps alive a memory of a deeper story.

At least 400,000 Muslims from India, among 2.5+ million Muslims total, were part of the Allied forces’ war effort as soldiers or laborers. The narrator’s great-grandpa was one of them. After a heartfelt goodbye to his family, he journeyed thousands of miles from India to Europe. So much was different from home, says the narrator, addressing their great-grandpa throughout. The child speaks of the halal meat he ate, how he served alongside other soldiers, many of whom looked different and spoke different languages, and how he kept on praying and fasting with his fellow Muslim soldiers. Throughout, the earth-toned illustrations show beige-uniformed, turbaned men sharing a meal, marching, and experiencing the terrible soundscape of war. The book offers an interesting, lesser-known narrative related to Muslim involvement in the Great War. However, some may feel that it misses an opportunity to engage with the topic of colonialism (given that India was under British rule until 1947) or that it romanticizes war somewhat. Overall, it will be accessible to readers less familiar with Islamic life and rituals as well as those with more background knowledge and who may appreciate some of the nuances in the storyline and illustrations. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A solid look at a history often untold.