Rumaysa: A Fairytale: 1 (Rumaysa, 1)

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This was such a sweet, entertaining and original read that was unexpectedly funny too! 'Do all evil people just like towers and one window?', [Rumaysa] said out loud, feeling quite frustrated by now. 'What's the point of being evil if you're not going to be creative about it?' Loved it! The link to well known fairytales made it quite an easy read but the twists and turns along the way made me want to read more. Couldn’t put it down.

stories that you know written with the main character, a hijab wearing girl battling the evil witches, step mothers etc. Shaykh Abdullah Khan, president Islamic Schools Association of Australia & Executive Principal, Australian Islamic College, Australia I also enjoyed how feminism threads throughout this story without being heavy-handed. This includes challenges to anti-toxic masculinity and there was a nice little bit of anti-classism too. Definitely an enjoyable and recommended read from me!

Ever since achieving her first record, Rumeysa has been an advocate for positivity, diversity and research, using her rare medical condition to educate others through her experience. Living with some severe diagnoses for my lifetime inspired me to raise awareness, help to get treatment options further and empower other individuals who are in similar situations.”

This rare genetic condition is often of hereditary nature and caused by mutations and malfunctioning in the EZH2 gene - which controls many aspects of the correct functionality of other genes, explaining why Weaver Syndrom impacts several areas of the body. So what?" he said to himself. "Was not her husband who died a firm adherent of the old religion and was he not opposed to Muhammad and his mission?" It makes her feel special, and being taller than most definitely has its advantages: "It also provides me with easy access to high places, and looking down at people from above isn’t a bad thing either!" He was rather confident that Umm Sulaym would not pass him over for another. He was after all a strong and virile person who was quite rich and who possessed an imposing house that was much admired. He was an accomplished horseman and a skilful archer and, moreover, he belonged to the same clan as Umm Sulaym, the Banu Najjar.

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Being a record holder is a very amazing thing. I know that only the special people can make it and I know I’m one of them now." - Rumeysa Gelgi

I was thrown by people’s responses when the press release for Rumaysa went out – I wasn’t expecting so many people to be excited about a hijabi Rapunzel. But the responses showed how absent these type of stories are, and how we still have quite a way to go. I was actually told by my agent that one of the editors she had sent Rumaysa to didn’t think it was original enough. I found this hilarious, but also telling about how hard writers of colour have to work to get their stories shared, in comparison to their white counterparts. I don’t imagine that white writers who do fairy tale retellings are original either, but there are plenty of those stories around. ‘I’ve always loved fairy tales for the wonder and magic they bring, and wondered what someone like me would do in such a tale. ’I wanted to read it for so long and got a copy as a birthday gift from a friend. It is a collection of 3 short stories. Rumaysa, Cinderayla and Sleeping Sara are Muslim and desi take of Rapunzel, Cinderella and Sleeping beauty. Umm Sulaym was one of the first women of Yathrib to accept Islam. She was influenced by the refined, dedicated and persuasive Musab ibn Umayr who was sent out as the first missionary or ambassador of Islam by the noble Prophet. This was after the first pledge of Aqabah. Twelve men of Yathrib had gone to Aqabah on the outskirts of Makkah to pledge loyalty to the Prophet. This was the first major break through for the mission of the Prophet for many years. Umm Sulaym also had a well-known sister, Umm Haram, the wife of the imposing Ubadah ibn as-Samit. She died at sea during a naval expedition and was buried in Cyprus. Umm Sulaym's husband, Abu Talhah, also died while he was on a naval expedition during the time of the third Caliph, Uthman, and was buried at sea. However, for me there were two main points that I felt ruined my enjoyment of this. One is that instead of focusing on one specific fairy tale and retelling it in a way that feels different, the story instead tries to incorporate numerous fairy tales and it ends up feeling messy and disjointed. We have Rapunzel mixed with Rumpelstiltskin and hints of Aladdin, moving into Cinderella (actually my favourite part of the book, I loved the feminist take) and then into Sleeping Beauty. Although there's one character who goes between all the stories, it still doesn't feel cohesive and a bit sloppy. She actively advocates for Weaver Syndrome and Scoliosis, and is vocal about the challenges, but also opportunities, of her condition.