Huda F Wants to Know?

Gr 7-10–Huda’s plans for a successful junior year of high school are upended when her parents announce they’re getting a divorce. Huda is blindsided by the news, struggling with what it means for her family as well as the stigma divorce holds in their Muslim community. The normally lighthearted Huda pretends she’s fine but becomes angry and depressed. At halaqa, where Muslim girls gather for Islamic-centered discussions of social issues, she meets Dr. Haifa, who discusses the importance of mental health and explains how it can be addressed without shame while keeping true to Islam. In time, Huda is honest about her feelings and understands what she needs to do to heal. In this third installment of the “Huda” series, a follow-up to the National Book Award finalist Huda F Cares?, Fahmy explores how in Huda’s community, as in many cultural and religious communities, there’s skepticism surrounding mental health issues. The narrative addresses this directly, normalizing the existence of the issues and showing that getting help is not shameful. Inclusion of mental health resources aimed at young Muslims assists in erasing the stigma. The art is as engaging as ever, supporting the story to bring a soft touch to serious topics. Most of the main characters are Muslim and have skin tones ranging from light to tan, with more diversity among Huda’s schoolmates.