MY NAME IS BANA

In this picture book drawn from her own experience, young activist and author Alabed shares a story about resilience, courage, seeking refuge, and a family’s strength against persecution in Syria.

When Bana asks her mother about the story of her name, her mom says that she’s named after a tall bushy tree that grows in her native Syria. Her parents gave her the name in the hope that she will be strong as the tree. Her mom, who wears a headscarf as she and her daughter cuddle in an armchair, explains what strength means: being brave even when scared, helping others, speaking out for justice, nurturing one’s mind and body, and, most importantly, having hope. Beautiful, child-friendly art illustrates the concepts graphically, with a nuanced focus on protagonists’ faces and emotions. Bana recalls times when she was strong, like when she persevered despite being scared by bombs falling from the sky, when she comforted her scared little brothers and improvised a playground in the living room to distract them, and when she learned new things and made new friends in a new country. In the intimate interaction between the daughter and mother, hope and reassurance are exchanged, and Bana’s roots grow deeper. In an author’s note at the end of the book, Alabed contextualizes and historicizes the story and shares what became of her after leaving Syria. Importantly, the narrative depicts pride in speaking a heritage language, here Arabic, in a new foreign country. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An important addition to children’s literature about refugees, featuring a young activist’s own story.