Amid the turmoil of modern Damascus, one teenage boy finds his political voice in a message of rebellion that echoes throughout Syria and as far away as Western Europe.

Inspired by his dearest friend, old Uncle Salim, he begins a journal to record his thoughts and impressions of family, friends, life at school, and his growing feelings for his girlfriend, Nadia. Soon the hidden diary becomes more than just a way to remember his daily adventures; on its pages he explores his frustration with the government injustices he witnesses. His courage and ingenuity finally find an outlet when he and his friends begin a subversive underground newspaper. Warmed by a fine sense of humor, this novel is at once a moving love story and a passionate testimony to the difficult and committed actions being taken by young people around the world.

Award-winning tales of a young woman's travel adventures across perilous deserts, seas and empires

In a tent at the foot of a mountain in Palestine, hundreds of years ago, our storyteller and her twin sister are born. Her newlywed parents name her Qamar (Moon), and her sister Shams (Sun). Their small caravan is journeying from the mother’s city back to the father’s remote ancestral village atop the mountain.

This village suffers from isolation—and a curse, which her young family tries to undo. But when both parents’ lives are cut short, Qamar and her sister are left orphans. And so, Qamar decides to pursue her mother’s and father’s dreams of discovering the world—its people, places and stories. With the red book in hand that brought her parents together, she sets out on a daring journey, on caravans and ships, across empires. 

Telling tales to survive, Qamar crosses deserts and seas: to Jerusalem and Gaza; Egypt, Tangier, Andalusia and Genoa; Abyssinia, India, the Maldives and Yemen. Kidnapped by bandits, sold as a slave to the House of a mad King, studying with a polymath, disguising as a man and falling in love for the first time—with a pirate: Qamar searches irrepressibly for life, in endless stories within stories. 

Sonia Nimr’s richly imagined historical fable recalls the famous travel narratives of the 14^th century Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta. But the captivating adventures of our heroine are the wondrous journeys we take when we discover we can do more than we ever dreamed possible, even in strange lands that decree we cannot.   

A handy pocket-sized reference to the distinctive artistic, scientific and political achievements of Islamic cultures from approximately the 7th to the 20th centuries AD.

- 12-page detachable foldout timeline, perfect for wall display

- For children and adults, perfect for school or home

- Colorful, clear layout

- 32-page book supports and expands on the information in the timeline

- Authoritative information and wonderful images

At the back of the book is a 12-page foldout timeline which can be detached and displayed on a wall or notice board, offering an attractive quick visual reference to the key periods, events and developments of Islamic civilizations from approximately the 7th to the 20th centuries AD.

The 32-page book offers introductions to each of the periods and dynasties, with short sections on particular themes and on the great achievements of Islamic art and culture over the centuries. Both book and timeline are richly illustrated throughout with color photographs, including numerous objects from museum collections.

Contents:

Early Islamic World AD 570-660

The Umayyads 661-750

The Abbasids 749-1258

Islamic Spain 756-1031

The Fatimids 909-1171

The Seljuqs 1038-1307

The Zengids and Ayyubids 1127-1250

The Mamluks 1250-1517

The Ilkhanids 1256-1353

The Timurids 1370-1506

The Ottomans 1299-1922

The Safavids 1501-1722

The Mughals 1526-1858

Map

Further Reading

Foldout timeline

Juha is an old Arab comic literary figure (known also to Persians and Turks) around whom countless popular anecdotes were written. He appears variously as preacher and beggar, porter and petty merchant, thief and honest man, judge and social critic, wise man and fool, jester and charlatan (though never as wealthy man or oppressor). While the subject matter is Arab or otherwise Islamic, the humor transcends national and cultural boundaries to achieve a universality that is instantly recognizable and accessible today.