Jannah Jewels Book 1: The Treasure of Timbuktu

by N. Rafiq

Meet Mansa Musa and Ibn Battuta in the Award-Winning Chapter Book Series for Muslim Kids! In the first book of the Jannah Jewels Adventure Series, Hidayah, Iman, Jaide, and Sara, time travel to Timbuktu, Mali in the 13th century! On their quest for the first artifact, a missing manuscript, the Jewels meet the Golden King Mansa Musa and learn all about the world traveller Ibn Battuta. Just as the Jewels are about to complete their mission, they meet their arch nemesis, Jaffar! Will the Jannah Jewels find the missing manuscript before time runs out?
Will they find the secret written on a scroll hidden in a box inside the Golden Clock?

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Childrens

100 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Roger Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

The publishers have trouble making this little book available. It's copies and printing are rather cheap, but I like the idea of the story and the embedded moral of reclaiming the importance of Islam and African culture within discussions of human civilization. I like the code-meshing of Arabic terms as well, and the focus on female protagonists.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, short read. Loved the anime like illustrations and interesting history. Trusting the history to be nonfiction ;) A few parts didn't make sense to me. Recommend this to young girls in elementary school.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick easy read more suited to a much younger audience of say 10 years and up. A fun read that represents strong female Muslim protagonists whom embark on an intriguing adventure that takes them to Timbuktu, Mali. Great characters, fun plot and very easy to navigate. The manga looking illustrations made it all the more fun to read too. As a Muslim woman, I was excited to see a book like this available to the younger generation of Muslim readers.

[Asiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a good book! It got me hooked to read the rest of the series!! Yay!

[kelsey! · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this is an important *kind* of story to tell-- Muslim girls in hijabs solving mysteries! With elements of time travel, Islamic history, Arabic vocabulary words, and empowerment of women sprinkled in!-- but this particular story could use some work.

I'd like it more if the plot were fleshed out, there was less telling and more showing, and things actually felt natural; as it is, the girls are reduced to stereotypes of the profiles laid out in the first couple pages and the plot goes 100mph with chaotic transitions and unnatural inclusions/anecdotes. (For example: twice in this 66 page story, Sara (the environmentalist of the group) stops to tell the other girls to put on sunscreen-- including once in the middle of a chase scene. Yes, they're in the desert and sunscreen is important but sunscreen can be extremely harmful for the environment (so it seems at odds with her "environmentalist" label) and it felt disjointed and unnecessary for her to literally STOP the action to remind the girls to apply some, especially since it didn't further the plot in any way, shape, or form.)

Also, the cover of this one made it look like a graphic novel, so I was already disappointed when I got it-- I think it would benefit from more visual storytelling rather than a disjointed narrative.

What I DID enjoy was how Umm Nura wove history into the plot and the focus on Islamic and African contributions to history that have been overlooked in favor of a white/Western civilization perspective, though even those were spoken of in generalities rather than any specific people/inventions/scientific discoveries.

Overall: good for additional Muslim representation in children's literature and readers of beginning chapter books, not the greatest for anyone looking for a cohesive, complex story.

[Azuma-chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited for Jannah Jewels. The first time I saw it was in here when I was adding books in my shelves. Then I was beaming with joy when I actually found the physical book at our work’s library. As soon as I opened the book to read the first line, I was disappointed. No men, no damsel in distress and what not. You don’t have to drag one to make the other shine.

I moved on with the book and the anime influence was pretty obvious. How the girls are drawn and using the word (sensei) instead of (master). Arabic words are okay since it’s about the Islamic culture, but seeing a Japanese word pop up there out of the blue is odd. It’s really clear how they wanted to make this like any other group adventurers or whatever you call them. Ella came and said you are the Jannah Jewels then it’s done. No questions, no hesitation no wondering. Usually in such kind of stories, there are a series of events that lead to form a group. How they meet, similar events, one secret that unites all and such stuff. The adventure was amusing to some extend nonetheless, but I wished for it to be longer. Let’s see how’s the next book. Actual rating 2,5 stars

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an unusual children's book to read, as it is a Muslimophile book. Arabic Muslim expressions are used throughout the story, and the book refers to the Quran. It has good, strong, girl characters who work together with mind & body to fight evil.

[Jennybeast · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the art and the emphasis on strong Muslim girls and African history. It felt very much like a bedtime story -- where someone just tells a story that is made up on the spot. it makes for a slightly disjointed narrative, but is definitely fast paced.

[Karine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ well written, fast passed and written about 4 friends who go on adventures around the world to find missing objects. It is also interesting to learn a bit about Muslim religion and certain sayings/words. I will absolutely be reading more of this series in the near future.

[Muhab · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good

[Mariam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great but very short

[Samira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it is good cause it has a good picture and all you know

[Rumaysa Rajab · Rating 1 out of 5]

Found it kind of boring, and not very detailed, and no plot twist.

[Mathew Benham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 1hr audio book. This was entertaining, I don't see the mystery part, its all adventure, but whatever. Not right away but I will eventually give the second book a chance as well.

[mk ♡]

damn i read this 11 years ago n js found it again

[asiya | アセヤ (free palestine) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book- and the rest of the series for this matter- was really good at portraying Muslim heritage and inventions throughout history and geography through the world! The characters were fun, cute, and quirky, but they lacked some real character development. Sadly, I was a bit disappointed at the length of this short story, since I don't know when I'm going to find the time to read the rest of them, but I will soon (I guess?). Perfect for an amazing reference and creative interpretation for young readers that want to know more about this world, but other than that, its super boring and bland. Sadly.

[Sarah Ahmimed · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Hidayah first mysteriously disappears her friends go after her and find they are inside a tree trunk. Hidayah's teacher mysteriously appears and explains that they are the Jannah Jewels and that they must get 6 atrefacts for the golden clock to open and reveal a big secret. As Jaffar goes through the new time travel machine and they have to beat Jaffar and get home in time or they will be stuck in the past forevever. As they collect clues building up together everything starts to make sense. However, when they need helpl Hidayah praysand she has a strong feeling in her heart and she stops Jaffar. Jaffar was doing this for his father. As his father wanted to be Master Archer but failed beaten by a girl and as only a child can go through the time travel machine he asks his son Jaffar to do it. Jaffar was determined to impress his father and make him proud. Their suspections run away when they find Jaffar behind all of this

[Umm Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is an absolutely amazing read for children!
Is your child not a keen reader?
Do you want to journey back in time to look into amazing things Muslims did and invented?
Do you want to learn History and Geography?
Do you want to learn and revive sunnah?
Do you want your child to learn how to make du'aa?
Do you want your child to know who to rely on when facing any difficulty or hard time? And a way out of it?
Get "Jannah Jewels" Books! Your child will get hooked to this series with so much to gain!
#JannahJewels#

[Snakestar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really good there were three teenager friends 👭.they went to a big oak tree and it turned out to be a little passage to many tunnels and then they discovered that they were Jannah jewels to save the world from evilness and they had to be quick because a evil man was trying to stop them and his son and keep the world evil!