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My Name Was Hussein
Offers readers a tale about racial and religious prejudice as a young boy named Hussein is forced to change his name and his family forced to change their ways when a group of soldiers marches into their small village in Bulgaria and takes away the rights of all the Muslims living there.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 10, 2025
In Hristo Kyuchukov's 2004 picture book My Name was Hussein, main protagonist and Muslim Roma first person narrator Hussein (who looks to be around eight years of age) is shown as living very happily in a Bulgarian village (visiting his grandparents, celebrating Muslim holidays, eating lots of delicious meals both savoury and sweet lovingly prepared by his mother and his grandmother, being part of a joyful extended family). And indeed, the cultural and religious information (and in particular about Ramadan) encountered in My Name Was Hussein is both engagingly and equally so nostalgically penned by Kyuchukov as well as being enlightening for an intended audience of children (from about the age of six to eight or nine) and clearly not meant to be all that familiar with either Islam or with the Roma. But yes and sadly, midway through My Name Was Hussein, pretty much everything is shown by Kyuchukov's featured text (and of course also by the main protagonist's first person narrations, by his voice) as changing for Hussein and his family, and that My Name Was Hussein is thus and clearly a two part story with a very sharp and also textually somewhat uncomfortable caesura. However, considering that the happy life Hussein and his family had been enjoying basically and totally changes and very negatively so almost from one day to the next, said sharp contrast and basically having almost two different and separate texts for My Name Was Hussein majorly and absolutely makes sense for and to me. For in the second part of My Name was Hussein Hussein tells his readers (or his listeners) how the (Bulgarian) army arrives, forbids the villagers to speak their Romani language in public, to go outside at night, to publicly celebrate Muslim holidays like Ramadan, to pray at the mosque (which is closed and shown as being guarded by soldiers), with a policeman destroying the family's identity cards and which are only reissued once Hussein and his family have (under much duress) chosen Christian names.
Also and furthermore, and something I have rather specifically noticed regarding My Name Was Hussein because we are doing a food and food preparation theme in the Fiction Club for the Children's Literature group, while in the first part of My Name Was Hussein, Hussein's text with much loving detail describes the many different and delicious foods prepared by his family (mostly by his mother and by his grandmother) to break the Ramadan fast and that food is clearly shown as a cultural and also a familial bond of joyfulness and connection, well, as soon as the soldiers have arrived, there are no more celebratory descriptions of food associated with Islam and Romani culture being offered and presented by Hristo Kyuchukov in My Name Was Hussein, almost as though in the second part of young Hussein's narration, after the family has been forced to choose Christian names and to in public neither practice their Muslim faith nor speak their Romani tongue, food does no longer have that positive sense of connection and of joy and thus just seems to textually mostly disappear as a topic (except for Hussein briefly lamenting in the second part of My Name Was Hussein that not being allowed to visit his with grandparents also means not being able to consume, to taste his grandmother's delicious puddings).
Now and finally, regarding Allan Eitzen's accompanying illustrations for My Name Was Hussein, his pictures are clean and expressive ink drawings washed with watercolours in shades of grey, but also nicely visually being warmed with and by brighter colours, and with both Hristo Kyuchukov's story and Eitzen's artwork providing a both verbal and visual stark contrast between Hussein's initial contentment within his family and village and the unhappiness that Hussein, his family, and his whole community feel and experience when persecution arrives and takes root. And yes, in the author's note, Kyuchukov explains that when he lived in Bulgaria in the mid-1980s, the Bulgarian government persecuted minorities and insisted that the one million Muslims living there choose Christian names, and that until that time, until the age of twenty-one, the author's name was indeed Hussein, a very good and appreciated author's note for My Name Was Hussein (although for me as an adult, I do kind of wish that there were more expanded specifics on the Bulgarian Roma provided in the author's note, since I do know that not all Roma are Muslim and that Hussein and his family are obviously no longer nomadic or semi-nomadic either). Four stars for My Name Was Hussein and that by using a child's perspective with simple language, short sentences combined with realistically expressive artwork, Hristo Kyuchukov and Allan Eitzen do an excellent job of showing the personal cost of political and ethnically-based oppression in words and pictures that are accessible and while necessarily disturbing also not exaggeratedly and horribly so, and just to point out that if My Name Was Hussein would include supplemental details on the Roma (see above) my rating for My Name was Hussein would definitely be five and not four stars.
Also and furthermore, and something I have rather specifically noticed regarding My Name Was Hussein because we are doing a food and food preparation theme in the Fiction Club for the Children's Literature group, while in the first part of My Name Was Hussein, Hussein's text with much loving detail describes the many different and delicious foods prepared by his family (mostly by his mother and by his grandmother) to break the Ramadan fast and that food is clearly shown as a cultural and also a familial bond of joyfulness and connection, well, as soon as the soldiers have arrived, there are no more celebratory descriptions of food associated with Islam and Romani culture being offered and presented by Hristo Kyuchukov in My Name Was Hussein, almost as though in the second part of young Hussein's narration, after the family has been forced to choose Christian names and to in public neither practice their Muslim faith nor speak their Romani tongue, food does no longer have that positive sense of connection and of joy and thus just seems to textually mostly disappear as a topic (except for Hussein briefly lamenting in the second part of My Name Was Hussein that not being allowed to visit his with grandparents also means not being able to consume, to taste his grandmother's delicious puddings).
Now and finally, regarding Allan Eitzen's accompanying illustrations for My Name Was Hussein, his pictures are clean and expressive ink drawings washed with watercolours in shades of grey, but also nicely visually being warmed with and by brighter colours, and with both Hristo Kyuchukov's story and Eitzen's artwork providing a both verbal and visual stark contrast between Hussein's initial contentment within his family and village and the unhappiness that Hussein, his family, and his whole community feel and experience when persecution arrives and takes root. And yes, in the author's note, Kyuchukov explains that when he lived in Bulgaria in the mid-1980s, the Bulgarian government persecuted minorities and insisted that the one million Muslims living there choose Christian names, and that until that time, until the age of twenty-one, the author's name was indeed Hussein, a very good and appreciated author's note for My Name Was Hussein (although for me as an adult, I do kind of wish that there were more expanded specifics on the Bulgarian Roma provided in the author's note, since I do know that not all Roma are Muslim and that Hussein and his family are obviously no longer nomadic or semi-nomadic either). Four stars for My Name Was Hussein and that by using a child's perspective with simple language, short sentences combined with realistically expressive artwork, Hristo Kyuchukov and Allan Eitzen do an excellent job of showing the personal cost of political and ethnically-based oppression in words and pictures that are accessible and while necessarily disturbing also not exaggeratedly and horribly so, and just to point out that if My Name Was Hussein would include supplemental details on the Roma (see above) my rating for My Name was Hussein would definitely be five and not four stars.
May 31, 2018
It's an interesting short picture book. The main amazement of the story comes at the end of it. The drawings are praiseworthy and they say much more about the emotion of the story than the word itself.
July 7, 2013
“My Name Was Hussein” is about a Muslim boy and his family who are forced to change their name when an army invades their village.
After I read this book, I did not like it. I liked the first half of the book but did not like the latter half. The story began by explaining the richness of the Muslim faith including great detail about Ramadan. It ended with the main characters’ village being invaded by an army. It almost seemed like two distinct stories in one book. However, at the end of the book the author explained that the story told happened to him. Once I read that, the story held more significance for me.
The book is culturally specific. The book discusses Ramadan at length including what it is and the traditions attached to the holiday. I enjoyed reading about that very much because I do not know specifically what Ramadan entails. As I was reading it, I thought it would be a great book to share with my students. They too are not familiar with Ramadan. Most of my students are Hispanic and have had limited or no exposure to other religions. Because the first half of the book is so culturally specific, I thought it would be a great way to inform my students about another culture.
The book is also culturally authentic. Although the book seemed a little disjointed to me when I initially read it, a person of the Muslim faith would likely be able to relate to the issue discussed in the second half of the book. The second half of the book is about how Muslims were forced to relinquish their birth name in order to take a Christian name. They were stripped of their identity. A person of the Muslim faith would likely know first hand of this (what I would consider) atrocity or have known family or friends whom this had happened to. The story is authentically written because not only is the author Muslim, he is the main character in the book. The story is written from an insider perspective.
My rating for this book five stars. As a teacher, this book provides great information for primary students about Ramadan. It is also the catalyst for a discussion on the importance of cultural identity.
After I read this book, I did not like it. I liked the first half of the book but did not like the latter half. The story began by explaining the richness of the Muslim faith including great detail about Ramadan. It ended with the main characters’ village being invaded by an army. It almost seemed like two distinct stories in one book. However, at the end of the book the author explained that the story told happened to him. Once I read that, the story held more significance for me.
The book is culturally specific. The book discusses Ramadan at length including what it is and the traditions attached to the holiday. I enjoyed reading about that very much because I do not know specifically what Ramadan entails. As I was reading it, I thought it would be a great book to share with my students. They too are not familiar with Ramadan. Most of my students are Hispanic and have had limited or no exposure to other religions. Because the first half of the book is so culturally specific, I thought it would be a great way to inform my students about another culture.
The book is also culturally authentic. Although the book seemed a little disjointed to me when I initially read it, a person of the Muslim faith would likely be able to relate to the issue discussed in the second half of the book. The second half of the book is about how Muslims were forced to relinquish their birth name in order to take a Christian name. They were stripped of their identity. A person of the Muslim faith would likely know first hand of this (what I would consider) atrocity or have known family or friends whom this had happened to. The story is authentically written because not only is the author Muslim, he is the main character in the book. The story is written from an insider perspective.
My rating for this book five stars. As a teacher, this book provides great information for primary students about Ramadan. It is also the catalyst for a discussion on the importance of cultural identity.
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March 21, 2018This book was poorly organized, and it was quite the missed opportunity. At first it's a run of the mill, tired "I am a minority in some way and here is some stilted language about my customs" book, and then all of a sudden there's an actual narrative and things get interesting. Obviously books like these always have the challenge and choice to make as far as whether you want to cater to audiences that think everyone not like them is different and needs lots of exposition or whether you actually want to write something literary, and this book suffers from trying to do both at the same time. Had the organization of the book been such that the narrative naturally folded in some of the explanation of customs, it would have been readable. But as it stands, it's really fairly terrible as a book, which is a shame because it's an interesting story.
June 4, 2010
One thing that makes this book interesting is the way the layout of every page is presented. The author forces the reader to focus on the pictures and not the words. All of the words on every page are small and placed in the corners of the page on a white background the eyes are automatically focused on the pictures when the pages are turned and every page is a double spread an indication of the author’s intention to show the importance of his story. Something else that caught my eye is the way the illustrator used colors to support the text. Although the colors and texture are dull, the colors on the pages prior to the soldiers appearing are peaceful, greens, purple and blue warm welcoming colors; however, after the soldiers arrive the colors change, the greens are now dark and drab and the clothing of the family change to dark gray or black these colors symbolizes depression, sadness, and hopelessness, representing a shift from the warm feeling of the home earlier in the text where pictures of the table filled with food, family gathered together to eat and unity and peace in the home to discord, uncertainty and disorder. Another thing that I noticed is that on every page prior to the invasion there are a lot of circles one again representing unity and wholeness as a people. After the invasion the shapes are jagged, tanks, rifles, trees, even a lumpy chair is shown in the house these things are displayed to show uneasiness, uncertainty and lost of direction. Over all I think that the book is pretty good.
March 7, 2019
It isn't often that a 32 page AR 2.4 picture book will haunt you after you read the last page. Especially a book with short simple sentences, that is poorly organized and reads like two separate nearly disjointed stories, but alas this book has stayed with me for months and upon rereading it to write this review, the images and empathy and reflections stirred have not lessened. This is an important book to read, to think about, and to return to sporadically as your children and their understanding of the larger world grows and evolves.
Hussein is a Roma, or a gypsy living in a small village in Bulgaria. Their ancestors migrated many years ago from India and they are Muslim. Hussein and his family love Ramadan and the delicious smells of food and warmth of grandparents and family all year round, but particularly during the blessed month.
Eid is the best, with family and fun and new clothes. Hussein loves his life and his name. It was his grandfather's name and his grandfather's grandfather's name. But then one day all that changes.
Tanks and soldiers with guns come to their village and close that mosque and tear up their identity cards and tell all the minorities that they must choose Christian names and give up their culture and identities.
Hussein and his family do not want to give up Islam and their names and their traditions, but they don't know what to do. Feeling like they have no choice they change their names and Hussein asks the reader at the end if you would call him Hussein or Harry?
The last page of the book is an author's note, and tells that this is based on his own life story. That in the 1980s Bulgarian minorities were forced to change their identities. That more than one million Muslims, including Roma, Turks and other minorities were forced to choose Christian names and that until he was 22 years old, his name was Hussein.
The illustrations are illuminating to the images that the simple words discuss. Truly they are a powerful and integral part of the story. The women wear hijab and the use of color to set the tone is spot on. The book is hardbound and the 8x10 size allow the pictures to be enjoyed fully.
The book published in 2004, was not easy to find which is unfortunate as it really sheds light on a recent history not known in the US at all, and one that should be known and remembered. The first part of the book reads like a Ramadan story detailing iftaar and Eid and how Ramadan is celebrated by this culture, but the second half goes back to Ramadan and how it is different with the soldiers and the pressure to give up who they are. There aren't a lot of details about who the soldiers are or why they have come or what they are going to do to the Romas, but the fact that in recent history and this was what people were faced with, should be a powerful reminder to us all at how fragile this world is and make us appreciate that we aren't forced to make such a decision.
Hussein is a Roma, or a gypsy living in a small village in Bulgaria. Their ancestors migrated many years ago from India and they are Muslim. Hussein and his family love Ramadan and the delicious smells of food and warmth of grandparents and family all year round, but particularly during the blessed month.
Eid is the best, with family and fun and new clothes. Hussein loves his life and his name. It was his grandfather's name and his grandfather's grandfather's name. But then one day all that changes.
Tanks and soldiers with guns come to their village and close that mosque and tear up their identity cards and tell all the minorities that they must choose Christian names and give up their culture and identities.
Hussein and his family do not want to give up Islam and their names and their traditions, but they don't know what to do. Feeling like they have no choice they change their names and Hussein asks the reader at the end if you would call him Hussein or Harry?
The last page of the book is an author's note, and tells that this is based on his own life story. That in the 1980s Bulgarian minorities were forced to change their identities. That more than one million Muslims, including Roma, Turks and other minorities were forced to choose Christian names and that until he was 22 years old, his name was Hussein.
The illustrations are illuminating to the images that the simple words discuss. Truly they are a powerful and integral part of the story. The women wear hijab and the use of color to set the tone is spot on. The book is hardbound and the 8x10 size allow the pictures to be enjoyed fully.
The book published in 2004, was not easy to find which is unfortunate as it really sheds light on a recent history not known in the US at all, and one that should be known and remembered. The first part of the book reads like a Ramadan story detailing iftaar and Eid and how Ramadan is celebrated by this culture, but the second half goes back to Ramadan and how it is different with the soldiers and the pressure to give up who they are. There aren't a lot of details about who the soldiers are or why they have come or what they are going to do to the Romas, but the fact that in recent history and this was what people were faced with, should be a powerful reminder to us all at how fragile this world is and make us appreciate that we aren't forced to make such a decision.
October 9, 2017
Summary
Hussein is a young boy who tells the reader about the traditions of his family and about their life in Bulgaria. His story turns sad however when he shares about the `invasion his country underwent and how he and his family were forced to change their names.
Evaluation
The author does a good job of writing in simple sentences for younger readers and includes plenty of Islamic vocabulary to describe Hussein's culture. Islamic traditions are also explained directly and clearly as the child is the narrator. Hussein talks about Ramadan, food, music, and praying at the mosque.
Teaching Tips
I think this would be a good book for students to read independently or in a guided reading activity. Students could do a think-share-pair activity in class where they could talk about how they would feel and react if someone forced them to change their identity because it wasn't the same as theirs.
Hussein is a young boy who tells the reader about the traditions of his family and about their life in Bulgaria. His story turns sad however when he shares about the `invasion his country underwent and how he and his family were forced to change their names.
Evaluation
The author does a good job of writing in simple sentences for younger readers and includes plenty of Islamic vocabulary to describe Hussein's culture. Islamic traditions are also explained directly and clearly as the child is the narrator. Hussein talks about Ramadan, food, music, and praying at the mosque.
Teaching Tips
I think this would be a good book for students to read independently or in a guided reading activity. Students could do a think-share-pair activity in class where they could talk about how they would feel and react if someone forced them to change their identity because it wasn't the same as theirs.
December 4, 2018
Hussein is a little boy growing up in a Roma (aka "gypsy") community. He is raised in a happy and loving Muslim home but one day the government barges in and tells his family they are to deny their culture and take up Christian names. Hussein shares with readers the events that led to him eventually being known as "Harry".
Based on the author's own similar experiences, this is SUCH an important book to introduce young readers to the dangers of xenophobia! Movingly illustrated as well!
Based on the author's own similar experiences, this is SUCH an important book to introduce young readers to the dangers of xenophobia! Movingly illustrated as well!
September 2, 2018
OK story. It features Bulgaria, which we don't have a lot of stories about (since my nephew was adopted from Bulgaria, I notice). It would be a good tie in for gently introducing religious and racial diversity.
June 25, 2021
We learn about Hussein, his family, his culture, and his traditions, but then the soldiers come and tell Hussein's family to forget who they are. They change their names to stay alive, but they will always remember themselves. Little dark, but these stories are also needed.
December 6, 2017
Sweet book about a kid and culture.
October 6, 2019
That is interesting based on true story of muslim in east Europe that i didn’t know they lived there!!
August 13, 2021
Semi-autobiographical in the inspiration. Simple text, but powerful story. Roma Muslims in Bulgaria in the 80s during the campaign to re-name all of the ethnic minorities.
Also talks about Ramadan.
Also talks about Ramadan.
October 20, 2022
This book had no business being so cute and so sad.
August 25, 2009
This book is based on a true story.
We get to know Hussein who is a muslim living in Bulgaria in the mid 80's with his parents and little brother. He is originally from India.
He talks about his religion, and how they celebrate Ramadan. He also lets us know that his family has a special name for him; "Hughsy".
One day soldiers come to their village and won't let anyone go to the mosque. Both Hussein and his family are afraid. Then the soldiers come to their house demanding they go to the mayor's office. Here they are told to rename themeselves with Christian names. Of course, they did not want to change their names, but they had to.
Hussein is now known as Harry. Both in school and on the streets his family calls him Harry. But at home they still call him "Hughsy". What would we call him? His name was Hussein.
This story has many themes, not only of identity, but also religion, free speech and independence. If I were to present this in my kindergarten I would probably prefer to do it for the ages 5 and 6. This is a serious topic, and soldiers/war is not an easy thing to talk about with children. I would tell them that every person deserve to do and be whatever he/she wants (as long as he/she doesn't hurt other people), and that you can be proud of any religion you may believe in. And last, but not least: Don't let anybody tell you that you are someone you're not and make them change your name and identity.
We get to know Hussein who is a muslim living in Bulgaria in the mid 80's with his parents and little brother. He is originally from India.
He talks about his religion, and how they celebrate Ramadan. He also lets us know that his family has a special name for him; "Hughsy".
One day soldiers come to their village and won't let anyone go to the mosque. Both Hussein and his family are afraid. Then the soldiers come to their house demanding they go to the mayor's office. Here they are told to rename themeselves with Christian names. Of course, they did not want to change their names, but they had to.
Hussein is now known as Harry. Both in school and on the streets his family calls him Harry. But at home they still call him "Hughsy". What would we call him? His name was Hussein.
This story has many themes, not only of identity, but also religion, free speech and independence. If I were to present this in my kindergarten I would probably prefer to do it for the ages 5 and 6. This is a serious topic, and soldiers/war is not an easy thing to talk about with children. I would tell them that every person deserve to do and be whatever he/she wants (as long as he/she doesn't hurt other people), and that you can be proud of any religion you may believe in. And last, but not least: Don't let anybody tell you that you are someone you're not and make them change your name and identity.
December 3, 2016
My Name Was Hussein by Hristo Kyuchukov is about a boy and his Muslim family living in a village in Bulgaria. The boy talks about his families traditions, most that comes from Islam, but his family is also of the Romani people. The Romani people were known as gypsies in Europe, but they're roots are from Iran. He speaks of Ramadan and how they celebrate it, and how his family functions on a daily basis. A soldier knocks on their door and the Government makes them get new Christian names. The author also leaves a note at the end saying this was an occurrence in post World War 2 Bulgaria, and hopes he makes people more aware of what happened.
I think this is a great selection for a realistic fiction book for children. It explains traditions outside of the American culture, and leaves a better understanding of the Muslim people that have been the object of prejudice since the early 2000's. The explanation of the traditions are accurate and it can show children the values that other cultures have. The plot explains the families situation from the child's point of view, and I felt the author explained things well to a child- especially such a complex situation of government repression.
I think this is a great selection for a realistic fiction book for children. It explains traditions outside of the American culture, and leaves a better understanding of the Muslim people that have been the object of prejudice since the early 2000's. The explanation of the traditions are accurate and it can show children the values that other cultures have. The plot explains the families situation from the child's point of view, and I felt the author explained things well to a child- especially such a complex situation of government repression.
October 20, 2012
This narrative tells of the author's personal experience of growing up in Bulgaria as a member of a Roma family (or gypsy.) He remembers when the army came and he and his family were not allowed to celebrate Ramadan but instead were forced to change their names into Christian names.
When using this book in the classroom, I would use it to help the students understand geography by looking up Hussein's country on the map. Also, we would discuss how it must feel to have your name taken away from you.
The author takes a very personal thing that happened to him and writes a thought-provoking story that a child can understand (ex. "On our way home my father said," I am not a Christian. I do not want a Christian name." The illustrator draws a happy tight-knit family in the beginning and a very sad and lonely boy with his family in the end.
When using this book in the classroom, I would use it to help the students understand geography by looking up Hussein's country on the map. Also, we would discuss how it must feel to have your name taken away from you.
The author takes a very personal thing that happened to him and writes a thought-provoking story that a child can understand (ex. "On our way home my father said," I am not a Christian. I do not want a Christian name." The illustrator draws a happy tight-knit family in the beginning and a very sad and lonely boy with his family in the end.
October 21, 2013
This book is by far one of my favorites. A true story about a young boy names Hussein who was from the Roma family and he was Muslim. It talks about all of his religious traditions, for example how he loves to go to his grandmas to eat rice and get new clothes on the holidays. But one day this all changes when soldiers come to his town and force him and his parents to choose Christian names. This was a rational plan during the 1980's. Hussein was forced to change his name to Harry. The tone the author used is perfect, you can feel the sadness when he had to change his name. It's an amazing read, yet also educational. Loved it. Two thumbs up. !!
October 29, 2013
Read by: Annie
Genre: Multicultural/Autobiography
Author: Hristo Kyuchukov
Illustrator: Allan Eitzen
Interest Level: 1-5
Grade Level Equivalent: not available
Hussein was a young Roma (gypsy) boy living in Bulgaria. He and his family were Muslim and celebrated all the holidays together with food, new clothes, traditions, and friends and relatives. His name means "handsome" in Arabic, and his family calls him Hughsy; he is very proud of his name. Then one days soldiers come and persecute his people, forcing them to assume Christian names - Hussein becomes Harry. In the back there is an author's note - this really happened to him. It's very powerful and very sad.
Genre: Multicultural/Autobiography
Author: Hristo Kyuchukov
Illustrator: Allan Eitzen
Interest Level: 1-5
Grade Level Equivalent: not available
Hussein was a young Roma (gypsy) boy living in Bulgaria. He and his family were Muslim and celebrated all the holidays together with food, new clothes, traditions, and friends and relatives. His name means "handsome" in Arabic, and his family calls him Hughsy; he is very proud of his name. Then one days soldiers come and persecute his people, forcing them to assume Christian names - Hussein becomes Harry. In the back there is an author's note - this really happened to him. It's very powerful and very sad.
May 12, 2009
The book is based on the true story of the author's life. Hussein is a young Roma (Gypsy) Muslim boy who lives in Bulgaria. The book talks about Muslim holidays and what they do during these holidays. Hussein is very proud of his name, which in Arabic means "handsome", and a lot of men in his family have the same name. Everything is good for him, until the soldiers come and the Roma people do not have any freedom. The Communist government makes them to change their Muslim names to Christian ones.
December 2, 2016
I got this book out of the library for my five year old, who's interested in world religions. She liked it but the story was a little complex for her. But my seven year old got hold of it and was riveted. She walked away announcing, "That's not fair! What a horrible story!" which I think is exactly the point. It's hard to find intelligent kids' book that encourage awareness of big issues like religious oppression. This story makes that theme accessible. I wish there were more of them.
October 28, 2013
I found this book to be touching, It showed how differently our country is from others. we sometime take the little things for granted. being able to choose what religion we are, or what name we give our children. A whole family had no choice but to change their names because their government demanded it, and the army enforced it.I WAS It was sad.
December 3, 2013
This book was about a family who lived in Bulgaria and were of the Muslim religion. In the book, the family was celebrating Ramadan when soldiers came into their town. The family had to adopt Christian names, even though they were not Christians. I would use this in my classroom to talk about about Muslim holidays, like Ramadan.
September 25, 2014
This is a true story based on the authors own life experiences growing up Muslim in a small Bulgarian village in the 1980s. One day communist solders took over Hussein’s village, closed the mosque and forced Muslim families to give up the names and choose Christian ones. My Name was Hussein is a sorrowful tale of religious persecution that puts a face to one of its many victims.
September 29, 2009
This is an informative story about the Roma ("Gypsies"). The story is told from the point of view of a young boy who shares his cultural identity through family history and religious and cultural traditions even as he struggles to understand why persecution stole an important part of it: his name.
August 27, 2010
This is one POWERFUL picture book. It truly gave me goosebumps and intrigued me. Made me ask a lot of questions, and wonder. I'd love to own this book to share with my future children as well as my students. Overall a GREAT book!!
May 15, 2011
Great multi-cultural (takes place in Bulgaria) read for gradeschoolers to familiarize kids with what customs a Muslim has, and just what religious prejudice is (Hussein now lives outside traditional Muslim territory).
March 30, 2014
This book was a great multicultural book portraying a positive, honest view rather than the not always heard view of the Arabic, Muslim culture. It allows readers to feel empathetic to this group for the misery they faced. I was surprised to find that Hussein means handsome.
June 15, 2016
This book was not only easy to read, it was also very educational. I learned a lot about the Romani culture and how oppressed they were. I enjoyed reading this book and I would love sharing it with a classroom.
December 21, 2014
A beautifully told sad story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews