Available Formats
Salma Speaks Up
By (Author) Danny Ramadan
Illustrated by Anna Bron
Annick Press Ltd
Annick Press Ltd
10th December 2025
Canada
Children
Non Fiction
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Prejudice and intolerance
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Racism and anti-racism
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Emotions, moods, feelings and be
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Drama and performing arts
Childrens / Teenage fiction: General, modern and contemporary fiction
Hardback
144
Width 152mm, Height 190mm
Salma embraces her voice and speaks up for herself and her friends.
Salma's best friend Riya has had a secret: she dreams of becoming a poet! So when their school's Speech Club announces an assembly where the winner will get a spot in a city-wide writing workshop, Riya convinces Salma to join the club with her. But Nathan, another member of the club, keeps criticizing the girls for not speaking English "correctly."
Salma grows increasingly frustrated: why does Nathan get to decide which accents are good or bad Also, Salma is worried about her beloved Khalou Dawood, who keeps canceling their dinner plans, although he claims he's not sick. Through research and discussions with her family, Salma discovers what might be impacting Khalou and also gains the courage and confidence to embrace her voice and speak up for herself and others.
DANNY RAMADAN is an award-winning Syrian-Canadian author, activist, and public speaker. His work as an activist has helped provide a safe passage to dozens of Syrian LGBTQ+ refugees to Canada. He is the author of two novels for adults, The Clothesline Swing and The Foghorn Echoes, and a forthcoming memoir, Crooked Teeth. Danny lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
ANNA BRON studied traditional animation at Sheridan College. She illustrated the award-winning picture book Salma the Syrian Chef and the middle-grade novel Harvey and the Extraordinary. She has animated, designed, and directed commercials and short films. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.