Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin’s Hijab
Written by Priya Huq
Published by Harry N. Abrams
Nisrin is a 13-year-old Bangladeshi-American girl living in Milwaukie, Oregon, in 2002. As she nears the end of eighth grade, she gives a presentation for World Culture Day about Bangladesh while wearing a traditional cultural dress. On her way home, she is the victim of a hate crime when a man violently attacks her for wearing a headscarf.
Deeply traumatized by the experience, Nisrin spends the summer depressed and isolated. Other than weekly therapy, Nisrin doesn’t leave the house until fall arrives and it’s time for her to start freshman year at a new school. The night before class starts, Nisrin makes a decision. She tells her family she’s going to start wearing hijab, much to their dismay. Her mother and grandparent’s shocked and angry reactions confuse her—but they only strengthen her resolve.
This choice puts Nisrin on a path to not only discover more about Islam, but also her family’s complicated relationship with the religion, and the reasons they left Bangladesh in the first place. On top of everything else, she’s struggling to fit in at school—her hijab makes her a target for students and faculty alike. But with the help from old friends and new, Nisrin is starting to figure out what really makes her happy. Piece by Piece is an original graphic novel about growing up and choosing your own path, even if it leads you to a different place than you expected.
Primary ISBN: 9781419740169
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Young Adult, Age 10 or older
Community Represented: Bangladeshi/Bangladeshi American
Themes: Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Food, Discrimination: Racial, Discrimination: Religious, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Family Relationship: Parents, Graphic Novel, Multiracial Identity, Own Voices/Lived Experience
Setting: United States
Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: Unknown Arrival
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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