Hijab and Red Lipstick by Yousra Imran

Category:Children’s Books/Fiction/Literature

Rating:3.63/5 

Pages:256 

About the Book:

Hijab and Red Lipstick is the debut novel by Yousra Imran, a British-Egyptian writer who grew up between London and the Arabian Peninsula. Drawing partly on her own experiences, Imran explores identity, family expectations, faith, culture, freedom, and the challenges faced by young women growing up between different societies. The novel was longlisted for the Diverse Book Awards 2021 and offers a coming-of-age perspective on life between Britain and the Gulf.

The story follows Sara, a British-Egyptian teenager whose strict father moves the family from London to the Arabian Gulf. As she grows up in an environment where her freedom is heavily restricted, Sara struggles with family expectations, religious and cultural pressures, relationships, and her desire to make her own choices. Her journey takes her from adolescence into adulthood as she searches for her identity and independence, confronting difficult experiences involving patriarchy, relationships, harassment, and personal freedom.