From the view point of eleven-year-old Safiyyah, comes the true story of the resistance run from The Grand Mosque of Paris in WW2 that saved the lives of hundreds of Jews.
'Safiyyah's War has the soul of a classic & the urgency of a story for our times. A tale of tolerance, unthinkable bravery, and heart-in-mouth true events. I loved this book' - Kiran Millwood Hargrave
'All at once, Safiyyah's War broke my heart and filled me with immense hope. With its unforgettable characters and exquisite storytelling, this really is an extraordinary book' - A F Steadman
'Safiyyah is a protagonist I was rooting for all throughout; a lovely, kind-hearted girl whose story filled me in turns with despair and joy. This book shines through with kindness and empathy at its very heart' - Nizrana Farook
War comes to the streets of Paris and Safiyyah’s life changes for ever.
Her best friend’s family have fled, and the bombing makes her afraid to leave the mosque where she lives. But when her father is arrested by the Nazis for his secret Resistance work, it falls to Safiyyah to run the dangerous errands around the city.
It’s not long before hundreds of persecuted Jews seek sanctuary at the mosque. Can Safiyyah find the courage to enter the treacherous catacombs under Paris and lead the Jews to safety?
SAFIYYAH’S WAR by Hiba Noor Khan has been shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards 2024!
Hiba Noor Khan won the 2024 Jhalak Children's & Young Adult Prize for Safiyyah's War
Creators
Hiba is the author of One Home, Inspiring Inventors Who Are Changing Our Future, The Extraordinary Life of Malala Yousafzai, and the picture book The Little War Cat. Hiba has many strings to her bow: she’s a physics teacher and a recent Global Diplomacy graduate. Hiba is also an activist, she’s worked for The Children’s Society as a Refugee Advocate and for the United Nations IOM on international development projects. She’s also delivered humanitarian aid in Syrian refugee camps and worked on reforestation initiatives in Tanzania.
Reviews
Safiyyah’s War has the soul of a classic & the urgency of a story for our times. A tale of tolerance, unthinkable bravery, and heart-in-mouth true events. I loved this book.
A beautiful and sensitively written story which will stay with me for a very long time
I adored this book in all its intricacies. I cheered for and cried with Safiyyah – a testament to Khan’s talent for storytelling – and enjoyed every word. Safiyyah’s War has the makings of a classic
All at once, Safiyyah’s War broke my heart and filled me with immense hope. With its unforgettable characters and exquisite storytelling, this really is an extraordinary book
Written with rich detail about Paris and Islam, it is a vivid tale of people finding courage, connection and empathy for each other’
The Sunday Times
