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Rekiya & Z by Muti’ah Badruddeen
When Rekiya and Zaynunah met as teenagers, neither had any inkling this would be the start of a lifelong friendship. That the bond they formed as friends would see them through the best and worst times…
Rekiya & Z explores the themes of Time and its fickleness, trauma, loss and the varying realities of Muslim Womanhood against the backdrop of Africa’s most populous country.
“A balanced rhythmic voice… gripping in its emotions, compelling in its ease… An absent narrative has finally found its medium…”
-Prince Adewale Oreshade, Author, 18th and 19th Century Afro-American Poets and i.
Book review:
Muti’ah Badruddeen explores the complexities of faith, childhood trauma, womanhood, and friendship through her beautifully-written and thoughtful Muslim fiction novel, Rekiya & Z.
A chance encounter marks the beginning of an unlikely friendship between two teenage girls: Rekiya, a privileged, popular girl and Zaynunah, a pious, authentic teenager, whose middle-class roots pose a hindrance to her becoming accepted in her new high school’s social scene. The two later drift apart until a tragic event brings them together once again. With a beautiful expressive writing style, Muti’ah Badruddeen describes the setting and background details which contributes to the book’s pleasant pace and engaging story. Set in Nigeria’s vibrant cities of Abuja, Ibadan, and Lagos, the novel’s background forms an intricate link between religion and culture. The story also shines for its masterly development of the characters it includes. Rekiya masks a difficult childhood and painful trauma behind her popularity. During her college years and the beginning of her career in the United States, she struggles to establish her identity in a culture with significant differences from what she is accustomed to. She returns to Nigeria and reconnects with Zaynunah who helps Rekiya begin to work on herself, a strenuous journey as she learns to be vulnerable and face her traumatic past. This extraordinary novel shines light on womanhood from a Muslim’s perspective, addressing misconceptions and showing Muslim women as intelligent and capable. It does this while exploring other key themes and within the context of Zaynunah and Rekiya’s stories. Told through alternating voices from both friends, the style brings out each character’s personality. The style also allows for the highlighting of the main characters’ thoughts, further developing them by showing their views. As the story develops, Rekiya’s voice changes from being distant to becoming warm, marking her growth during her incredible journey. This is a fabulous novel with perfect pacing and amazing characters who feel real.
Rekiya & Z is a moving Muslim fiction story about family and the rekindling of a teenage friendship. A must read, 5 star novel, Rekiya & Z by Muti’ah Badruddeen comes highly recommended by Chick Lit Café. Book reviewed by Edith Emunah for Chick Lit Cafe Reviews & Author Services.
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