Scan barcode
A review by emeelee
Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab by Priya Huq
3.0
Set in 2002 Oregon, Piece by Piece follows a Bangladeshi American teen called Nisrin. Walking home in Bangladeshi dress after a school presentation, she and her friend Firuzeh are assaulted in an Islamophobic-fueled attack. As part of Nisrin's healing process from this incident, she decides to begin wearing hijab as an expression of pride in her identity. This is against the wishes of her family, who are not religious; Nisrin begins to learn more about her family's experiences in Bangladesh and the complicated history of her ancestral country.
I'm not sure why this graphic novel is categorized as Middle Grade when the protagonist's age (entering high school) and the story themes seem more suited to Young Adult. Deep topics are explored, including prejudice, mental health, and intergenerational trauma, though I wish the book had been longer and provided a bit more explanation about certain things. The pacing was a bit wonky, and I unfortunately found the conflict with Nisrin's friend Firuzeh to crowd the story. There is a little hint of wlw representation in Nisrin's friends Firuzeh and Veronica, but nothing overt. I LOVED Nisrin's Nani (grandmother); she was so supportive and gentle with Nisrin, but you could tell that she was carrying trauma of her own, too. I'd have appreciated more insight into Nisrin's family and their complicated relationship with religion.
I found it really interesting that Nisrin's choice to wear hijab was a reaction to her traumatic experience and a desire to express pride in her heritage rather than a religious decision. She doesn't really know anything about Islam or how to observe hijab-- there's a scene where she becomes upset because she didn't realize that she is "not supposed to" wear shorts/show her legs. She realizes how much she doesn't know and decides to research Islam and attend mosque, but faith doesn't really seem to be a motivator for her. In another scene, a Christian girl at her school compliments her hijab and says it's admirable that Nisrin "want[s] to be closer to God," which Nisrin responds to with confusion. Nisrin's mom tells her she doesn't need to keep hijab at home, but Nisrin admits she feels safer wearing it. I found myself wondering what Nisrin's feelings toward religion are, and whether she thinks of herself as a religious person for wearing hijab or if hijab can be separate from religion altogether. Far be it from me to judge, but it seemed like Nisrin was using hijab as a coping mechanism for her trauma rather than its intended(?) purpose... and I wish that had been explored more.
The book ends with a look at Nisrin's school project on Bangladesh, which was very informative and a neat way to include background information about the country, culture, and Nisrin's family.
TW: Islamophobia, violent assault/hate crime, hospitalization and therapy, PTSD, agoraphobia, mention of genocide and rape
I'm not sure why this graphic novel is categorized as Middle Grade when the protagonist's age (entering high school) and the story themes seem more suited to Young Adult. Deep topics are explored, including prejudice, mental health, and intergenerational trauma, though I wish the book had been longer and provided a bit more explanation about certain things. The pacing was a bit wonky, and I unfortunately found the conflict with Nisrin's friend Firuzeh to crowd the story. There is a little hint of wlw representation in Nisrin's friends Firuzeh and Veronica, but nothing overt. I LOVED Nisrin's Nani (grandmother); she was so supportive and gentle with Nisrin, but you could tell that she was carrying trauma of her own, too. I'd have appreciated more insight into Nisrin's family and their complicated relationship with religion.
"When I see you wearing those clothes... I just don't want you to feel afraid to walk down the street. Like I did when I was your age."
"But... I am afraid. I can't walk down the street and be safe. If I can't be safe... Then can't I at least be proud?"
I found it really interesting that Nisrin's choice to wear hijab was a reaction to her traumatic experience and a desire to express pride in her heritage rather than a religious decision. She doesn't really know anything about Islam or how to observe hijab-- there's a scene where she becomes upset because she didn't realize that she is "not supposed to" wear shorts/show her legs. She realizes how much she doesn't know and decides to research Islam and attend mosque, but faith doesn't really seem to be a motivator for her. In another scene, a Christian girl at her school compliments her hijab and says it's admirable that Nisrin "want[s] to be closer to God," which Nisrin responds to with confusion. Nisrin's mom tells her she doesn't need to keep hijab at home, but Nisrin admits she feels safer wearing it. I found myself wondering what Nisrin's feelings toward religion are, and whether she thinks of herself as a religious person for wearing hijab or if hijab can be separate from religion altogether. Far be it from me to judge, but it seemed like Nisrin was using hijab as a coping mechanism for her trauma rather than its intended(?) purpose... and I wish that had been explored more.
The book ends with a look at Nisrin's school project on Bangladesh, which was very informative and a neat way to include background information about the country, culture, and Nisrin's family.
TW: Islamophobia, violent assault/hate crime, hospitalization and therapy, PTSD, agoraphobia, mention of genocide and rape