Author of
Shubeik Lubeik (Pantheon Books, 2023)
Deena Mohamed is an Egyptian designer and illustrator. She first began making comics at eighteen when she created the viral webcomic strip Qahera. The comic addressed social issues and starred a visibly Muslim Egyptian super-heroine. It was featured in multiple local and international outlets such as the BBC, Foreign Policy, The Times, Al Arabiya and others. It has currently surpassed half a million hits and has over fifteen thousand fans on social media. In 2017, Deena was named by the Washington Post as one of “five women changing the world for the better” on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Deena Mohamed
Books by Deena
Shubeik Lubeik (Pantheon Books, 2023)
New York Public Library Best Books of 2023 and Best New Comics for Adults
Warwick Prize for Women in Translation Winner for 2023
Washington Post 10 Best Graphic Novels of 2023
Cairo Comix Festival Best Graphic Novel and Winner of Grand Prix
Library Journal Best Books of 2023
Guardian Best Graphic Novels of 2023
NPR Books We Love
Wall Street Journal Best Books of 2023
Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction Books of 2023
Polygon Best Comics of 2023
A brilliantly original debut graphic novel that imagines a fantastical Cairo where wishes really do come true. Deena Mohamed brings to life a cast of characters whose struggles and triumphs are heartbreaking, inspiring, and deeply resonant.
Shubeik Lubeik—a fairy tale rhyme that means “your wish is my command” in Arabic—is the story of three people who are navigating a world where wishes are literally for sale. Mired in bureaucracy and the familiar prejudices of our world, the wishes are more likely to work as intended the more expensive they are.
Three wishes that are sold at an unassuming kiosk in Cairo link Aziza, Nour, and Shokry, changing their perspectives as well as their lives. Aziza learned early that life can be hard, but when she loses her husband and manages to procure a wish, she finds herself fighting bureaucracy and inequality for the right to have—and make—that wish. Nour is a privileged college student who secretly struggles with depression and must decide whether or not to use their wish to try to “fix” this depression, and then figure out how to do it. And, finally, Shokry must grapple with his religious convictions as he decides how to help a friend who doesn’t want to use their wish.
Although their stories are fantastical—featuring talking donkeys and cars that can magically avoid traffic—each of these people grapples with the very real challenge of trying to make their most deeply held desires come true.
“[A] masterpiece . . . While Mohamed’s narratives are memorably entertaining and particularly insightful—exploring haves versus have-nots struggles, gender inequity, police brutality—even more astounding is her fluid, sweeping art . . . Mohamed’s stupendously dynamic visuals will prove addictive, moving all too swiftly toward a rewarding, resonating end.” —Booklist (starred)
“The book is exceptionally imaginative while also being wonderfully grounded in touching human relationships, existential quandaries, and familiar geopolitical and socio-economic dynamics. Mohamed’s art balances perfectly between cartoon and realism, powerfully conveying emotions, and her strong, clean lines gorgeously depict everything from an anguished face to an ornate bottle . . . Mohamed has a great sense of humor, which comes out in footnotes and casual asides throughout. Immensely enjoyable.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred)
“Brilliantly original . . . Richly detailed . . . Mohamed’s bold, expressive illustrations split the difference between cartoon and realism, with brightly colored details . . . These characters’ struggles and successes are equally heartbreaking and uplifting, creating a wholly satisfying reading experience. Our wish is Mohamed’s command.”—BookPage (starred)
“Shubeik Lubeik is easily the most subversive book I've read in decades! Deena Mohamed has much to say about the human condition, but she does so with effortless grace. Superb cartooning, and brimming with intelligence both emotional and intellectual—all while maintaining an incredible sense of humor—Shubeik Lubeik embodies the holy grail of comix-making that few graphic novels have ever managed to achieve. A wonderous accomplishment and important addition to the culture.”
—Ganzeer, author/artist of The Solar Grid
“A powder keg of human emotions and desires, cleverly delivered by its fantastical premise. Shubeik Lubeik investigates human nature with unflinching grace, carefully thought out worldbuilding, and characters so moving that they have found a permanent place in my heart. This book makes me believe that I too could buy a wish from the corner store.”—Rhea Ewing, author of Fine: A Comic About Gender
"An astonishing first book by an immensely talented young artist and writer. The settings and stories cover decades of a history that is fantastical but feels familiar. Every page moves boldly with action and energy, even as the characters wrestle with internal and deeply moral conflicts. Deena Mohamed is one to watch." —Thi Bui, author of The Best We Could Do