Today's read head into the sports realm and takes a look at a runner, who beat more the those he was running against. This is for those readers out there, who are good with their words but need a bit more practice before hitting more difficult reads. I'm not very knowledge to the who-is-who in the area of Track and Field sports. But I'm always ready to learn. I'm hoping this is an interesting read and grabs the reader with more than dates and statistics.
So, let's open it up and give it a go!
MO FARAH, THE BOY WHO RAN TO BE FREE
by Dr. Seema Yasmin
Illustrated by Noha Habaieb
Salaam Reads
Chapter Book Sports
96 pages
ages 6 to 10
COMING SEPTEMBER 29th!!!
From the prolific Pulitzer Prize–nominated Muslim reporter Dr. Seema Yasmin comes the second book in the exciting nonfiction Muslim Mavericks chapter book series, about Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah.
From Somalia to the Olympic arena, there’s no distance Mo can’t go!
At the age of eight, Mo Farah and his family moved across the world from Somalia to London. It was difficult starting over in a new country, especially since he spoke very little English. But fortunately for Mo, running is a language everyone understands.
Once he started, he never stopped—smashing records and winning championships. Now, having won gold at four Olympics and earned six World titles, he is the most successful male track distance runner ever!
From Somalia to the Olympic arena, there’s no distance Mo can’t go!
At the age of eight, Mo Farah and his family moved across the world from Somalia to London. It was difficult starting over in a new country, especially since he spoke very little English. But fortunately for Mo, running is a language everyone understands.
Once he started, he never stopped—smashing records and winning championships. Now, having won gold at four Olympics and earned six World titles, he is the most successful male track distance runner ever!
MY TIDBITS
While these pages center on an amazing athlete, it's not his running successes which keep these pages turning but a much more serious win.
Mo Farah was one of several sons in a big, happy family in Somalia until a war broke out. Trying to keep him and his brother safe, his parents sent him to a city to live with relatives. That, however, took a different turn when that family agreed to have him (now eight years old) and his brother travel with another woman they knew to London. When Mo left with her in the middle of the night, not only was his brother not with them, but she changed his name from Hussein to Mohammad. He spent his time cleaning and cooking, never allowed to venture too far from the apartment. Finally, he convinced her to let him attend school, where he faced difficulties not only due to the culture and language but also faced challenges due to his dyslexia. His happiness was found in track, however, where no one seemed able to defeat him. But his true success didn't begin to unfold until he found the bravery to tell someone at school the one secret the woman had forbid him from divulging.
When I picked this book up, I expected to dive into tension surrounding the battle of a young man as he strives to reach his track goals. While these pages do allow Mo Farah's accomplishments to be celebrated, the main theme sits in a different battle. Mo Farah was the victim of human trafficking, but not in a violent, dusty shadows way as many people probably envision this crime to be. His first years in Somaliland give just enough background to make him relatable and his situation understandable. Just like Mo, young readers won't realize what is truly happening to him, right away. It does become clear, though, quickly. Violence or outright malicious moments aren't mentioned, keeping this just right for the intended audience age group. It's easy to sympathize with Mo and understand the bravery it took for him to step forward...as well as fever for him a little bit that everything works out. The determination and talent to reach his amazing running times slide in during the last 20 percent or so of the read to inspire and show how life can be completely turned around. So, there is a lot of depth, but the author masterfully keeps this very serious theme appropriate for the age level.
The text fits nicely with those readers, who are very sure of their words but enjoy the shorter length and need a little more time before stepping into more challenging reads. The material slides it up to the upper end of the age group and depends on the maturity of the reader, since this does open up to discussions on human trafficking. It works especially well in connection with a theme and will, no doubt, leave readers with some thoughts and desire for discussions.
And here they are...
Seema Yasmin is an Emmy Award–winning journalist who was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, medical doctor, professor, and poet. She attended medical school at Cambridge University and worked as a disease detective for the US federal government’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. She currently teaches storytelling at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a regular contributor to CNN, Self, and Scientific American, among others.
Noha Habaieb is a Tunisian French visual storyteller, working between Doha and Tunis. After studying comics in Belgium, she returned to Tunisia where she cofounded the Lab619, an award-winning comics collective. Noha took part in the evolution of Lab619’s first comics magazine for adults by participating with her original comics and organizing artistic residencies themed around migration, identity, and borders. In 2017, she cofounded Koskh, an illustration studio based in Tunisia, which aims to promote Tunisian heritage through illustrations for children and adults. She’s the illustrator of the Muslim Mavericks chapter book series written by Pulitzer Prize–nominated Dr. Seema Yasmin.
