Books and fiction novels may not rank very high in the list of priorities of an average Minnesota adult. However, there is a growing realization amongst intellectuals and academicians that there is very little information available about Islam and Muslims in a format that youngsters can easily understand.

Youngsters rely on books to not just improve their grades but also to expand their horizons and learn more about other cultures and civilizations. In today’s globalized world with its share of conflicts and problems, clear understanding of how others are has become very important. As the population of Muslims in Minnesota rises, there is a worry that few books available for learning more about such communities may cause long term problems.

Librarians in the state have resorted to citywide, statewide, regional wide and national wide search for such books but have failed to succeed. Needless to say, this offers a very good opportunity for an enterprising author to write a book that immediately connects with the needs and requirements of the young population of Minnesota.

It is important for fiction books to be present because absence of such books and such characters in books often leads to misconceptions. When nobody writes about a specific community, people simply presume that the community does not want to be written or that it is not worth being written. Such an approach can be dangerous to the inclusive and friendly community in Minnesota.

Books like ‘An American Muslim Teenager’s Handbook’ and ‘From Somalia With Love’ are available. However, these books do not meet the standards set by all the educational institutions. Librarians indicate that Muslim kids are no different than any average kid and that they tend to read well and read a lot especially when they can identify with the content in the book. Presence of such books is important for not just the Muslim community but also other communities in the state.