Sara is six when her extended family moves from Egypt to Australia. Because they arrive only a few months after 9/11, as a Muslim, she encounters racism head-on. As the years go by, she knows she doesn’t live up to the expectations set by her father. She’s not great at praying, and she’s glad she doesn’t wear a hijab. She uses language she probably shouldn’t use and likes to look at cute boys—especially White ones. This memoir spans her growing-up years, exploring the trials of being a teen, all the more challenging as someone who looks different from most of her peers. Language and situations are frank, with items from bidets to tampons part of the narrative. First published in Australia, Arabic words and terms associated with Islam will cause fewer problems for readers than some of the Aussie words, which aren’t always “translated” for the Canadian audience.

Cautions / Content Warnings: Realistic language and occasional irreverence about her religion.
Images: A single, important b&w photograph
Bibliography: No
Index: No

Source: Books BC - BC Books for Schools

Sara El Sayed's profile page

Sara El Sayed is a writer and Sessional Academic working at the Queensland University of Technology. Sara is a current recipient of a Queensland Writers Fellowship and was shortlisted for the 2020 Queensland Premier's Young Publishers and Writers Award and the 2019 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers. She lives in Brisbane, Australia.

“Heartwarming, humorous … About growing up as an outsider and reckoning with privilege, Muddy People is a touching memoir by a woman who made a life of her own while still reflecting on her family’s wishes.”
—Foreword Reviews

“In this sparkling debut, El Sayed delivers a heartfelt tribute to her family via the story of her experience living as an immigrant in Australia.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Muddy People is a reflection of moving between the lines that are drawn for us—as children, as girls, as migrants—as we come of age.”
—The Guardian

“An important portrayal of growing self-determination.”
—The Saturday Paper

“Big-hearted, sweetly funny, and vulnerable, Sara El Sayed’s Muddy People chronicles growing up in an Egyptian Muslim immigrant family. El Sayed’s colorful and witty stories of culture shock, first crushes, and brutal incidents with racism will affect readers deeply. A delightful and moving debut.”
—Lindsay Wong, author of The Woo-Woo and My Summer of Love And Misfortune

“Beyond her delightful style, I laughed and eye-rolled in complete understanding of the stories she tells of her immigrant family; and the struggles—not unlike mine, of being an Arab immigrant in a Western nation, straddling two opposing cultures in an attempt to emerge with your own voice and identity. [...] El Sayed’s voice is a much-needed addition to the conversation we must all be having right now.”
—Ayser Salman, author of The Wrong End of the Table

“By turns heartfelt, bitingly funny, and emotionally devastating, Muddy People is not your average coming-of-age tale. I loved this memoir of a young Egyptian-Australian girl growing up Muslim. It's a clear-eyed, fierce debut; every word rings true.”
—Nadine Jolie Courtney, author of All-American Muslim Girl

“Funny, gutsy, and full of heart, Sara El Sayed swings open the door to her fiery, lovable family and invites us into the life of a Muslim girl growing up in a home where traditions and rules are sacred and ready to be broken.”
—Carla Funk, author of Mennonite Valley Girl and Every Little Scrap and Wonder

“Written with elegant lyricism, compelling urgency and a dark sense of humour, Muddy People is an impressive debut [that] reflects El Sayed’s journey of self-realisation, of understanding what it means to be a migrant millennial.”—Books+Publishing

“It takes courage to write a memoir, but more than that it takes heart, and Sara El Sayed’s heart is generous and expansive. I gasped in recognition, I teared up in solidarity and I exhaled in relief—finally, a personal story that reflects so much that is familiar but is rarely found on bookshelves … Sara El Sayed has written a book both confident and delicate that will leave you eagerly await- ing her next. Read this!”
—Mona Eltahawy, author of The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls

“A nuanced, engaging and lyrical account of what it means to be Other in Australia, with impeccably drawn characters. Sara El Sayed is an enchanting and refreshing new voice in the Australian literary landscape.”
—Maxine Beneba Clarke, author of The Hate Race

“A beautifully told story of parents and children, pain and loss, and the love that binds people together. Told with real heart and charm, it will keep you riveted from the first page.”
—Rohan Wilson, author of The Roving Party

“Fresh, vibrant and dynamic. This is the kind of mud that will dirty your hands and cleanse your spirit.”
—Michael Mohammed Ahmad, author of The Lebs

“Both cosmopolitan and Australian at the same time, Muddy People is like the best kind of cake: warm, sweet, a bit nutty—and made with so much love.”
—Alice Pung, author of Unpolished Gem

“A tender and vulnerable debut from a rising star in Australian literature.”
—Readings Monthly

a reflection of moving between the lines that are drawn for us—as children, as girls, as migrants—as we come of age.”
—The Guardian

“An important portrayal of growing self-determination.”
—The Saturday Paper

“Big-hearted, sweetly funny, and vulnerable, Sara El Sayed’s Muddy People chronicles growing up in an Egyptian Muslim immigrant family. El Sayed’s colorful and witty stories of culture shock, first crushes, and brutal incidents with racism will affect readers deeply. A delightful and moving debut.”
—Lindsay Wong, author of The Woo-Woo and My Summer of Love And Misfortune

“Beyond her delightful style, I laughed and eye-rolled in complete understanding of the stories she tells of her immigrant family; and the struggles—not unlike mine, of being an Arab immigrant in a Western nation, straddling two opposing cultures in an attempt to emerge with your own voice and identity. [...] El Sayed’s voice is a much-needed addition to the conversation we must all be having right now.”
—Ayser Salman, author of The Wrong End of the Table

“By turns heartfelt, bitingly funny, and emotionally devastating, Muddy People is not your average coming-of-age tale. I loved this memoir of a young Egyptian-Australian girl growing up Muslim. It's a clear-eyed, fierce debut; every word rings true.”
—Nadine Jolie Courtney, author of All-American Muslim Girl

“Funny, gutsy, and full of heart, Sara El Sayed swings open the door to her fiery, lovable family and invites us into the life of a Muslim girl growing up in a home where traditions and rules are sacred and ready to be broken.”
—Carla Funk, author of Mennonite Valley Girl and Every Little Scrap and Wonder

“Written with elegant lyricism, compelling urgency and a dark sense of humour, Muddy People is an impressive debut [that] reflects El Sayed’s journey of self-realisation, of understanding what it means to be a migrant millennial.”
—Books+Publishing

“It takes courage to write a memoir, but more than that it takes heart, and Sara El Sayed’s heart is generous and expansive. I gasped in recognition, I teared up in solidarity and I exhaled in relief—finally, a personal story that reflects so much that is familiar but is rarely found on bookshelves … Sara El Sayed has written a book both confident and delicate that will leave you eagerly await- ing her next. Read this!”
—Mona Eltahawy, author of The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls

“A nuanced, engaging and lyrical account of what it means to be Other in Australia, with impeccably drawn characters. Sara El Sayed is an enchanting and refreshing new voice in the Australian literary landscape.”
—Maxine Beneba Clarke, author of The Hate Race

“A beautifully told story of parents and children, pain and loss, and the love that binds people together. Told with real heart and charm, it will keep you riveted from the first page.”
—Rohan Wilson, author of The Roving Party

“Fresh, vibrant and dynamic. This is the kind of mud that will dirty your hands and cleanse your spirit.”
—Michael Mohammed Ahmad, author of The Lebs

“Both cosmopolitan and Australian at the same time, Muddy People is like the best kind of cake: warm, sweet, a bit nutty—and made with so much love.”
—Alice Pung, author of Unpolished Gem

“A tender and vulnerable debut from a rising star in Australian literature.”
—Readings Monthly