Sophia's Journal

by Najiyah Diana Maxfield

Her cell phone is dead and she has no idea where she is.



After a bad fall, 16 year-old Sophia Ahmad is washed down the Kansas River - all the way back to 1857, just before the Civil War. A 21st century girl, she adjusts to cow milking, candle making and rabbit hunting alright, but the realization that slavery and the mistreatment of Native Americans are commonplace in her adopted community stops her in her tracks. As a young man waits to hear about his marriage proposal, Sophia joins forces with her friend Abby to meet oppression head-on.

Genres: Fiction, Islam, Historical Fiction

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2008

Reviews

[A.M. Ramzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I was desperate for as a teenager, original plot, strong female heroine, educational but not boring, moral message without sounding didactic. It's about a Muslim girl but it's not in your face. It's subtle, well written and a thoroughly enjoyable read, for children and adults!

[Lys Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great read! I really enjoyed learning about Muslim culture and learning about 1857 through the perspective of a teenage girl from 2013. I actually ended up reading this book all in one sitting (instead of doing homework, of course).

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book belongs in the hands of every American young person (and adults will like it too!). It makes being a Muslim normative and shows a real life full of adventure and surprise. Not cheesy or didactic. Order from daybreak.rabata.org to get the new edition. Love love love this book!

Now in 4 twin cities schools- is it in yours?

[Afshan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant YA story! Completely changing the narrative of Muslim girls in the fabric of American history and modern day life. Can't wait for more by this author so I can introduce my daughters to more religious fiction that isn't preachy and keeps the reader entertained, learning, and coming back for more!

[Noor Saadeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go. Read. For you. For your kids! History and good Islamic teachings. Interesting premise although bit of a stretch initially but could not put it down!

[Dian Zulkarnain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! ❤️ If you're looking for clean, positive literature for your children in the household, this one should definitely be high on your list. It contains numerous positive lessons and the passages can spark countless discussions on a variety of topics: history, faith, family values, life then vs now, the meaning of manhood/womanhood, handling romance, overcoming obstacles, and so much more.

Plus (might you say, the best part?), you can look up "Sophia's Journal: Teacher's Guide" on Rabata.org website ("Curriculum" > "Women's History Month") and see for yourself the 60-page curriculum document that Rabata has prepared as teacher's companion for classroom activities. It's loaded with lesson plans and fun ideas. How awesome is that?!

Even though I'm in my mid-20s, reading this book had me deeply immersed in it and had me relating to it in so many ways (really wish I could elaborate more but not wanting to give any spoilers! Go experience it for yourself). The 16-year-old Sophia (sometimes I forgot her age) felt to me like a wonderful, endearing, realistic character who was as though a friend I never had or, in her times of wisdom, like a big sister who can help guide me to my way forward.

I purchased it at a Rabata Malaysia event last January. Just finished it today. Read it in one whole day! Well, technically I read it in two days but I started it in the evening of the first day and today I finished it by afternoon, so, yeah you could say I read it in one day. A page turner that kept me dying to find out what happens next! I couldn't even stop for meals in between without itching to go back to it. Such a wonderful feel-good, heartwarming adventure novel. A good one for all ages!

[aqsa 🍉 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could read this book 100 times and never tire of it. It’s truly so heartwarming and gripping and beautiful. It’s written for middle-high schoolers, and that’s when I first read it, but I’ve reread it at least 10 times since and would read it again anytime. I have a fondness for it that is rare and reserved for only the best of what I have read in my life. That probably has somewhat to do with nostalgia, since it reminds me of when I was younger and all I would do was read. And it was 1 of about 10 books on my kindle that I would read over and over again when I had no other books with me. But I know if I read it again right now, it would still be marvelous.

[Serene In Wonderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago and still think of it often. I stayed up late reading it and remember being so PLEASED Muslim kids can grow up with books like this. I'd have loved it.

Historical fiction with a touch of (unexplained) time travel. The main character is a beautiful example of a practicing teen navigating her strange situation.

Content warnings:
Super squeaky clean and wholesome. Extent of romance is a crush that is handled well. Otherwise nothing that would make the read inappropriate for a pre-teen.

[nusaybah · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Well written historical fiction, actually manages to do a timeslip properly
- Characters are extremely realistic and well rounded
- Storyline makes sense and is beautifully paced
- Good Muslim representation
- Nicely done side-romance (subtle, non-toxic)
- Taught me a lot about American history (but then again, my knowledge was extremely minimal)

Basically a very nice book!

[Cheryl Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend gifted me with Sophia's Journal, I absolutely adore this book. Besides being very intriguing , Najiyah Maxfield has such a way of bringing the Characters and story to life that I could hardly put this book down from start to finish. Great book!

[Emaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first added this book to my reading list, I didn’t realize it was a teen novel. However, I saw a Goodreads review that mentioned this book could work for adults too.

Sophia tended to worry a lot, even before the time travel, but I’d say she adjusted well. As the story went on, I admired her determination, sense of justice, and kind heart.

There was more telling than showing in many parts, but the story as a whole captured Sophia’s feelings about her new surroundings well, from the lifestyle to the discrimination. Reading about how these people lived reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie books (I haven’t seen the TV series).

TW: racism and discrimination, slavery, racial slurs

[Snakestar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a teenage muslimah who lives in Kansas City. When she is on a bike ride with her family she falls in the river and when she comes out she is in 1857. She has to become stronger, braver, and learn many new things. After a while she learns to love this life that she has bean transported to and wanting to go back becomes habit. A VERY SMALL part of this is a little bit like an acquaintance.

[Britnyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids were reluctant listeners to begin while I read this aloud. We enjoyed the story & the idea of time travel. My daughter would like to insist this is a true story because “everyone goes back in time” 😉 The story is thought provoking in many ways: moral conflict about slavery, racism & religious discrimination during modern day and in 1857.

[Shamekh Sakarneh]

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[Lana Yassin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! I read this in high school and still remember how interesting it was.

[Khalil Abdul-Latif · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book since I realized after reading Far From Home and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry that I have in interest in books related to African (American) history and slavery. I was a little disappointed when starting this book because it didn't grab me from the start, but I guess many books have a slow beginning. It took some reading into before I found it interesting and wanted to actually finish Sophia's Journal without too long of a break. There were also a few minor typos that distracted me a bit. Other than these 2 reasons, I enjoyed this book.

The combination of time traveling, history, discrimination, Islamic concepts, etc. made this short story interesting and worth reading. I loved the way Sophia explained to Abbey the concept of the death of a child (80) and slavery (90) in Islam, the story of Prophet Moses' journey with a wise man and realizing that we do not always know the (good) reason behind every event (81-83). Around chapter 19, the story got really interesting with some surprises and quick turn of events. There were a few funny bits I liked and I felt the epilogue ended the book nicely.

I recommend Sophia's Journal to teenagers and adults, especially fans of (American and African) history and readers who want a fun story on time traveling!

[Matthew Moes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Congratulations Sr. Najiyah. I really enjoyed it. Well written. I hope every Muslim school gets a copy for their library. You should put some study guides with it too and market as a middles school teaching unit. Look forward to what comes next!

[Rand Shahrour · Rating 5 out of 5]

MashaAllah, in every sense of the word.
I am 18 and once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. One can not but truly appreciate how strong the main character is in her identity.
The book is very well crafted and the ending is impressively elegant.