I Remember

Having graduated from the University of London with degrees in Geography and Political Science (BSc and MSc) Maidah Ahmad enjoyed a brief career working at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK Government (now known as the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office) before relocating to Canada.For the past 15 years, she has volunteered at local youth groups and charities. Working closely with immigrant families, and children, in particular, she has been able to share her joy of literature with people newly arriving in Canada.

"You know, sometimes when I make the statement that we’recurrently living in a golden age of children’s literature, I can experiencedoubt. Is that just an example of my own hyperbole? Do I honestly believe whatit is that I’m saying? Then I get to see books like this one and my statementsare more than justified. Yes, dammit, this IS a great time to be gauging,judging, admiring, and generally engaging with books written for youth. Howcould I even doubt that? Can you begin to imagine a book about the Muslimexperience in WWI coming out even ten years ago? Talk about raising the bar abit." – A Fuse 8 Production, School Library Journal"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. 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. A solid look at a history often untold."- Kirkus Reviews