An Honest Book Review on The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan

The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan is a book written by Salma Hussain. It was first published by Penguin Random House on May 3, 2022. It is a worthwhile and humorous read because it’s a distinctive story with a unique plot. The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan is realistic fiction. The story is about a preteen girl, Mona Hasan, who is trying to find her place in the world. During the first Gulf War, Mona’s family moves from Dubai to Canada during the 1990s.

The book is about her struggle to fit in, make friends, gain confidence, and make her parents proud. 

The story starts off with Mona describing her life in Dubai through her secret diary entries. Then, her parents begin to talk about a “big word:” immigration. Soon after that, they immigrate to Canada in hope of a better life. Mona’s diary holds entries about Dubai, a visit to Pakistan in an attempt to connect with her roots before she immigrates, and trying to become a true Canadian girl. At the beginning of the book, Mona is struggling with her ideas of the world, and what it means to be Muslim and female. She is also quite insecure about herself. As she visits her family in Pakistan and gets used to life in Canada, Mona realizes that she does not need to have all the answers to life right away. Additionally, Mona becomes stronger, braver, and kinder. She also becomes more self-aware and confident.

Though I find The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan an excellent book and an interesting read, I do find that sometimes the humor and sarcasm are a little over-the-top. Mona can also be perceived as a little arrogant and her voice can be annoying at times; however, the majority of the book is brilliant. I love the way she finds her voice through poetry and writing. She explores and discovers the changing and evolving world around her. To add, Mona has brilliant and brave moments as well, where she stands up for her younger sister and friends. I find it interesting that the book is written through diary entries as that is something that I find uncommon.

The book also made me laugh so hard at times! But it is an important read as well. The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan talks about racism, bullying, family problems, and feminism.

These are all issues that are prevalent today. I believe that a lot of people can find those parts relatable, which is important. Furthermore, Mona is a person of colour and a female and that adds representation to the book world. I think that many people can find parts of themselves in Mona. I would rate this book a solid 8.5/10. 

In conclusion, The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan is a necessary and important book. While there are a few negative parts of the book, the good parts make up for it. She is a wonderful protagonist, and I would recommend this book to anyone!