Leila Aboulela’s American debut is a provocative, timely, and engaging novel about a young Muslim woman — once privileged and secular in her native Sudan and now impoverished in London — gradually embracing her orthodox faith. With her Muslim hijab and down-turned gaze, Najwa is invisible to most eyes, especially to the rich families whose houses she cleans in London. After a coup forces her wealthy family to flee Khartoum, Najwa eventually finds solace and love in the Muslim community of her adopted country.
