Award-winning author coming out with new book, ‘Drawing Deena’
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The award-winning author of “Amina’s Voice” and “Amina’s Song is out with a new book.
Hena Khan’s new book ‘Drawing Deena’ is a middle grade novel about a young Pakistani American artist determined to manage her anxiety and forge her own creative path. Khan tells News 19 hopes to help address America’s mental health crisis among children.
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According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, anxiety affects approximately one in 11 children aged 3-17. A panel of experts recently recommended that all children 8 and older be screened for anxiety.
The book follows Deena, a young artist who struggles with anxiety, who wants her parents to stop fighting and having money woes, and dreams of being a painter like her idol Vincent van Gogh.
She learns to stand up against bullies of all ages and that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it. Deena’s never given a name to the familiar knot in her stomach that appears when her parents argue about money, when it’s time to go to school, or when she struggles to find the right words. She manages to make it through each day with the help of her friends and the art she loves to make.
While her parents’ money troubles cause more and more stress, Deena wonders if she can use her artistic talents to ease their burden. She creates a logo and social media account to promote her mom’s home-based business selling clothes from Pakistan to the local community. With her cousin and friends modeling the outfits and lending their social media know-how, business picks up.
But the success and attention make Deena’s cousin and best friend, Parisa, start to act funny. Suddenly, Deena’s latest creative outlet becomes another thing that makes her feel nauseated and unsure of herself. After Deena reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help and that, with the right support, Deena can create something truly beautiful.
You can learn more about the book and the author in our video above.
The book is published by Salaam Reads, an imprint that aims to introduce readers of all faiths and backgrounds to a wide variety of Muslim children and families. Their goal is to offer Muslim kids an opportunity to see themselves reflected positively in books.
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