HAIL MARIAM

A 12-year-old Iraqi American girl navigates Catholic school, grapples with questions of belonging, and frets over her younger sibling’s health scare.

Sixth grade proves challenging for Mariam Hassan, the only Muslim and Arab student in her school. In addition to wondering whether she’s violating the tenets of her Islamic faith (surely that crucifix in her classroom is an example of idolatry?), she wants to make friends and find a way to stand out, all while feeling unseen at home and worrying that she’s falling short academically. Her father’s reminder that her successes reflect upon her community feels like an especially heavy burden. Being cast as Mary in the Christmas play—her chance to finally shine—turns out to be more complicated than it seems. And when doctors find a mass in Mariam’s younger sister Salma’s lung, Mariam throws herself into supporting her parents, trying to cope with her school problems on her own. Al-Marashi offers a well-honed exploration of the power of empathy and the ways in which we can find common ground across religious and cultural differences. Mariam’s voice rings true, and her earnestly expressed, thoughtful reflections on faith will resonate as she balances family obligations and tries to discover who she truly is. In Mariam, Al-Marashi has crafted an intensely relatable protagonist—one who sometimes sags under the weight of others’ expectations yet meets challenges with aplomb.

A heartfelt and insightful celebration of family, identity, and connection.