Ballet Is Not For Muslim Girls

From biryani to borscht, the food was fabulous in Canada's only Polish-Pakistani family. Mariam S. Pal's memoir, Ballet is not for Muslim Girls, is set in this remarkable Victoria B.C. household in the 60s and 70s. Growing up, Mariam struggled to navigate three cultures: her Pakistani father's, her Polish-Canadian mother's and Canada's, where Mariam was born and raised.

A "normal" first name would have been a good start. At school they called her Marilyn, Marian - anything but Mariam. Hers was the only house for miles that didn't hand out Halloween candy or put up Christmas lights. When Grade One Mariam came home bawling because she was the only kid who didn't have a turkey sandwich the day after Thanksgiving, her parents started a roasting a bird each year.

Ballet is not for Muslim Girls is a humorous and affectionate memoir. It addresses the integration and cultural adaptation, issues all immigrants, from Adelaide to Quebec to Yonkers, grapple with. Ballet is not for Muslim Girls' poignant, uplifting story will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers.

Born in Montréal, Mariam Pal spent her childhood in Victoria, B.C. where Ballet is not for Muslim Girls is set. Mariam returned to Montréal four decades ago to study economics and law at McGill. A former resident of Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire and Manila, Philippines, Mariam has traveled extensively in Europe, Asia and Africa. She is retired from careers in economic development and immigration law and lives in Montreal with her musician husband, Eli. In retirement she grows garlic, bakes a mean focaccia bread and is working on her second book, Eating Pineapple Upside Down Cake in Monrovia.