Scan barcode
A review by jess_mango
The Royal Abduls by Ramiza Shamoun Koya
4.0
The Royal Abduls is a novel about connections. The Royal Abduls is set in the years right after 9/11 when it was particularly tough to be be brown and Muslim in America. This novel is about the Abduls, an Indian American family. Amina Abdul is a scientist who has just moved to Washington DC from California to be closer to her brother Mo and his family. Amina has had a difficult time making friends for her whole life and is a bit put off when her brother & sister in law ask her to spend time with their son Omar. Omar is very interested in learning more about his Indian ancestory and is hopeful that his family will have a regal or even royal background. He is flustered because no one in his family seems to want to tell him about their Indian culture. Omar feels as if he doesn't fit in at school and is asked if he is a terrorist by his peers. He yearns to learn more about his "otherness".
The overall tone of this book is sadness and loneliness with sparks of joy mixed throughout. The 3 main Abduls featured in this story (Amina, Mo and Omar) all had the common thread of feeling disconnected from the world and themselves. They were all raised to be more American and to not think too much about their Indian heritage. This left them feeling like they had to hide or deny part of who they were.
I found the novel to be compelling and was able to connect with the characters even when I was frustrated by their self-sabotage. I can connect with their feelings of trying to minimize themselves after 9/11 since my husband is also Muslim. It was definitely a tricky time to navigate. I am saddened that the author passed away earlier this year so we won't be able to hear other stories from her #ownvoices perspective.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
The overall tone of this book is sadness and loneliness with sparks of joy mixed throughout. The 3 main Abduls featured in this story (Amina, Mo and Omar) all had the common thread of feeling disconnected from the world and themselves. They were all raised to be more American and to not think too much about their Indian heritage. This left them feeling like they had to hide or deny part of who they were.
I found the novel to be compelling and was able to connect with the characters even when I was frustrated by their self-sabotage. I can connect with their feelings of trying to minimize themselves after 9/11 since my husband is also Muslim. It was definitely a tricky time to navigate. I am saddened that the author passed away earlier this year so we won't be able to hear other stories from her #ownvoices perspective.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!