Shifting roots

Bilbidander finds a book, Listen, Layla, while searching through Aditi's books. It turns out to be written by Yassmin Abdel-Magied, a Sudanese-Australian media presenter and writer. Layla's school year is over and she is pursuing her passion for Science, but her plans are derailed when her grandmother falls ill in Sudan. Layla's experiences in Sudan give readers a chance to rethink their identities and dilemmas, while learning about Sudanese culture and traditional foods. There's a glossary to help understand Arabic words sprinkled throughout the book. Bilbidander discovers a book that gives readers a chance to rethink their identities and learn about Sudanese culture.

I hate it when someone starts a conversation with “Listen, Bilbidander…” (that’s my name, by the way) because it always means I am getting a set down. Then, while searching through Aditi’s books I was surprised to find a book titled, Listen, Layla. This should be fun, I thought as I pulled it out and crept under the bed to read it.

Boy! What a read it turned out to be. It was nothing like what I had imagined. What did I imagine? Well, something prosaic like Layla being told what to do, where to go and how to spend her time.

But…

This book is written by Yassmin Abdel-Magied, a Sudanese-Australian media presenter and writer. That’s not all, in her early career she was a mechanical engineer. How cool is that? She tackles racism, politics and identity in her books.

It was only after I had started reading the book that I realised this was a sequel to You Must Be Layla. Thankfully I didn’t have much of a problem following this story though I had not read the previous one…though there were references to the previous story.

Layla’s (or Laylz as her friends call her) school year is over and she is happy. Now she can spend time pursuing her favourite hobby – invention. Her passion for Science has secured her a position with the Grand Designs Tourismo invention in Germany. Her biggest dream is to win the prize.

But, Layla’s plans are derailed when her grandmother, Habooba Samira falls ill in Sudan. They have to go to see her.