AUTHOR GUEST POST & BOOK REVIEW : Maysoon Zayid, The Girl Who Can Can by Dr. Seema Yasmin & Noha Habaieb
ABOUT THE BOOK
Maysoon Zayid was just a girl from New Jersey. She might have sometimes felt like she was in the shadow of her three older sisters, but in her dreams, she was Mimi—an amazing actress, comedian, and dancer! The only problem? People kept telling Maysoon her dreams were impossible!
Achieving her goals certainly wasn’t easy; as a Palestinian Muslim girl born with cerebral palsy, Maysoon faced all sorts of challenges—both physical and societal. But Maysoon didn’t dare give up. Instead, she followed her heart all the way to the screen and stage to become one of America’s first ever women Muslim comedians and an actress on her favorite TV show.
AUTHOR GUEST POST by Dr. Seema Yasmin
Why We Need More Stories About Muslim Brilliance
(or: The Muslims Missing From My Schoolbooks
Or: Muslim Brilliance Built the Modern World: Why Don’t Our Books Show That?)
As a kid, I was taken to an exhibition at the British Science Museum in London which showcased the innovations and discoveries of Muslim scientists, architects, and explorers. I grew up in a Muslim community that celebrated the ingenuity and creativity of Muslims—stories of invention and scholarship were part of my cultural fabric. But standing in that museum, surrounded by intricate astrolabes, maps, and manuscripts, I felt a surprising sense of wonder tinged with confusion. Why was this the first time I was seeing these figures honored in bronze and wax?There was the mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi whose name was Latinized to Algorismus—the root of the word algorithm. His ninth-century treatise on algebra didn’t just transform mathematics; it laid the groundwork for computation and, centuries later, the digital world we live in. There were Muslim astronomers who charted the stars with astonishing precision; navigators who mapped the globe before the age of the compass; architects whose domes and arches still inspire wonder, and philosophers whose writings shaped the European Renaissance. Muslims established some of the world’s first universities and libraries, preserving and expanding the knowledge that became the bedrock of modern science and culture.
And yet, growing up, I had never met these figures in the pages of my schoolbooks. They weren’t in the history lessons or children’s biographies I devoured. When Muslims appeared in Western literature, it was as villains, victims, or voiceless side characters—rarely as thinkers or dreamers who shaped human civilization.
That absence stayed with me. It wasn’t just about visibility—it was about belonging. When a child doesn’t see people like themselves in the stories they read, they learn, consciously or not, that their history and potential don’t matter. Representation in books isn’t only about fairness or diversity; it’s about possibility. It’s about saying: you come from a legacy of inventors, explorers, and artists—you belong in the story of human progress.
That’s why I created Muslim Mavericks—a biographical series for young readers that celebrates Muslims who have pushed boundaries in science, art, comedy, and beyond. Each book centers on a real person whose life defies stereotypes and invites readers to see Muslim identity in all its complexity and creativity. The series is not about defending the world’s 2 billion Muslims against misrepresentation—it’s about expanding the narrative.
We live in a time when many young Muslims feel their identities are scrutinized, politicized, or reduced to headlines. Literature has the power to do the opposite: to affirm, to dignify, to connect. By telling stories of Muslim brilliance and humanity, we can remind a new generation—Muslim and non-Muslim alike—that Muslims have always been integral to the world’s story. Muslim Mavericks is, in many ways, a love letter to that child I once was, standing in the British Science Museum—awed, inspired, and quietly asking, “Why haven’t I seen these stories before?”
REVIEW
Maysoon eagerly looks forward to attending the same school her sisters do, to make friends, to learn, and develop the skills to achieve her dream of being a dancer, actress, and comedian. Yet her cerebral palsy leads others to oppose her dreams because they don't think she can do it. She and her father fight just to get into school. A dance teacher tells her to 'find another dream'. And an acting coach in college brushes her off for not being able to move and speak like most people. And on-going physical therapy is painful and difficult. Despite the disappointments and struggles, Maysoon continues to pursue her dreams until the day she ends up performing on her favorite TV show (which is where the book ends). Written in a very readable way, the author shares with readers the challenges that come with being different in a world intolerant of difference, but also the power of persistence and following one's own dream. The importance of finding those willing to boost you on your journey instead of holding you back also shines through as an important theme. Maysoon's story will remind readers, young and old of the value to be found in every human being and how dreaming makes us different than any other creature living on the earth. While not all will achieve their dreams like Maysoon did, greatness can still be found in working toward them. This opening book in the Muslim Mavericks series makes for an inspiring read with its readable text, appealing black-and-white illustrations and the message to never give up on worthwhile dreams. Highly recommended.
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