
The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman, translated by Melanie Magidow, brings the only known Arabic epic named for a woman to English readers for the first time in 2021. The narrative follows Dhat al‑Himma, a sword‑wielding heroine who commands armies, battles rival tribes, and confronts personal betrayals, including a forced marriage and a biracial son. Reviewers note the translation’s modern language and the incomplete nature of the manuscript, which creates time jumps and a sudden magical climax. Despite structural flaws, the book is praised for its fresh perspective on medieval Arab heroism.
Middle‑grade fiction is experiencing a noticeable surge in titles that center on death and grief, moving beyond the classic dead‑parent trope. Recent award‑winning and educator‑highlighted books such as *The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay* and *The Empty Place* place loss at...