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[When Wings Expand] [By: Sinclair, Mehded Maryam] [February, 2013]
She wrapped her arms around me and said, "Nur! I know. I don't want to go. But all I can do is keep trusting in Allah. Nur, I will always be with you! My love and advice will always be with you to guide you in the right direction." She patted my heart. "They are forever sealed inside this little place."Writing on the pages of her journal, Nur, a teenage girl in Canada, charts the onset and advance of her mother's cancer. Nur watches her mother's body begin to shrink and her mood begin to darken. And when family and friends begin to encroach, Nur must face the prospect of her mother's looming death.Nur bears the crushing loss and finds her adolescent life more demanding and complex. But with the legacy of her mother's love, her family's support, and the guidance of her faith, she manages to overcome the searing pain and use her newfound strength to bring joy to the lives of others, showing them that after death wings can expand.
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First published February 14, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 24, 2017
What a wonderful book!
Thank you to Kube Publishing for providing me with a copy!
This story, set in Canada, follows a Turkish family, a young teenager, who has lost her mother to cancer. It is told in short, diary format entries where she notes down her stages of grief, her worries, hopes and fears, and eventually slightly overcoming it with her faith, family and friends and her fascination with seeing chrysalises blossom.
I loved the element of faith that was infused in this story. It hit me harder than it did the grief the young girl, Nur, was encountering. It provides a realistic aspect to the story where a teenager is grappling with fitting in, but also wanting to hold on to her faith. And the Islamic reminders were just beautiful. Simple, gentle, and not preachy.
It's something I wish I had and read as a teenager, trying to balance and find my own identity.
It was a wonderful read! You know it is when it gets you teary!
Thank you to Kube Publishing for providing me with a copy!
This story, set in Canada, follows a Turkish family, a young teenager, who has lost her mother to cancer. It is told in short, diary format entries where she notes down her stages of grief, her worries, hopes and fears, and eventually slightly overcoming it with her faith, family and friends and her fascination with seeing chrysalises blossom.
I loved the element of faith that was infused in this story. It hit me harder than it did the grief the young girl, Nur, was encountering. It provides a realistic aspect to the story where a teenager is grappling with fitting in, but also wanting to hold on to her faith. And the Islamic reminders were just beautiful. Simple, gentle, and not preachy.
It's something I wish I had and read as a teenager, trying to balance and find my own identity.
It was a wonderful read! You know it is when it gets you teary!
April 26, 2020
Book 1 completed for #RamadanReadathon
wowowow!!!! i was not expecting this book to hit so hard!!!!
This book is written as diary entries from a young Turkish-Canadian girl named Nur as she and her family experience the final days of her mother's cancer. It is so deeply emotional and personal and so so so raw.
i cannot number the amount of times i cried while reading it because i started to lose track tbh
Nur details the events in her journal, sometimes in long letter-styled pages and other times short grief filled sentences and with lots of adorable doodles too. I feel like Nur is a real person, the story she tells about her selfless, caring mother, her kind, loving father, and her little (sometimes annoying) brother felt so tangible.
The pain and grief that Nur feels is so powerful, it seeps through the pages and hits the reader deep, i'm so moved by this omg :(
I also love, love, love the religious aspects woven into the story. it's so effortless, such a natural part of nur's life to rely on her faith to help her through such a tragic time. she talks about her inner feelings, her inner doubts, her pain, her sadness and the way she works through her grief, its just so truthful. jflkjdlfja
i think this is one of the best pieces of islamic fiction i've read. so, so beautiful.
4.5 stars
wowowow!!!! i was not expecting this book to hit so hard!!!!
This book is written as diary entries from a young Turkish-Canadian girl named Nur as she and her family experience the final days of her mother's cancer. It is so deeply emotional and personal and so so so raw.
i cannot number the amount of times i cried while reading it because i started to lose track tbh
Nur details the events in her journal, sometimes in long letter-styled pages and other times short grief filled sentences and with lots of adorable doodles too. I feel like Nur is a real person, the story she tells about her selfless, caring mother, her kind, loving father, and her little (sometimes annoying) brother felt so tangible.
The pain and grief that Nur feels is so powerful, it seeps through the pages and hits the reader deep, i'm so moved by this omg :(
I also love, love, love the religious aspects woven into the story. it's so effortless, such a natural part of nur's life to rely on her faith to help her through such a tragic time. she talks about her inner feelings, her inner doubts, her pain, her sadness and the way she works through her grief, its just so truthful. jflkjdlfja
i think this is one of the best pieces of islamic fiction i've read. so, so beautiful.
4.5 stars
August 2, 2016
As I turn the last page of this islamic fiction, my face is covered in tears and there's a huge smile across my face. I close the book and bring it to my heart and hug it really tight !! .... Yes, it rubbed the deepest part of my heart !! Yes, it's so uplifting and beautiful that I want read it again and again!!
The book is pages of Nur's journal, where she pours her heart out as her mother is fighting cancer.
I fell in love with this book because it revolves around the message of Surah Al Baqarah 's last verse ( one of my favorite verses of the Quran). The message being that Allah does not burden a soul more than it can bear, that Allah's Mercy is far greater than His Wrath, and that every step we take towards Him, He takes ten towards us.
SubhanAllah, a beautiful book that I feel everyone should read !!
The book is pages of Nur's journal, where she pours her heart out as her mother is fighting cancer.
I fell in love with this book because it revolves around the message of Surah Al Baqarah 's last verse ( one of my favorite verses of the Quran). The message being that Allah does not burden a soul more than it can bear, that Allah's Mercy is far greater than His Wrath, and that every step we take towards Him, He takes ten towards us.
SubhanAllah, a beautiful book that I feel everyone should read !!
February 12, 2022
This book was BEAUTIFUL! ❤️
It warmed my heart so much so that I still feel it's essence enveloping me like a comfortable and soft blanket.
Beautifully written in the perspective of a young girl, it made me ponder over many things. It made me cry and smile and I would just hug the book at times.
Some may find it to be a book for kids but I believe it's a book for all. It's almost like a one way communication where YOU are the diary and deal with everything that's being shared and learn lessons in ways you'd never think of.
A definite recommendation from me.
It warmed my heart so much so that I still feel it's essence enveloping me like a comfortable and soft blanket.
Beautifully written in the perspective of a young girl, it made me ponder over many things. It made me cry and smile and I would just hug the book at times.
Some may find it to be a book for kids but I believe it's a book for all. It's almost like a one way communication where YOU are the diary and deal with everything that's being shared and learn lessons in ways you'd never think of.
A definite recommendation from me.
June 7, 2024
book was so formative to me as a tweenager.
now that i read it i find it a bit saccharine and didactic but i absolutely loved it and didn't pick up on it as a child, so 5 stars it is
now that i read it i find it a bit saccharine and didactic but i absolutely loved it and didn't pick up on it as a child, so 5 stars it is
April 27, 2013
This is such a beautiful book! It kept me hooked onto it and I would look forward to reading it everyday!
It is so full of beautiful lessons- something that readers of all ages and backgrounds can benefit from. It sort of brings you back home, on what it means to be a true Muslim and being a servant of Allah Almighty is all about.
The way the author wrote the book makes all of it feel so real. If you're feeling lost and are looking for a renovation in your perspective on life- do give this book a read.
Something I couldn't help thinking all the while was that- Allah SWT has truly blessed this author to be able to write something so beautiful like this and teach the beautiful message of Islam in this manner.
I hope Sister Maryam writes more books, especially for the older ages as I can't imagine how much more wonderful content she may come up with for that demographic, as even with a book that may be seen as primarily centered for children and perhaps teens- she did such a wonderful job nonetheless that it has come to be a piece all ages can benefit from.
MashaaAllah TabarakAllah La hawla wa la quwwata illah billah.
It is so full of beautiful lessons- something that readers of all ages and backgrounds can benefit from. It sort of brings you back home, on what it means to be a true Muslim and being a servant of Allah Almighty is all about.
The way the author wrote the book makes all of it feel so real. If you're feeling lost and are looking for a renovation in your perspective on life- do give this book a read.
Something I couldn't help thinking all the while was that- Allah SWT has truly blessed this author to be able to write something so beautiful like this and teach the beautiful message of Islam in this manner.
I hope Sister Maryam writes more books, especially for the older ages as I can't imagine how much more wonderful content she may come up with for that demographic, as even with a book that may be seen as primarily centered for children and perhaps teens- she did such a wonderful job nonetheless that it has come to be a piece all ages can benefit from.
MashaaAllah TabarakAllah La hawla wa la quwwata illah billah.
August 30, 2021
Update: changing to four stars!
💝🧕4 stars 🧕💖
I've had this book for the longest time, ever since Canada. I got When Wings Expand and another muslim-rep book, She Wore Red Trainers, at a fair at a local mosque. I read She Wore Red Trainers right away and loooved it, but I didn't read this one. I was only 10 or 11 at the time, and I didn't like reading sad books, woww look at me now 🥰, but anyways I read the back and it was about grief and mother dying so I just put it aside. Last night, I was bored so I just grabbed it and started reading. I'm so happy I did!
When Wings Expand is short standalone read, only 217 pages, so it was really easy to get through, especially since it's written in diary entry format so the pages aren't even fully covered. The book follows a 12-year old girl named Nur whose mother is dying of breast cancer. Nur is scared and dealing with complex emotions of grief. She feels broken, and even feels upset with her religion and Allah (swt) for not saving her mother, but through her diary entries, she slowly handles her emotions with help for family and friends and praying to Allah and her religion.
I think this book was so beautiful but I wish I had read it a year or two ago, I think it could have helped me a lot, since the writing is obviously of a 12 year old girl. However, I'm still happy I read it now because it was so beautiful! I think Islam was portrayed so well in this book, so that if someone else read it, they would understand the religion. Nur was such a strong character to read about, and I really think (as cringey as it sounds) that this book brought me a bit closer to my faith. 😀😊
💝🧕4 stars 🧕💖
I've had this book for the longest time, ever since Canada. I got When Wings Expand and another muslim-rep book, She Wore Red Trainers, at a fair at a local mosque. I read She Wore Red Trainers right away and loooved it, but I didn't read this one. I was only 10 or 11 at the time, and I didn't like reading sad books, woww look at me now 🥰, but anyways I read the back and it was about grief and mother dying so I just put it aside. Last night, I was bored so I just grabbed it and started reading. I'm so happy I did!
When Wings Expand is short standalone read, only 217 pages, so it was really easy to get through, especially since it's written in diary entry format so the pages aren't even fully covered. The book follows a 12-year old girl named Nur whose mother is dying of breast cancer. Nur is scared and dealing with complex emotions of grief. She feels broken, and even feels upset with her religion and Allah (swt) for not saving her mother, but through her diary entries, she slowly handles her emotions with help for family and friends and praying to Allah and her religion.
I think this book was so beautiful but I wish I had read it a year or two ago, I think it could have helped me a lot, since the writing is obviously of a 12 year old girl. However, I'm still happy I read it now because it was so beautiful! I think Islam was portrayed so well in this book, so that if someone else read it, they would understand the religion. Nur was such a strong character to read about, and I really think (as cringey as it sounds) that this book brought me a bit closer to my faith. 😀😊
March 12, 2022
wow, i read this book in two or three days and it really touched me. i felt like i was there with them, bearing their pain. besides pain, i also learned a new, very important lesson. Allah is cherishing you... the part when a father says that we wouldn't have a butterfly if our chrysalis didn't become black really made me think. also, one more thing that made my heart calm was when the father said that Allah doesn't make mistakes, it really made me stop worrying about things whose outcome i couldn't affect. overall, this book is really lovely, has a lot of important life lesson and you're never late to read it.
April 8, 2019
She wrapped her arms around me and said, "Nur! I know. I don't want to go. But all I can do is keep trusting in Allah. Nur, I will always be with you! My love and advice will always be with you to guide you in the right direction."
'When Wings Expand' is a story about a young Muslim girl dealing with her mothers death. This was quite an emotional read for me, as I cannot even imagine life without my mum. It reminded me of a quote I read somewhere:
My mother taught me everything, except how to live without her.
'When Wings Expand' is a story about a young Muslim girl dealing with her mothers death. This was quite an emotional read for me, as I cannot even imagine life without my mum. It reminded me of a quote I read somewhere:
My mother taught me everything, except how to live without her.
March 2, 2024
just sobbed the whole time, it was beautiful and my heart hurts
January 31, 2015
Beautiful. I love it.
Nur, a young muslim female teenager cope with her mother's death in a very inspirational manner with the help of the rest of her family.
Her father was such an inspirational character, enduring his wife's death and being strong for his children. In fact, all characters are beautiful.
I like how they love going back to nature, visiting waterfalls and beaches, picking chrysalis and stuffs.
I like how Nur helped those who goes through the same situation as her at the very same hospital her mother used to be treated. She is definitely a bright girl, raised so well that she could endure such painful experience.
The main idea here is that human life was much similar to nature. How a chrysalis (butterfly pupa) developed to a butterfly, how human also dies and go 'fly' to other world.
It helped a lot letting go of my recently deceased grandfather.
Despite my copy was flawed ( 2 missing pages, my bad I didn't check thoroughly)this will always be my favorite.
Nur, a young muslim female teenager cope with her mother's death in a very inspirational manner with the help of the rest of her family.
Her father was such an inspirational character, enduring his wife's death and being strong for his children. In fact, all characters are beautiful.
I like how they love going back to nature, visiting waterfalls and beaches, picking chrysalis and stuffs.
I like how Nur helped those who goes through the same situation as her at the very same hospital her mother used to be treated. She is definitely a bright girl, raised so well that she could endure such painful experience.
The main idea here is that human life was much similar to nature. How a chrysalis (butterfly pupa) developed to a butterfly, how human also dies and go 'fly' to other world.
It helped a lot letting go of my recently deceased grandfather.
Despite my copy was flawed ( 2 missing pages, my bad I didn't check thoroughly)this will always be my favorite.
June 8, 2016
A beautifully written, moving tale of Nur's emotional journey.
The short chapters and diary form make this an ideal book for teens and pre-teens. The messages contained within the pages resonated with me and I felt the power of the advice Nur both gives and receives.
I was moved to tears on a few occasions. I was not expecting to finish this book and start questioning myself, probing my heart to see if I'm going the right way about dealing with the difficulties in my life.
A fantastic 5 star read which I would recommend to young Muslims who may be struggling to remain true to their faith without letting go of their British or American culture. This book combines both beautifully.
The short chapters and diary form make this an ideal book for teens and pre-teens. The messages contained within the pages resonated with me and I felt the power of the advice Nur both gives and receives.
I was moved to tears on a few occasions. I was not expecting to finish this book and start questioning myself, probing my heart to see if I'm going the right way about dealing with the difficulties in my life.
A fantastic 5 star read which I would recommend to young Muslims who may be struggling to remain true to their faith without letting go of their British or American culture. This book combines both beautifully.
February 9, 2014
I love the journal format of the book. It was a creative idea and makes for a quicker read. The plot was interesting too. Nur is an inspirational young girl who grows throughout the book and is able to help someone else by the end despite her own challenges. I think young girls would enjoy this story. If anyone is going through or has been through a recent death in the family, this story might also help them cope. I did notice two little mistakes in the book, but not a big issue. Overall, an enjoyable, quick read.
February 2, 2016
It was very inspiring. Beautifully written, just for the minds of young girls struggling with their faith.
I hope the author writes more books like this, because books like these are seldom seen. With teenage romance, and fiction books everywhere, this book seemed to me a breathe of fresh air. I hope to see more books like these around.
I hope the author writes more books like this, because books like these are seldom seen. With teenage romance, and fiction books everywhere, this book seemed to me a breathe of fresh air. I hope to see more books like these around.
December 4, 2015
Great book, seems to be aimed at elementary school kids (maybe 4th or 5th grade). Quick read, I read it in one afternoon, but the message is definitely one that applies to any age group.
May 12, 2016
fragile, sensitive, pure & real. prepare a bucket to hold your tears :')
December 28, 2021
Read this within a day and was just sitting with it, letting it take space in my heart. What a story!
🦋 When Wings Expand by Mehded Maryam Sinclair is a touching novel. Its simple writing style made for a smooth read, yet its layers made me take a moment's pause every now and then.
"Writing on the pages of her journal, Nur, a teenage girl in Canada, charts the onset and advance of her mother's cancer. Nur watches her mother's body begin to shrink and her mood begin to darken. And when family and friends begin to encroach, Nur must face the prospect of her mother's looming death."
🦋Although the book is in the format of journal entries, the narrative did not feel so restrictive as is often the case with books in this style. Reading between the spaces, there's quite a bit going on with the characters off the pages, and honestly, this is not easy to pull off so I have the utmost admiration for the author. (Just wanted to hug Nur's little brother tbh. That's how invested I became. And Uncle Furqan! MashaAllah, what a gem. Nur's entire circle is just 😭👌)
🦋Nur was relatable, understandable, and as the story progressed, I was stunned by her growth. As for the story itself: the heartache, healing, and the author's delicate approach and analogies when dealing with something as painful as a parent's death were so amazingly written. I think most of all, I appreciated the values of family and faith while navigating pain. It was nice to read something so reflective of what we deem as "normal" Muslim life— I didn't have to feel on edge about any skewed portrayal of Muslim/religious characters. It was just. so. normal. The kind of positive, relatable representation we need more of!
Overall, I would describe this as a straightforward but meaningful read. Perfect for young teens and those of all ages who appreciate good character development and delicately-handled stories involving loss.
🦋 When Wings Expand by Mehded Maryam Sinclair is a touching novel. Its simple writing style made for a smooth read, yet its layers made me take a moment's pause every now and then.
"Writing on the pages of her journal, Nur, a teenage girl in Canada, charts the onset and advance of her mother's cancer. Nur watches her mother's body begin to shrink and her mood begin to darken. And when family and friends begin to encroach, Nur must face the prospect of her mother's looming death."
🦋Although the book is in the format of journal entries, the narrative did not feel so restrictive as is often the case with books in this style. Reading between the spaces, there's quite a bit going on with the characters off the pages, and honestly, this is not easy to pull off so I have the utmost admiration for the author. (Just wanted to hug Nur's little brother tbh. That's how invested I became. And Uncle Furqan! MashaAllah, what a gem. Nur's entire circle is just 😭👌)
🦋Nur was relatable, understandable, and as the story progressed, I was stunned by her growth. As for the story itself: the heartache, healing, and the author's delicate approach and analogies when dealing with something as painful as a parent's death were so amazingly written. I think most of all, I appreciated the values of family and faith while navigating pain. It was nice to read something so reflective of what we deem as "normal" Muslim life— I didn't have to feel on edge about any skewed portrayal of Muslim/religious characters. It was just. so. normal. The kind of positive, relatable representation we need more of!
Overall, I would describe this as a straightforward but meaningful read. Perfect for young teens and those of all ages who appreciate good character development and delicately-handled stories involving loss.
April 30, 2018
“I am Nur, daughter of Firdaus and Yusuf… I live where I was born, in Toronto, Canada, with my Turkish-Muslim mother.” These are the first words penned into Buraq, a young girl’s diary – and so begins a novel that is as gentle and beautiful as the butterflies that flutter across its cover and through its pages.
When Wings Expand is a story told through young Nur’s diary entries, telling us about her mother’s increasingly severe cancer. Nur’s voice is earnest and innocent, her thoughts occasionally juvenile and often surprisingly deep and reflective.
Mehded Maryam Sinclair does an incredible job of drawing us into Nur’s life through her journal entries. Though many of the ‘chapters’ are short, the imagery and emotion in them make up for their brevity; if anything, it is a sign of the author’s eloquence that she is able to so poignantly evoke such sincere emotions with so few words. The butterfly motif that spans the book is skillfully interwoven through small drawings and religiously-inspired musings, without ever coming across as too overdone or heavy-handed.
I will admit that when I first picked up the book and started reading it, I was impatient and somewhat annoyed. I haven’t been a fan of the diary-entry technique of storytelling since I was a teenager myself, and I kept waiting for the story to take a more dramatic yet.
However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that the problem was not with the story, but with myself and the expectations I had before approaching it. Leaving it aside and picking it up again later which a different attitude, I was soon drawn into Nur’s chronicling of her life, emotions, and short but thoughtful spiritual reflections. Whereas I initially found her narrative voice to be childish, it grew on me and was in fact not all that childish at all – young, yes, and with a youthful outlook, but one that is wonderfully suited to younger readers. Even so, it is a testament to the author’s skill that we are able to detect Nur’s growth as a person through her words alone. By the time one reaches the end of the book, it truly feels as though we have watched her grow up and mature into a young woman of surprising wisdom.
When Wings Expand is the type of story that requires the reader to put aside expectations of action and adventure, and to appreciate a softer, more subtle narrative. After all, not everyone’s lives are raucous and dramatic; sometimes, the most beautiful tales are ones of quiet sorrows and private joys.
As critical as I am as a reader, I found myself unexpectedly enjoying the book far more than I would have ever thought. It is definitely the mark of a great writer to be able to draw in readers accustomed to different styles and genres, and leave them longing for more.
When Wings Expand is a story told through young Nur’s diary entries, telling us about her mother’s increasingly severe cancer. Nur’s voice is earnest and innocent, her thoughts occasionally juvenile and often surprisingly deep and reflective.
Mehded Maryam Sinclair does an incredible job of drawing us into Nur’s life through her journal entries. Though many of the ‘chapters’ are short, the imagery and emotion in them make up for their brevity; if anything, it is a sign of the author’s eloquence that she is able to so poignantly evoke such sincere emotions with so few words. The butterfly motif that spans the book is skillfully interwoven through small drawings and religiously-inspired musings, without ever coming across as too overdone or heavy-handed.
I will admit that when I first picked up the book and started reading it, I was impatient and somewhat annoyed. I haven’t been a fan of the diary-entry technique of storytelling since I was a teenager myself, and I kept waiting for the story to take a more dramatic yet.
However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that the problem was not with the story, but with myself and the expectations I had before approaching it. Leaving it aside and picking it up again later which a different attitude, I was soon drawn into Nur’s chronicling of her life, emotions, and short but thoughtful spiritual reflections. Whereas I initially found her narrative voice to be childish, it grew on me and was in fact not all that childish at all – young, yes, and with a youthful outlook, but one that is wonderfully suited to younger readers. Even so, it is a testament to the author’s skill that we are able to detect Nur’s growth as a person through her words alone. By the time one reaches the end of the book, it truly feels as though we have watched her grow up and mature into a young woman of surprising wisdom.
When Wings Expand is the type of story that requires the reader to put aside expectations of action and adventure, and to appreciate a softer, more subtle narrative. After all, not everyone’s lives are raucous and dramatic; sometimes, the most beautiful tales are ones of quiet sorrows and private joys.
As critical as I am as a reader, I found myself unexpectedly enjoying the book far more than I would have ever thought. It is definitely the mark of a great writer to be able to draw in readers accustomed to different styles and genres, and leave them longing for more.
November 1, 2020
When Wings Expand, a journal of a girl facing the death of her mother. A beautifully written and mind-shifting. For the past several years after 2013, I constantly asked Allah why He took Abah from us? For a girl who still doesn't have a clue about lot of things, I was mad at Him for making Abah sick and weak everytime after his chemotherapy session. Our Abah is blind and now he has cancer that was affecting his breathing and hearing. He was so much in suffer. Again, for a girl who doesn't understand anything at that time, all I could do is being mad and sad for Abah. Abah had done everything to us, raising all seven of us without fail, providing us all with our needs, and taught us everything that we need to know. Except that he never taught us how to live without him.
On the day of his death, I silently listened to my Mom's word, "At least, his sufferings had been lifted up. And he is in good "Hands" now. After hearing that, we all practiced patience and walked our life without his presence. At first I was mad but, reminding Abah's suffering, rhe after-effect of those hurtful chemotherapy sessions, and weakness before his death, I am glad he no longer had to suffer. However, acceptance was never easy and it's time-consuming. But Allah is cherishing us, believe that.
Today, I learnt a perfect phrase to describe death. It was like a chrysalis before it turns into a winged butterfly. At first it was green and beautiful, but during the process, it's getting darken and ugly. Only then we knew, it prepared to become a grown butterfly.
No amount of crying could rewrite the fact that we lose our Abah. But he has flew to be with his God. Just like a butterfly escaping to fly from its cocoon to be in the air.
"Showing you that after death, wings can expand."
#whenwingsexpand
On the day of his death, I silently listened to my Mom's word, "At least, his sufferings had been lifted up. And he is in good "Hands" now. After hearing that, we all practiced patience and walked our life without his presence. At first I was mad but, reminding Abah's suffering, rhe after-effect of those hurtful chemotherapy sessions, and weakness before his death, I am glad he no longer had to suffer. However, acceptance was never easy and it's time-consuming. But Allah is cherishing us, believe that.
Today, I learnt a perfect phrase to describe death. It was like a chrysalis before it turns into a winged butterfly. At first it was green and beautiful, but during the process, it's getting darken and ugly. Only then we knew, it prepared to become a grown butterfly.
No amount of crying could rewrite the fact that we lose our Abah. But he has flew to be with his God. Just like a butterfly escaping to fly from its cocoon to be in the air.
"Showing you that after death, wings can expand."
#whenwingsexpand
July 13, 2018
“Wait Habibti, wait. You will see. Allah is cherishing you.”
This book is just a little over 200 pages and written in the form of a journal and yet I didn’t finish it on time. This is because it was hard for me to get in tune with the MC, Nur. I don’t think it’s the author’s fault though, because the style of writing is suitable for the target audience.
Nur is a 12 year old Turkish-American-Canadian girl coming to terms with her mother’s illness and navigating the grief of losing her, later, with her faith. Although my connection with the book was weak, I admired a lot of things about the story. For one, you would enjoy the journey through unfolding the analogy behind the title, I.E the metamorphosis of chrysalis into butterflies.
Nur’s relationship with Buraq, her journal was therapeutic and I got the vibe that it helped her through the grief. I know that’s obvious enough but one can actually draw out the growth curve as Nur wrote in Buraq. I also liked how the author did not sugarcoat Nur’s relationship with Allah swt and her faith, when her mother died. This tackled the notion that ‘people should have sabr and not grief’ when they lose a loved one.
I’m giving the book a 3.5/5, not because it isn’t a good book but because I couldn’t connect with Nur as deeply as I wanted to. It’s a worthy read especially because the author explained the process of grief naturally and from an Islamic POV, of course. It’s a great literary way to teach YA Muslims about faith and grief.
This book is just a little over 200 pages and written in the form of a journal and yet I didn’t finish it on time. This is because it was hard for me to get in tune with the MC, Nur. I don’t think it’s the author’s fault though, because the style of writing is suitable for the target audience.
Nur is a 12 year old Turkish-American-Canadian girl coming to terms with her mother’s illness and navigating the grief of losing her, later, with her faith. Although my connection with the book was weak, I admired a lot of things about the story. For one, you would enjoy the journey through unfolding the analogy behind the title, I.E the metamorphosis of chrysalis into butterflies.
Nur’s relationship with Buraq, her journal was therapeutic and I got the vibe that it helped her through the grief. I know that’s obvious enough but one can actually draw out the growth curve as Nur wrote in Buraq. I also liked how the author did not sugarcoat Nur’s relationship with Allah swt and her faith, when her mother died. This tackled the notion that ‘people should have sabr and not grief’ when they lose a loved one.
I’m giving the book a 3.5/5, not because it isn’t a good book but because I couldn’t connect with Nur as deeply as I wanted to. It’s a worthy read especially because the author explained the process of grief naturally and from an Islamic POV, of course. It’s a great literary way to teach YA Muslims about faith and grief.
April 25, 2021
"𝑫𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒊𝒕𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒚!"
4.5/5🌟 for When wings expand by Mehded Maryam Sinclair
This book is set in Canada and it follows a teenage girl, Nur who lost her mother due to cancer. In her journal is where she writes how she feels about the loss and how she is trying to overcome it by the love of her family and friends.
When wings expand was a very BEAUTIFUL book. It was very easy to read and understand because it’s written in diary entry format. I absolutely loved the Islamic reminders in this book. And I could relate to Nur (the main character) so much. Her thoughts about “Why has Allah given us this pain even after we have prayed day and night?”
And also “Her having to remind herself that crying makes no difference.”
The way the author has written this book makes all of it seem so real!! And I have learned many lessons from this beautiful book. The ending warmed my heart with tears in my eyes and a smile in my face.
If you are planning to start reading more Islamic fiction books then I totally do recommend you to start with this!
4.5/5🌟 for When wings expand by Mehded Maryam Sinclair
This book is set in Canada and it follows a teenage girl, Nur who lost her mother due to cancer. In her journal is where she writes how she feels about the loss and how she is trying to overcome it by the love of her family and friends.
When wings expand was a very BEAUTIFUL book. It was very easy to read and understand because it’s written in diary entry format. I absolutely loved the Islamic reminders in this book. And I could relate to Nur (the main character) so much. Her thoughts about “Why has Allah given us this pain even after we have prayed day and night?”
And also “Her having to remind herself that crying makes no difference.”
The way the author has written this book makes all of it seem so real!! And I have learned many lessons from this beautiful book. The ending warmed my heart with tears in my eyes and a smile in my face.
If you are planning to start reading more Islamic fiction books then I totally do recommend you to start with this!
July 25, 2020
First read the book in 2015 , understand a few things then , re read it now in 2020 almost after 5 years . Understood a lot of things more and few things I Understood back then I have being revised and update.
Such an amazing story of taqwa and tawakul on God , apart from loosing such a important figure in your life which is mother , still strong since the belief in God is so strong of Nur . Because as she refers that we all have to go back to him as we belong to him . Which is the purpose of our life here .
Apart from being an emotional and sad story , it’s an incredible story to rejuvenate your belief in God . And to prepare your self for the here after .
One of my top favourites ! Will keeping on re reading it again , to be a source of increasing in my belief , since I think every time I will read it . A new perspective is understood .
At 2015 , I read it when I was about to be turning 15 and thought that it’s really good for all those girls who are battling there teenage issues should read it .
As I read it in 2020 , and I am 20 now , it’s gives me a perspective that how strong we have to be when something you don’t think about happens and what’s life about .
Such an amazing story of taqwa and tawakul on God , apart from loosing such a important figure in your life which is mother , still strong since the belief in God is so strong of Nur . Because as she refers that we all have to go back to him as we belong to him . Which is the purpose of our life here .
Apart from being an emotional and sad story , it’s an incredible story to rejuvenate your belief in God . And to prepare your self for the here after .
One of my top favourites ! Will keeping on re reading it again , to be a source of increasing in my belief , since I think every time I will read it . A new perspective is understood .
At 2015 , I read it when I was about to be turning 15 and thought that it’s really good for all those girls who are battling there teenage issues should read it .
As I read it in 2020 , and I am 20 now , it’s gives me a perspective that how strong we have to be when something you don’t think about happens and what’s life about .
April 14, 2014
An extremely poignant well-written tale of a young Muslim girl's struggle to deal with her mother's death. It is immediately evident why it was the winner of the Unpublished Muslim Writers Award 2011. I'm certainly glad it was published later on. This is a book I would recommend everyone to read, although you may have to sit with a box of tissues nearby!
The simply written journal-style book gives an insight into Nur's deepest thoughts and feelings as she experiences her mother's deteriorating health and eventual death as a result of cancer. Through her strong circle of support and devout connection to her faith she learns how to work through the pain of loss that is certain in life. Nur uses her incredible emotional and spiritual strength to bring light into the lives of others dealing with illness.
Although this book struck a chord with me for personal reasons I'm sure it would not fail to do the same for everyone; the pain of loss and death being universally human. Beautifully written - difficult to fault.
The simply written journal-style book gives an insight into Nur's deepest thoughts and feelings as she experiences her mother's deteriorating health and eventual death as a result of cancer. Through her strong circle of support and devout connection to her faith she learns how to work through the pain of loss that is certain in life. Nur uses her incredible emotional and spiritual strength to bring light into the lives of others dealing with illness.
Although this book struck a chord with me for personal reasons I'm sure it would not fail to do the same for everyone; the pain of loss and death being universally human. Beautifully written - difficult to fault.
May 6, 2021
I would like to disclaim this review by disclaiming that I read this book for a club with Muslim women and girls from the ages of 12 to 25ish. We all did not like the book. The writing was forced and unrealistic, the main character did not seem authentic, but rather as a conception of what an adult thinks a good young Muslim girl is. It did have its moments of good writing and encapsulated grief well, but only sometimes. Conflict was often sudden and conclusions often anticlimactic. I wouldn’t recommend this book even for a girl the main character’s age, if she’s mature she will feel belittled, and if she is youthful in mind, she will risk taking away inappropriate conceptions of processing the world and grief.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2022
I read this book without looking through blurb no hint on what i was going to face.
I cried and cried.
An extremely emotional book and you just forget all the pain you may be feeling and just want to go through this journey with this young girl.
Despite how emotional it is the book doesn't repel you but attracts you even more. This attraction i felt was especially caused from the diary format of the book. Don't let this change your mind on reading the book though as the diary format feels like your a witness to this girls life and
I cried and cried.
An extremely emotional book and you just forget all the pain you may be feeling and just want to go through this journey with this young girl.
Despite how emotional it is the book doesn't repel you but attracts you even more. This attraction i felt was especially caused from the diary format of the book. Don't let this change your mind on reading the book though as the diary format feels like your a witness to this girls life and
December 29, 2024
Oh…this is such a beautiful book. It’s definitely one I will pick up again and I’ll be gifting it to my nieces for Ramadan 2025 insha’Allah. We follow young Nur’s journey and her mom’s illness and how she navigates life from age 12-14. As an adult reading this, I can look back at my 12-14 year old self and reflect on some things from then - be grateful for some - ask forgiveness for some - and realise how far I’ve come in life. This is a book highly recommended for 12-14 year old. It really will help them navigate life challenges and get closer to Allah and our beautiful deen Islam. I have a request for the author - please write a follow up book of where Nur is now in life and how she navigated the last decade or so. :)
January 25, 2019
This is a beautiful story of a young girl who overcomes loss with the love from her family and the strength of her faith. This was so sad and had me crying at times but was beautiful at the same time. It was such a lovely read and this is the first time (that I can remember) reading from the perspective of a Muslim girl and it was so interesting to read about the religion and how Nur’s everyday life differed from mine because of it.
The writing did seem a bit odd at times - sometimes Nur would seem much younger than she is, and sometimes the writing was much to old to have come from her, but that aside it was written beautifully for the most part and I loved it.
The writing did seem a bit odd at times - sometimes Nur would seem much younger than she is, and sometimes the writing was much to old to have come from her, but that aside it was written beautifully for the most part and I loved it.
June 29, 2017
A unique and beautiful read that is bound to bring the reader to tears. Nur's tawakkul at such a young age, left me in awe. It was clear that this level of faith, love for Allah and Trust in His Plans were instilled into Nur by her parents, particularly her father when she needed it most.
October 12, 2022
Noor is a twelve year old girl whose mother dies because of cancer. The book is in a diary format in which she writes her feelings about her mother's illness and death ..how she gets through it. It is a heartwrenching yet beautiful story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2017
Child lit with a muslim character. I wish I had such a book to read when I was a teenager... Lovely and emotional read !
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