A quirky debut novel by Salma Hussain, The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan had me laughing and crying in equal measure.

Mona is a sixth grade student living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The year is 1991 and the world is at the cusp of the first Gulf War. Mona’s diary entries reflect the goings on, centered around her family but with much wisdom about the world around her. When the family moves to Canada, Mona discovers the vast difference between growing up in the huge city of Dubai versus small town Nova Scotia.

Salma Hussain has crafted a brilliant story. Written as a series of journal entries, you might expect the whole book to be quite self centered but it is in fact quite worldly. Although Mona is mostly concerned about herself and when she will have “bigger bongos” she is also incredibly aware of what is happening around her. When Uncle Annoying starts paying too much attention to herself and her sister Tutoo, she makes it her mission to ensure her sister is safe. She’s aware of systems in place that lift some while keeping others down. She sees the changes in her parents after they move to Canada and the struggles they endure to make sure their children are safe from the war back home. 

What struck me most about the story is the insight. Amongst the funny, slice of life moments, there are moments of real reflection. Mona’s confidence and self assuredness leaps right off the page. She seems fearless and ready to take on the world. The most beautiful ending of the book comes in Mona’s essay about her hero. In it she writes that heroes are all around but she is her own hero. What a brilliant message to send to young readers. Readers don’t need to look to external sources for heroes. They can be the heroes of their own stories by questioning the status quo and by dreaming of a better world. 

The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan is a Diary of Anne Frank for a new generation, one that is accessible, humorous and genuinely curious. This book gave me Are you there God it’s me Margaret? middle grade vibes.