NOT YET

In her debut picture book, Lari, the first figure skater to compete internationally while wearing a hijab, tells her story.

After watching Disney’s Ice Princess, young Zahra dreams of taking to the rink herself. Family and friends express skepticism, but she responds to comments such as “You don’t know how to skate” with “Not yet.” Family members point out that she’s too old to start training, that she lacks access to skating rinks in the United Arab Emirates, that it’s cold out on the ice, and that figure skaters don’t look like her. As Zahra’s “Not yet” shrinks into a whisper, her father hears its soft persistence and takes her to get a pair of skates. Though Zahra’s first time on the ice doesn’t meet her expectations, she refuses to give up, and her aspirations and skill continue to grow. The authors’ notes in the back are delightful, emphasizing the power of realizing one’s dreams. While the text focuses on the internal and familial barriers Lari faced, the backmatter discusses the obstacles she encountered when wearing her headscarf on the international stage. Alfageeh’s illustrations capture contemporary and cultural designs, clothing, and landscapes of the UAE along with characters’ cartoonish comedic facial expressions. Young Zahra’s scarf flows with fantastic joy in many spreads, while the adult Zahra is depicted wearing sportswear hijabs.

A stirring tale of perseverance.