Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
May 20, 2022/in Fiction 14+ Secondary/Adult /by Angie Hill
BfK Rating:
BfK 254 May 2022
Reviewer: Sue McGonigle
ISBN: 978-1771649971
Price: £11.99
Publisher: Greystone Books
Genre: Fiction
Age Range: 14+ Secondary/Adult
Length: 256pp
Buy the Book

Muddy People

Author: Sara El Sayed

A memoir of the author, Muddy People tells Sara’s story, as a young Muslim girl growing up in Brisbane Australia, having emigrated from Alexandria in Egypt at the age of six.

She recounts her experiences at school and at home. The title refers both to the use of the word ‘muddy’ as a racist insult and also the lack of clarity or ‘muddiness’ around her family’s feelings, motivations and behaviour which throughout the course of the book she tries to unravel.

At school Sara struggles to fit in, make friends and later boyfriends. She quickly realises she is different, not only in appearance but also in terms of what she is culturally permitted to do. The reader lives these feelings and the coping mechanisms she develops with her. For example, at the age of seven she finds herself under scrutiny when she undresses for a swimming gala and makes excuses for her different appearance. Years later she decides to assume her friend Carly is being ironic when she chooses ‘Australia should not allow Muslims into the country’ as her topic in a class debate.

The book is cleverly organised around 23 rules related to culture and religion which her mother, grandmother and in particular her father expect her to keep. They include ‘good girls don’t wear bikinis’ and ‘no moving out without a husband.’ Lots of things are ‘haram’ or forbidden. Anecdotes are described to illustrate each of the rules.

These chapters are interspersed with shorter chapters focused on her Mama and Baba.  The time scale moves from past to present as she seeks to unravel what lies behind her parents’ divorce and at the same time explore her own identity and sense of self. Her love for her father, his struggle to fit in and lead his life obeying the rules of his religion and her respect for her mother and grandmother shine through.

Imbued with warmth and humour, this is an honest, moving and skilfully written coming of age memoir.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Angie Hill http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Angie Hill2022-05-20 08:00:362022-05-20 08:00:37Muddy People

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

Download BfK Issue Bfk 272 May 2025
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Choice and reading relevant to their interests = reading for pleasure

June 11, 2025

Ross Montgomery wins the 2025 FCBG Children’s Book Award

June 7, 2025

Michael Rosen and Emily Gravett IBBY UK nominations for Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2026

June 4, 2025

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2025 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
Cuckoo Summer Finding Jupiter
Scroll to top