I definitely feel I was not the target audience for this book, as the stories within these pages read far too simply for me. That's not to say they were poorly written at all! Almost all of them were incredibly sweet, and the ones that weren't had important messages to impart, like the effect of war or persecution on a community. There was one in particular that taught me that there are sects even within Muslim communities, where some of them don't believe others are 'real'.

The biggest criticism that I had for this collection was just how short these short stories were. I understand that they probably wished to have as many voices contributing without making the book to heavy to lift, but it too often felt like I was just starting to get into the story, or a point of the story that might make it different to the others surrounding it.

Most of the stories followed the same two points of minor problem solved in some way by the arrival of Eid. And I get it, Eid is a time of celebration and appreciation, even in difficult times. But even those stories that had recent death or illness in the family couldn't really stand out because there was little time to give them the gravity they deserved.

I've read longer books by some of these authors and unfortunately what I saw in here really didn't shine a light on the talent I've seen from them elsewhere.

A really lovely anthology of Muslim voices bringing joy and representation to Middle Grade. Very enjoyable and fun to read.

This is a collection of short stories from Muslim middle grade authors celebrating the most joyous time of year -- Eid. This is a welcome look into an important Islamic holiday, with deeper musings and explorations into the Islamic faith. This anthology is especially joyous, capturing the essence of the holiday.

Read it last year and I forgot to send my review here on NetGalley!!! Anyway, I can’t pick which is my favourite among the short stories collection in this book. Every one of it has a memorable story and I love every bits of it. It is a beautiful story. Couldn’t recommend you enough to read this book! Please get it!

Every culture needs joyful books that are real representations of their culture. The fifteen stories in this book are joyfully Muslim and this anthology is recommended for most YA collections.

Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories by very talented writers that uplifts Muslim voices all set around the joyful holiday that is Eid. This anthology has mixed media; short stories, a poem, a graphic- novel and it all shows the joy and power of Eid. Eid is a holiday that I know a bit about but I always wanted to know more about. I enjoyed how each story is based around this holiday but that every story is different. Every story has its own take this very important holiday. There are so many amazing writers who bright this magical holiday to light. S.K. Ali, Aisha Sneed, G. Willow Wilson, Asmaa Hussein, N.H. Senzai and so many more talented writers.

This book covers many themes of faith, family, friendship, community. These stories encounter challenges, has adventures, everyday life; all based around this holiday. Anyone can read this, you don't have to celebrate this holiday or know cutting about it to enjoy or understand what is going on. These stories are written for all ages it is marked as YA but some feel and read as middle grade. But that does not take away from the magicalness that are these pages.

Few stories that stand out to me were; Perfect by Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow , I felt I learned quite a lot but Madonna culture. I liked Just Like Chest Armor by Candice Montgomery it’s about a character who has finally come of age where she can wear a hijab, enjoyed seeing what it was like for her, what it means, overall a great story. Seraj Captures the Moon was fun, it’s in a different format but the art was adorable.


This was a blast. Enjoyed myself, learned a lot, and want to read and watch more stories set around Eid.

I was given a copy of this to review. This is 100% my own and honest thoughts.

Once Upon an Eid was a heart warming and uplifting anthology all about the indescribable joy of Eid and its power to bring people together. It was full of wholesome, own-voices Muslim representation and it's a brilliant read for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Have been looking for short stories to add to my syllabus since in a remote semester we're stuck with Scribd and Epic, and they're not so great for diversity. And then I'll be recommending that mys tudents buy the entire collection. Thank you!

A fantastic story that was brilliantly written and I would recommend to fans of the genre. Great writing and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Beautifully written and the characters are completely loveable.

This book was so wholesome and sweet. The perfect book for anyone searching for a series of adorable Eid stories!

I loved this so much! the stories were so much fun and I lost myself in the writings of the authors involved. Can't wait to buy this for my friends!!!!

N.H. Senzai
This collection of short stories paints miniature portraits of an assemblage of Eid-al-Fitr celebrations. While the practice of faith varies within the Muslim community, each unique Eid observance is memorable.
The anthology is feast for the senses. Stories include lighthearted as well as poignant glimpses into the culminating observance of Ramadan with descriptions of private prayer, public celebrations, distinctive clothing, special food, and gifts. Readers meet a recent convert to Islam. She fasts and samples spicy foods for the first time. For others Eid is bittersweet, reviewing celebrations from years past and remembering absent family members. ​ Some entries follow the journey to be with family: taking the subway to the Bronx or sitting in the car’s back seat with siblings on the way to Sydney, Australia. I loved the descriptions of clothing: choosing to wear a hajib for the first time or fashioning a unique gown from a thrift store purchase.
A variety of writing styles and formats (prose, verse, comic panels) share long-standing traditions and introduce contemporary celebrations. Bake a batch of special Eid brownies with ALL the toppings and savor this delightful anthology. Share the joy of family, generosity, and friendship.
Joyous Faces
It’s true. Muslims women are diverse. They cannot be typecast. Each woman is unique, reflecting her country, culture, and family. Some chose to express themselves with a head scarf. Some opt for a western style of dress.
What do they have in common? Pride in their Muslim identity. Respect for the diverse ways to practice their faith.
Insightful stories. Engaging plots. Thought-provoking points of view. S.K. Ali and Alisha Saeed have assembled the work of fifteen talented women.

Important and valuable book which has the tools to teach readers a lot and remove prejudice among people. Not only fun and interesting, but also educational. The best of both worlds.

While reading this book my heart felt so warm. Growing up I was never able to find myself represented in books, and meeting others who know about my culture and religion. This book is an anthology of 15 short stories, it is a great read for all ages, and the perfect book for every middle grader, for both who are Muslim and not. It shares this special time of year for Muslims, and getting to learn more about Eid, and some of the many different ways we celebrate it. It represents many different traditions and showing the diversity. Some short stories had me laughing, crying, smiling, and my heart bursting in happiness.

This is a collection of middle grade stories about Eid and Muslim celebrations. Each story is written by Muslim authors from around the world, who talk about different ways to celebrate.

Each of the characters had different traditions and different family structures or situations, which reflects the diversity of the world. Though all the characters share the same religion, they have different ways of celebrating Eid. Their traditions were different depending on where they lived, because some places have a bigger Muslim population for them to celebrate together as a community, whereas others celebrated quietly at home. Some characters had different celebrations because of a sick family member, which changed the way they could celebrate with family and friends. These different styles of celebrating reflected the way people celebrate holidays in different ways around the world.

I had many Muslim friends while I was growing up, but I didn’t know much about Eid. I knew they fasted in the days leading up to the holiday and that the date of the holiday changed depending on the moon, but I didn’t know much about the actual celebrations. This was probably also because people celebrated differently depending on what country they were from and their family circumstances. I feel like I understand the holiday much better after reading this book.

I loved this short story collection! I hope there will be more diverse short story collections for young readers to give readers of all backgrounds something to relate to, and to teach other readers about different traditions.

Thank you Abrams Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an incredibly special book. It's an anthology of 15 stories, written by different authors, that focus on experiences surrounding Eid. I know I'm not the target audience, but I learned so much from these different perspectives, and truly appreciate a glimpse into celebrations about which I knew very little. I will definitely purchase the book for my library when it is released in May 2020, and I look forward to seeing the final copy with illustrations. A must read for middle grade lovers, and a vital book to have as part of our collections for young people.

THis is a great short story collection that helps readers understand a culture they may not be familiar with, or gives Muslim readers an authentic reflection of themselves on the page. I am thankful this short story collection exists and I am excited to make it available to students.

A worthy addition to any school or public library young adult collection, but I'd also put it in the adult collection, its not just for kids. The selection of authors is well chosen and brings Eid stories we all need whether Muslim or not.

Reading these short stories about Muslims, as someone who is not affiliated with any religion was eye opining. The describes of family traditions during Eid were heartwarming and usually centered around food. The hardest part about reading short stories is falling in love with characters you won't hear from again. This collection truly had a story for everyone regardless of age or interest.

so sweet and informing(especially for non-muslims). There were so many different voices and so many walks of life for the faith, I'd recommend this to anyone looking to educate through reading.