Astur Unveiled
Written by Lerman Abdoulkader Waiss
Published by The Telling Room
In Djibouti, a young girl named Astur is born. Simultaneously, her mother passes. Left to navigate the impact of her mother’s death on her abusive and grieving father, Astur and her four siblings move suddenly to Brooklyn with their aunt. In the United States, Astur finds herself growing distant from her identity. As her relationships with her siblings strain and their stories slowly unfold, so does a journey of self-discovery. Beliefs Astur once thought were embedded in her being start to crumble.
A searing debut novel enticingly told in beautifully crafted vignettes, Astur Unveiled is about one young woman who confronts tradition, culture, and family dynamics all while coming of age, caught between the thin threads of her personal beliefs, culture, and religion. Which of these threads does she end up choosing to hold onto?
Primary ISBN:
Publication Date: March 2023
Available As: Paperback
Young Adult, Age 12 or older
Community Represented: Djiboutian/Djiboutian American
Themes: Coming of Age, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Celebrations & Traditions, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Identity, Family Relationship: Extended, Family Relationship: Siblings, Family Separation: Living with Other Family or Friends, Immigrant: Reunion of Family, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Religious Background: Muslim, Welcoming by Individual
Setting: Djibouti, United States (New York)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Immigrant
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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