Ep. 8: A Girl Who Looks Like Me

Episode Summary

Susan Muaddi Darraj and Sulaf, Age 12

6/11/2020

On this week’s episode, we bring you a whodunnit shaped story seed! 12 year old Sulaf collaborates with author Susan Muaddi Darraj (author of the debut middle grade series Farah Rocks) on a story starring a young Arab-American girl, who looks like Sulaf, and who finds herself at the center of a mystery at the theatre where she works. Join our host Betsy Bird as she follows Sulaf and Susan on their all-access backstage tour of the Riverside Theatre at the landmark Riverside Church in NYC where they discover all its nooks and crannies that can inspire a mystery story. They also talk about their great love of Agatha Christie mysteries and how meaningful it is— as Arab Americans—to read a story about a character that you can relate to and that looks like you. Click here for complete episode notes.

Episode 8 Activity Kit

Get our Activity Book

This Episode Features

Sulaf, age 12

My cultural background ... my parents are from Egypt and Syria

My hair is ... dark and curly

My favorite book series ... Mrs. Smith Spy School for Girls and Harry Potter

My favorite authors ... Agatha Christie and JK Rowling

My superpower ... writing and baking!

During the COVID-quarantine ... I taught a baking class for 6 weeks via Zoom

My favorite dessert is ... gelato/sorbet

The most complex thing I have ever baked ... a cake for a friend's video game party that looked exactly like a cake from Legend of Zelda. It was a three layer chiffon cake with hand-made whipped cream, and it was delicious! (photo below)

My favorite Arabic word is ... رقصة or ra’ss. It means dance, and it’s fun!

I wanted an Arab-American author to write my story because ... I wanted my character to be Arab, and since there is not enough Arab representation in modern media, I really wanted the story to be written by someone who understands what it’s like

Susan Muaddi Darraj

My cultural background is … my parents are from Palestine.

My hair is ... dark and curly (like Sulaf's!)

My favorite book series when I was 12 … The Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot series!

My favorite mystery authors ... Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

If you're looking to start reading Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes and you are a tween or teen, start with … The Mysterious Affair at Styles (the first book in the Poirot series) or The House of the Baskervilles (one of Holmes' most exciting adventures).

My superpower ... writing and being a good listener and friend.

During the COVID-quarantine … I did a lot of reading, played board games with my children, and started a bullet journal!

The most complex thing I have ever baked ... a birthday cake for my son that looked like a construction zone (to fit his party theme).

My favorite Arabic word is ... habibi (my love). I say this to my children all the time!

I wanted to write a story for an Arab-American kid because ... I never really had one when I was a kid!

Bonus Episode

On this bonus episode, host Betsy Bird chats with Susan Muaddi Darraj (author of the debut middle grade series Farah Rocks) about her collaboration on a mystery story seed with 12 year old Sulaf in last week’s episode, “A Girl Who Looks Like Me.” They talk about why representing Arab-American girls like Sulaf matters in children’s books and about being inspired by the work of Agatha Christie and Edgar Allen Poe. Plus, Susan shares her tips for getting through writer’s block – reading! *Spoiler Alert* Susan also reveals who’s behind the disappearing objects in her story, “Mystery at the Theatre.” Click for episode notes and transcript.