Beauty of Your Face: A Novel

Hardback copy is of good quality

Beauty of your Face is a must read! Afaf, the protagonist, faces tragedies, bigotry, forgiveness , friendship, and love. The author, Sahar Mustafah begins the story with Afaf, the principal of a Muslim girl's school going about her normal day at work, when a shooter enters the building.. From there, Mustafah's powerful writing pulls you in with flashbacks of Afaf's life and the hardships she faced growing up . Every chapter was new and exciting, and I never wanted it to end. I ordered 2 books, one for me and one for my daughter. we both finshed our books in one day.I'm looking forward to more books from Mustafah!

This novel is not only beautifully written but it also takes you on an unexpected journey. When you first begin the novel you think that it will focus on the school shooting, but instantly after we are taken to the past and to a girl who is searching for herself. As a Palestinian American I respect the voice that Sahar gives to the main protagonist. She develops a multi dimensional character that anyone of us can relate to and the problems that she faces are all that either one of us has encountered in our own journeys to find our place in this world. I finished this book in a few days and could have finished it in one setting if I had the opportunity. I will definitely share this story with family and friends. It’s one of the rare gems that has a lot to say and makes you feel.

The Beauty of Your Face is the story of a Palestinian-American which is why I wanted to read it. However, as I read the novel, I started to realize that the feelings of inadequacy, contempt for family dynamics, loss, and the burden of lifelong grief are universal. The reader can find parts of Afaf that they can identify with no matter where they’re from. Sahar Mustafah’s writing style transports the reader from reality to another family member of Afaf’s- as though the reader is there as another sibling watching everything happen from the kitchen table. Your heart will break. You will root for Afaf, you’ll see bits of yourself and your parents in her and your own parents, and you’ll walk away realizing that we’re all more similar than different as we navigate this journey of life. I could not put it down, and I read it one day. If you’re looking for a novel that will give you a cathartic experience- this is it. Absolutely stunning work.

I just finished this book over the summer and enjoyed every page. What started off as a narration of a violent incident at a girls’ school triggered the main character to go on a trip down memory lane where we meet characters so relatable and so layered.From heartbreak and helplessness to immense bravery and compassion, the character and her immigrant family go through so much and I enjoyed the journey with them.