Imagine you are looking forward to your future, when suddenly, everything goes wrong and all of your plans are ruined. “Between Two Moons,” written by Aisha Abdel Gawad, entails the story of twin sisters and soon-to-be graduates, Amira and Lina, living in Brooklyn, the first of which is the main narrator of the story (though the perspective changes once in a while). However, their lives would change shortly when their brother, Sami, is released from prison. In addition to tensions at home, Amira and Lina also experience a lot of unease in their community. During the month of Ramadan, their Muslim neighborhood experiences raids and several acts of violence, tearing apart the community.

One of the most prominent details that makes this book a great read is the dynamics between the two sisters, Lina and Amira. Lina is considered the “more beautiful sister;” she dreams of becoming a model and is often frequenting bars and nightclubs; but in contrast, Amira wishes to be hidden and unrecognized, with hopes of attending college and living a steady life. Despite the twins’ significant differences and occasional arguments, the two just seem to click. However, with the increasing hate towards the Muslim community, and the return of Sami, things are just not the way they used to be. Ever since Sami was let out of prison, he has felt like a stranger to Amira, an intruder. No one knew why he was imprisoned in the first place, and Amira feels a sense of unfamiliarity whenever she is around him.

Gawad excels at developing characters that readers can relate to. The challenges that the twins face help spread awareness for the real-life issues that the Muslim community experiences, especially in big cities. Even though our lives are different, I found that I was able to relate to Amira. As someone who also wants to go to a good college and live a steady life, away from drama and commotion, I often felt that Amira was me but with a different racial background. Being able to relate to a character was ultimately what made me enjoy reading the book.

Overall, “Between Two Moons” was a very heartwarming and touching book to read. If you enjoyed reading this book, be sure to check out similar books such as “If I Survive You” by Jonathan Escoffery and “In the Time of Our History” by Susanne Pari. Both discuss the modern challenges and issues faced by immigrant families living in the United States.