Almost Sunset

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

Writer and comic artist Wahab Algarmi delivers his contemporary middle grade graphic novel debut, following a young Muslim American boy during Ramadan as he finds the balance between his family traditions and his secular middle school life. Perfect for fans of Swim Team and Chunky.

It's almost sunset, and Hassan has been dreaming about eating since the sun rose that morning. Hassan is facing a hectic month of homework, soccer, and gaming, all while fasting every day for the holy month of Ramadan. Not eating until sundown intensifies Hassan’s already busy days—his teachers and friends barely understand Ramadan and its traditions, and it’s especially tough keeping up with soccer practice, as the team hopes to win the championship this season.At the same time, Ramadan brings Hassan’s family and community closer together: from waking up at sunrise every morning, to feasting and attending mosque in the evenings. As Ramadan stretches on, Hassan struggles to keep up his grades, and his friend Rosie is inching closer to taking his starting spot on the team. Because he's too busy to game with his friends during Ramadan, Rosie also fills in for him with his gaming squad.Hassan wants to be able to do it all—get good grades, help his soccer team win, game with his friends, and participate in the religious and family traditions during Ramadan. But how can he do that if he's not sharing the truth with everyone, especially himself?

About the Author

Wahab Algarmi is a writer and comic artist. He has been creating comics and a community space for other artists in the San Francisco Bay Area for years. Some of his past comic work includes The Society of Unordinary Young Ladies, which has been well reviewed by numerous news outlets, including the Comics Beat, Newsarama, and USA Today. He was also a recent recipient of one the inaugural grants from the city of Oakland’s Cultural Affairs Division, the Akonadi Foundation, and the East Bay Community Foundation for his comic work Town Force 1 and the Battle for East Oakland. For years, he also worked with another arts nonprofit, Kearny Street Workshop, to spotlight emerging Asian American artists. He currently lives in Oakland, California, with his wife and children.