What better way to escape than diving into a great  books 2025 ? Lucky for you, slow living is in, and Ramadan is the perfect time to get lost in a book. Shoelifer has put together a selection of its favorite new releases—all published in 2025, except for Abdellah Taïa’s novel, which came out in August 2024. What do they all have in common? They each explore Moroccan society and its contradictions.

J’emporterai le feu, by Leïla Slimani 

Among the 2025 book releases, the latest installment of Leïla Slimani’s post-colonial Moroccan saga is an obvious choice. J’emporterai le feu follows the third-generation members of the Belhaj family, Mia and Inès, born in the 1980s. Like their grandmother Mathilde and their mother Aïcha before them, these two sisters crave freedom. In France, where they go to study, they experience the loneliness of exile, societal prejudice, and sometimes even racism. They must learn new cultural norms to carve out a place for themselves.

Like the previous volumes in The Country of Others trilogy, this new novel explores the relationship between the individual and the collective, women’s rights, social pressures, and sexual freedom. A Goncourt Prize winner for Chanson douce in 2016, Leïla Slimani once again draws on her family history, examining female figures and personal identity.

Available at Livre Moi.
Price: 300 DH

La Hchouma, by Dounia Hadmi 

Journalist and author Dounia Hadmi’s debut novel, La Hchouma, takes aim at the hypocrisy and pretenses of our society. Inspired by her own experiences, this 2025 release tells the story of Sylia, a young student from Rabat’s bourgeoisie who moves to France to study journalism. In Morocco, burdened by social and family expectations, she feels misunderstood. From a young age, the word hchouma (shame) has shaped her life: it’s shameful to show her legs, shameful to dress a certain way, shameful to laugh too loudly,etc.A deep-rooted sense of shame ends up defining her relationship with her body and those around her.

In Paris, where she expected more freedom, she faces the trap of cultural stereotypes. When she joins Libération, she is fully integrated into the newsroom—without ever seeking this “validation.” Sylia doesn’t fit into any predefined category. She is not the child of working-class immigrants; she comes from an affluent background, eats pork, drinks alcohol, and wears short skirts. More broadly, Dounia Hadmi paints a nuanced portrait of Moroccans with dual identities and the diverse realities of North Africans.

Available at Livre Moi.
Price: 250 DH

Je me regarderai dans les yeux, by Rim Battal

Je me regarderai dans les yeux is the first novel by poet Rim Battal, recently published by Bayard. This deeply personal and autobiographical narrative is inspired by events from her teenage years. At 17, while casually smoking a cigarette by her bedroom window, Rim provokes her mother’s fury. Fearing further punishment, she runs away. When she returns home, her mother forces her to undergo a virginity test. Lying on a gynecologist’s table, legs apart, she is subjected to a painful (and above all, humiliating) examination to prove that she has never had sexual relations.

This “small transgression,” which hardly warranted such an extreme reaction, fuels a deep sense of injustice in the young narrator. From this traumatic experience, the rebellious teenager draws a new strength—one that will shape her relationship with society and, more importantly, her identity as an emerging artist.

Available at Livre Moi.
Price: 210 DH

Ils se sont tant aimés, by Tahar Ben Jelloun 

In Ils se sont tant aimés, Tahar Ben Jelloun explores the ups and downs of long-term relationships. This is the second volume of The Lovers of Casablanca, picking up 15 years later with Lamia and Nabil. Nabil is a doctor, Lamia a pharmacist, and together they form a seemingly solid couple raising three children. But their stability is shaken when Lamia falls for Daniel, a notorious womanizer. She then asks for a divorce.

After years of love, marriage, betrayal, and divorce, they eventually reunite. Together, they must learn how to reinvent their relationship to make it last. This ongoing effort is at the heart of Ben Jelloun’s novel, set in a society caught between modernity and tradition. Through the ebbs and flows of desire and the daily work required to sustain it, the author examines both the strengths and vulnerabilities of a couple facing the passage of time.

Available at Livre Moi.
Price: 270 DH

Le Bastion des larmes, by Abdellah Taïa 

Abdellah Taïa’s latest novel (his eleventh) revisits his signature themes: Morocco, family relationships, and homosexuality. Following his mother’s death, Youssef (the author’s fictional alter ego) returns to Salé, the city where he grew up, endured suffering, and lived with his six sisters and two brothers. After a quarter-century in exile, the ghosts of his past resurface: his childhood friend and lover, whose fate ended in tragedy; his deceased mother; and the abuse and sexual violence he endured as a child. Back in the impoverished neighborhood of his youth—where he experienced both hardship and pain—he attempts to exorcise his demons while questioning his identity and place in Moroccan society.

This powerful and deeply intimate novel swings between brutality and poetry, blending nostalgia with rage.

Available at Livre Moi.
Price: 270 DH

A deckchair, the gentle sound of the waves, a refreshing cocktail, and a good book… Paradise? No, just vacation—a perfect time for relaxation and cultural discoveries. Shoelifer has selected its current six favorite novels  (though not necessarily written in 2024). Our special summer book list takes you from the Italian-American Mafia of the 1930s to Nigeria in the 2010s, with stops in 1910 Vienna, the Turkish-Syrian border, and Egypt (among others). Literature is both the most beautiful journey and the only way to live a thousand and one lives and still make it home in time. . Ready to be tempted by our summer books?

The Family, Naomi Krupitsky

Among this year’s summer books, The Family by Naomi Krupitsky is probably number one. It’s at the top of the shelves in all the (good) bookstores in Morocco and Europe. Published in the U.S. in 2021 and written by an unknown author, this novel entered the New York Times bestseller list in its first week of publication. It was only translated into French at the end of 2023. The story takes place in 1930s New York, where immigrants from all over the world settle. In the modest neighborhood of Ray Hook in Brooklyn, two little girls—Sofia and Antonia—live next door to each other and are best friends, almost like sisters.

In addition to their shared Italian heritage, their fathers are both part of the Mafia. Sofia and Antonia grow up in an environment that is both dark and friendly, where silence is law and Mafioso wives live in fear. They promise each other never to marry a Mafioso when they grow up. But, of course, the two girls will have very different destinies. Engaging, subtle, and overflowing with endearing characters, it is asaga of the Italian-American Mafia over 20 years, seen through a female lens. Engaging, subtle, with dense and endearing characters.

Read also : RESTAURANTS IN CASABLANCA: 5 NEW PLACES TO TRY

Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Also in  our summer book selection is Americanah, written by the talented Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie from Nigeria. A feminist and pop culture icon (adored by Rihanna and Beyoncé), a major figure in English literature, this author does not disappoint with her third novel.

Americanah tells the story of a Nigerian student named Ifemelu who goes to study in the United States and discovers that she is Black. Before leaving Nigeria, the young woman had no awareness of the concept of “race,” a complex and explosive issue in North America. Ifemelu decides to create a blog about racial issues, where she mocks both Whites and African-Americans. Consider this selected passage: : “Dear Non-American Black, when you make the choice to come to America, you become black. Stop arguing. Stop saying I’m Jamaican or Ghanaian. America doesn’t care.” This book is both witty and very informative.

Zamir, Hakan Günday

For once, here is a novel written by a man in our predominantly female summer book selection. If you don’t know Hakan Günday, it’s time to remedy that. This Turkish author, born on a Greek island, won the Prix Médicis étranger for his novel Encore in 2015, which tells the story of a smuggler from Turkey. This time, Günday returns with Zamir, named after its protagonist.

As a baby, Zamir was disfigured by a bomb fragment in a refugee camp on the Turkish-Syrian border. He becomes the advertising mascot of a hypocritical (and corrupt) humanitarian organization, All for All. Once grown up, Zamir frees himself from the NGO and his victim status to become a mysterious negotiator, traveling the world with a single goal: to establish peace. While it’s a cynical and biting novel about the business of war, it is nevertheless sprinkled with hope.

Remember the Bees, Zineb Mekouar

After The Chicken and its Cumin (2022), Moroccan writer Zineb Mekouar returns with Remember the Bees. We welcome her to  our summer book selection. This novel has a certain Marcel Pagnol feel to it. The plot?  Anir, a ten-year-old boy from the High Atlas, is introduced to nature and beekeeping by a loving grandfather. Fortunately, Grandpa is there, because Anir’s mother is losing her mind and his father has run off to Tangier. There is also a heavy secret that weighs on this family. The story takes place in Inzerki, home to (truly) the world’s oldest collective apiary. It is a  moving tale about ecology and passing on tradition,  where Zineb Mekouar displays her sensitivity and deep empathy.

The Cairo Bookstore, Nadia Wassef

In 2002, Nadia created the Diwan bookstore in Cairo with her sister, Hind, and their friend Nihal. For twelve years, these young women from good families, coming from the bourgeoisie, overcame  the twists and turns of national bureaucracy, disputes with their employees, and the troubles of their personal lives as women, to keep their extraordinary bookstore alive and revolutionize the book trade. This story is told by one of Diwan’s founders (which has since become a franchise), Nadia Wassef. This  rich novel is a small fresco on contemporary Egypt, shaped by antiquity, colonialism, and pan-Arabism. A gem of a  summer book that you’ll devour. 

The Unknown Woman of the Portrait, Camille Peretti

Last but not least in our summer book selection: The Unknown Woman of the Portrait, the multi-award winning ninth novel of the French author, Camille Paretti, published in 2024.  Set in Vienna in 1910, Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of a Lady was bought by an anonymous collector in 1916. It was stolen in 1997, then reappeared in the gardens of a modern art museum in Italy. No expert, museum curator, or police investigator has been able to identify the young woman depicted in the painting, nor the mysteries surrounding it. So Camille Peretti imagined the fate of this young woman and that of her descendants. The author takes us to Vienna at the beginning of the 20th century, to Texas during the eighties, to Manhattan during the Great Depression, and then to contemporary Italy. Dramas, passionate and thwarted loves, disappearances, secrets, and family intrigues—it has everything.

Some have just been released, others are already classics, but they all have one thing in common: they will change your life! These books are full of advice, methods, and reflections to help you live happily. Regaining self-confidence, trusting in the future, cultivating harmony in relationships, smoothing our relationships with our children, bringing lightness into our daily lives, and more. These are promises made by the authors of these works that we cannot recommend enough for you to slip into your beach bag! Because yes, sunshine is also good for morale, as it helps us synthesize vitamin D. Happy reading!

Il en faut peu pour être heureux (It Takes Little to Be Happy) 

Spanning  philosophy, neuroscience, and major therapeutic approaches, each book by Fabrice Midal is a remedy for gloominess and an invitation to living happily. The author of the bestseller “Foutez-vous la paix!” (Leave Yourself Alone!) now publishes “La Théorie du Bourgeon,” presented as an “anti-discouragement philosophy.” Faced with the increasing number of depressions, burnouts, and difficulties related to stress and mental load, the French philosopher proposes letting go to rethink our presence in the world, rediscover the more primal aspects of our humanity.  

Filled with numerous paths that will allow for  every reader to  find their way, the book is full of exercises, personal anecdotes, philosophical references, and even poems. By the way, why “La théorie du bourgeon” (The Bud Theory)? Because it takes time to grow, accept that one has to go through winter, and accept changes that are joyful and beneficial. “La Théorie du bourgeon” connects us to the pure happiness of existence. 

“La théorie du bourgeon” by Fabrice Midal, Flammarion Editions

Read also : FAKE NEWS: WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA MANIPULATES OUR BRAINS.

 The Keys to a Happy Relationship

It is certainly the most extensive study conducted on the most mysterious research object of all time. In 1996, American psychologist John Gottman and his wife Julie created the Gottman Institute to observe couples in vivo. Like in a reality TV show, these couples live for several weeks in an apartment filled with cameras (the love lab), connected to sensors that measure their physiological reactions in real-time. Decades of observation have allowed John Gottman to identify the great laws that govern romantic relationships. He identified four relationship killers (criticism, contempt, insincerity, and withdrawing), but also the secret of couples who remain fulfilled despite trials and the passage of time. 

To live happily together, you must be an “emotionally intelligent couple.” John Gottman provides 7 keys in his book “Les couples heureux ont leurs secrets” (Happy Couples Have Their Secrets), co-written with journalist Nan Silver. Namely: being interested in the other, taking care of the other, spending time together, allowing oneself to be influenced by the other Well, obviously, it sounds simple when put like that! But in practice, our old reflexes (and our neuroses!) die hard. Based on proven scientific facts, John Gottman’s bestseller guides us step by step to rekindle the flame, with plenty of advice, exercises, and proposed dialogues to initiate with our partner. It’s never too late! 

“Les couples heureux ont leurs secrets” by John Gottman and Nan Silver, Pocket Editions

 A month to cultivate the joy of living

Tick-tock, tick-tock… the countdown is on, you have 30 days to learn to living happily! Your coach for this challenge is Dr. Daniel G. Amen, an American psychiatrist and neuroscientist who has scanned over 250,000 brains in his career. So, he knows what he’s talking about when he categorizes different types of brains into 16 categories, each associated with certain types of reactions (take the test here).

 In “Plus heureux en 30 jours” (Happier in 30 Days), the New York Times bestselling author gives us this valuable advice: “Above all, don’t believe what your brain tells you!” There is reality, and then there is what we make of it, through the filter of our emotions, our experiences. And when everything seems to be going wrong, Dr. Amen is there to remind us that we are not our problems. We are not failures, it’s just the day that is. In short, the solutions to hack our brains and live happily are in this book, as delightful as it is precious to read.

“Plus heureux en 30 jours” by Dr. Daniel G. Amen, Testez Editions

 Bringing joy back into daily parenting

A week to get out of parental burnout is the challenge taken up by this refreshing comic book, as funny as it is scientifically accurate. With psychologist Héloïse Junier and illustrator Mademoiselle Caroline, we follow the daily life of a family facing the same problems as ours. No, we are not alone, and just that fact already helps us feel better and to stop feeling guilty.

Facing panic attacks when leaving for school, dealing with epic tantrums, arguing with grandma and grandpa about educational principles, all against a backdrop of the baby crying, this comic book equips us to react better in situations that often make us lose our heads. With kindness and without judgment, Héloïse Junier explains to parents how to meet the needs of their children while taking care of their own. She also takes the opportunity to address the debate on pro/anti-positive parenting. It makes a  beautiful gift — even to yourself!   

“Les émotions de l’enfant, 7 jours pour mieux les comprendre” (The Child’s Emotions, 7 Days to Better Understand Them) by Héloïse Junier and Mademoiselle Caroline, Les Arènes Editions

 Preparing for a better world

Contrary to their parents, today’s youth are not eco-anxious, but downright eco-depressed. Yes, they’re not afraid of heading towards catastrophe; they know they’re well on the way!  So here’s a very useful book to give them hope and convince them that it is still possible to live happily on earth. “Stop à la surconsommation” (Stop Overconsumption) is aimed at children over 10 to make them aware of the impact of our lifestyle on the environment.

 The great strength of this particularly educational book is that it addresses both the problem and the solution. We especially like the relevance of the texts and the attractiveness of the infographics that clearly explain what has brought the planet to the brink. Special mention for the chapter dedicated to the pitfalls of advertising: it talks about marketing, manipulation, greenwashing, and more. We especially appreciate the chapter dedicated to alternative consumption methods, which allow the child to feel like an agent of change. Vital.

“Stop à la surconsommation” by Emmanuelle Vibert, Bayard Editions

Picture © : Montblanc

Have you also noticed that people are increasingly prone to exploding in anger at the slightest spark? It must be said that our increasingly productive, stressful, noisy, and polluted lifestyles (among other factors) put our nerves to the test. While the Old Testament considers it a deadly sin, anger is nonetheless a natural and therefore healthy emotion. It’s there to make us feel that a boundary has been crossed, that what is said or done is not okay for us. Neither good nor bad, it serves to restore our rights. .

Normally, simply expressing it should be enough to make it subside. If that’s not the case, perhaps we’re not exactly within the strict framework of the emotion. Which is, let’s remember, a physiological reaction to a specific stimulus. It therefore only lasts for a few seconds or minutes. Under the influence of anger, the body releases hormones such as adrenaline (linked to physical activity), cortisol (the stress hormone), or serotonin (which aims here to disinhibit us).

This process is accompanied by physical manifestations that prepare the body to move:eart and respiratory rates accelerate, blood pumps faster, etc. This explains why, involuntarily, voices rise and bodies tense up, why  fists clench, jaw muscles contract, and brows furrow… We’re ready to react!

There’s anger and then there’s anger

To learn to better manage conflicts, you must first understand that not everything we call anger necessarily is. If you rage at the drop of a hat, ask yourself this: is my anger appropriate? Is the trigger worthy  of this emotion or is something else activating it? If so, why? Is the intensity of my reaction proportionate or disproportionate? For example, if you start yelling violently at someone who cut in line ahead of you, your anger is appropriate (they took your place), but disproportionate (a calm reminder to the person is sufficient).

Often, it’s stress that makes us lose our composure and turns our healthy anger into fits of rage. Or it gives the appearance of anger to pure manifestations of anxiety. If your child explodes at the slightest opportunity, there may be another cause to look for behind it. Has something changed in their life recently? Moving? Birth of a little sister or brother? School difficulties? This is because  getting angry is asserting one’s power, and the only way to get out of stress is precisely to regain power over the situation.

We haven’t all learned to express our emotions in the same way. In some families, tears are banned, but anger is valued because it’s seen as a necessary way to assert oneself . Children raised by this model  will tend later to substitute anger for sadness. The emotion is described  as a “parasite,” as psychotherapist Isabelle Filliozat details in her book, Que se passe-t-il en moi (What’s Happening in Me?) She details various categories of emotions like “rubber bands” (reactivation of past emotions) or “stamp collections” (emotions swallowed and accumulated over time). Knowing how to identify them is useful for learning to better manage conflicts.

Available here.

“But I’m caaaalm!” 

So how do you express anger without causing damage? Before exploding, you can take a moment to breathe deeply, alternating long breaths in and out. Or have a glass of water. If anger makes you want to be violent, you can isolate yourself to shout or punch a cushion. Dancing to a cathartic tune or singing at the top of your lungs works too. With children, you can channel their anger by diverting it into play,, by, for example,mimicking a dinosaur battle (roarrrrrrr!!!!). Everyone has their own method, the idea being to find a way to release the emotion  in a safe manner for oneself and others.

Golden rule #1: never tell someone who’s angry to calm down. No need to explain why. You know as well as we do that this simple phrase can turn us into the Hulk even when we weren’t particularly angry. Golden rule #2: settle the conflict once the emotion has passed. When anger floods our body with hormones, we don’t have access to the rational part of our brain. First, we release the emotion, then we discuss. The risk, of course, is getting back into an argument, unless you have some methods of non-violent communication.

Available here.

The Deadly “You”  

Nonviolent Communication (NVC), for the experienced, is a powerful method for better managing conflicts of all kinds. Formalized by American psychologist Marshall Rosenberg in the 1970s, it is based on the notion of empathy. Rather than judging or accusing the other person, we seek to put ourselves in their shoes or invite them to put themselves in ours.  

How? Simply by avoiding starting our sentences with a “you”, which can be deadly for  relationships. Why? Because when we blame the other person, we attribute intentions to them that only reflect our own view of things. And in addition, we put them on the defensive — not the  best way to make them understand our point! 

Conversely, starting sentences with “I” activates empathy and leads to a more authentic exchange, closer to each person’s reality. For example, the famous “you never listen to me!” can be very aggressive and unfair to the person targeted. Let’s try instead to show them what their supposed inattentive  look does to us: “When you look at your phone while I’m talking to you, I don’t feel listened to…”. Sensitized in this way, the other person will be more inclined to change their attitude or explain themselves (they may be expecting an important call and you may not have chosen the best time to talk to them). Informed of your need, they will be more cooperative… and arguments will be avoided!

To convert to this method, Marshall Rosenberg has composed  a handy little guide: “Nonviolent Communication in Everyday Life.” Practical and succinct, it is full of real-life situations. In each case, the book contrasts the phrases we naturally say with their reformulation in NVC mode. Personally, here at Shoelifer, , we think it should be taught in schools. Moreover, there is a book to introduce it to our little ones from 7 years old and up: “Madame Com’Com’s Adventures: Sam and the Power of Words”, by Marjorie Danna (a gem!). We promise  it will change your life!

Available here.

For more information on NVC and to find out about training sessions near you, contact the Moroccan Association for Nonviolent Communication: associationcnvmaroc@gmail.com / 06 61 13 96 76.

A blanket, a crackling fire, and a good novel to immerse yourself in without noticing time pass… Yes, that’s what year-end holidays are made for: relaxing and escaping (between bites of foie gras and chocolates). To help you with that, Shoelifer has prepared a list of its favorite works. There have been many interesting books this year, so we decided to take a focused approach: five novels, written exclusively by women and about women. Trust us, it’s quite a ride! Here’s our shortlist of books for 2023.

Sad Tiger, Neige Sinno

Sad Tiger is the most awarded novel of 2023 in France, winning the Femina Prize, the Goncourt des Lycéens Prize, and the Literary Prize of Le Monde. This confessional novel addresses incest and sexual violence, narrating Neige’s story, regularly abused by her stepfather between the ages of 7 and 14 in the 1990s. The book takes us beyond the victim’s perspective, delving into the mind of the perpetrator. A poignant novel written by an equally powerful woman.

Available at Livre moi
Price: 260 MAD

Black Lebanon, Salma Kojok

Black Lebanon tells the story of Maïmouna, a mixed-race girl born in Abidjan to a Lebanese expatriate from the civil war and a young Ivorian woman. The novel explores racism as Maïmouna navigates her identity in Lebanon, a country shattered by fifteen years of civil war. A narrative of rare novelistic density, a must-read from the books of 2023.

Available at Livre moi
Price: 160 MAD

The Mystery of the Stuga, Camilla Grebe

No holidays are complete without a thriller. Among the best thrillers of 2023, the editorial team has chosen The Mystery of the Stuga. The story revolves around Lykke Andersen, an accomplished editor, whose life turns upside down when the body of her son’s best friend is found in the stuga, a small outbuilding in the family garden. Lykke ends up in provisional detention eight years later, retracing the investigation to find the real culprit. An enthralling literary puzzle paying homage to locked-room mysteries and psychological thrillers.

Available at Livre moi

Price: 300 MAD

Babysitter, Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates, one of the greatest contemporary American authors, presents a scathing portrait of white American society secluded in affluent suburbs. Set in Detroit, Michigan, in the 1970s, the novel follows Hannah, a complex bourgeois woman who indulges in adultery. Simultaneously, a child killer called Babysitter operates nearby, exposing the dysfunctions of American society. A corrosive noir novel that spares no one, not even the readers!

Available at Livre moi
Price: 320 MAD

Queen for a Day, Kirstin Innes

Kirstin Innes, considered one of the best Scottish writers of her generation, delivers a masterpiece with her latest novel, Queen for a Day. The story follows Clio Campbell, a folk singer who became famous after a single hit in 1990. Thirty years later, the artist takes her own life, revealing thirty years of disillusionment and the personality of an unknown singer. Is she an enraged feminist, a profiteer, or a victim of a system beyond her control? Read to find out!

Available at Livre moi
Price: 300 MAD

Picture : Allure 

Feeling the earth shake, even when living in an area spared from the worst of the damage, can be traumatizing, especially for children who are often woken up by parents who are almost panicking themselves. Whether evacuated or not, in calm or chaos, all children had to abruptly become aware of a new danger. They have discovered that the earth can tremble so strongly that our houses and buildings are not enough to protect us. On the contrary: what typically represents our safe space becomes a threat in this case.

This post-earthquake can manifest at different times, even after several days or weeks. Every child is different, and their reaction will vary depending on their experiences and personality. In some cases, the trauma can reactivate others and even trigger somewhat intense reactions. There is no universal solution to help them calm down. Sometimes, the assistance of a therapist may be necessary if the symptoms persist for several weeks, which can include sleep problems, decreased energy, difficulty concentrating, loss of appetite, and hypervigilance.

Encourage Them to Talk 

The preferred tool to prevent the shock after the earthquake from turning into lasting trauma is communication. When a child sees an adult get down to their level to listen, they feel validated in their feelings. This makes them more comfortable in expressing the emotions that the event has triggered in them. This release is necessary to dissipate the tension that has built up in the body and is feeding the stress.

To initiate the conversation, open-ended questions should be used (avoid yes-or-no questions that steer the response). “Why” questions can add to stress, as they engage the mind and require thought. “How” questions, on the other hand, encourage description, helping to connect them with the body and emotions. For example, questions like, “How did you feel when you heard me scream?” or “How did you feel when you saw me come to get you in your bed?” are preferable.

For effective communication, you should listen quietly. Comments, even reassurance, can disrupt the child’s flow and seem out of touch with their feelings. Emotions, when they arise, should also be welcomed in silence to allow them to be fully released. Only then should you speak to rephrase what the child said with empathy, still without judgment. Phrases like “You were scared of…” or “You thought that…” or “It’s hard for you to…” can be used.

…but don’t overdo it 

As mentioned at the beginning, the shock after the earthquake won’t manifest in the same way for everyone. If a child doesn’t seem overwhelmed by anxiety, it’s best not to push. The risk is that trying to address it may create trauma where there was none. On this principle, children should also be shielded from anxiety-inducing words and images. Turn off continuous news channels and any other sources of information that are hard to control.

Drawing can be a good way for children who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. However, it’s essential not to comment or judge. Simply observe the process and name it: “You’re pressing hard,” “You’re using a lot of green,” “You’re taking your time to draw this character,” and so on. The goal remains the same: to get down to the child’s level, connect with their feelings, and create a safe space for emotions to emerge.

A child reluctant to talk may find it easier to do so in a play situation. If they are still young, using a stuffed animal or doll can be a playful way (and less intimidating than talking directly to adults) to start the conversation. Children are more likely to talk with their stuffed animal, especially if you animate it like a puppet with a funny voice.

Regain Control

To feel reassured, children need to be informed. You can suggest researching together how an earthquake occurs and what to do in case of an earthquake, while emphasizing that such events are exceedingly rare.

Restoring a child’s confidence also involves fostering a sense of personal power in all daily activities. This includes tasks unrelated to the shock after the earthquake. For example, involve your children in daily chores and, if appropriate for their age, let them do tasks on their own. This might include preparing breakfast, grocery shopping alone while you keep a close eye, being responsible for feeding the cat, or filling and operating the washing machine, among other things. As much as possible, encourage them to make decisions (again, appropriate for their age and abilities).

It’s also a time to spend quality time with our children —  when we pull our eyes away from our phones and are fully present, even if it’s only for 20 minutes. By filling their emotional reservoir, we nurture their sense of inner security. During this time, introduce stress-reduction tools. There are various resources for regulating the nervous system, including deep breathing and heart coherence, yoga, meditation, massages, and walks in nature.

As adults, we are here to listen, guide, and, most importantly, set an example. If we are affected ourselves, verbalizing our feelings helps model this expression for the child. However, it’s important to remain in a reassuring posture for the child to avoid emotional contagion. If a parent feels overwhelmed by anxiety, passing the task to another adult may be necessary. Remember the instructions on an airplane: in the event of cabin depressurization, the adult must first put on their own oxygen mask before putting one on the child. This applies to everyday life: to take care of the stress in younger children, we first need to take care of our own.

Comics in 2023 are on the rise. Thanks to social media, especially Instagram, the general public seems to be increasingly interested in the 9th art form. The panels we thought were outdated are gradually finding  a prominent place on our screens. They’re an effective medium r for authors, who can finance the publication of their works thanks to the support of their community. The little blue characters of Jonathan W Pyle were able to count on their 615,000 followers, while the young Salomé Lahoche on her 32,000 subscribers –ust to name a couple of examples. In France, the numbers are up. In 2021, comics represented 24% of the titles purchased in the book market, double that of 10 years ago. This increase has been felt across all genres! Sales have also skyrocketed in the United States (+62% in revenue in 2021). It must be said that comics now offer a wide range of reading experiences. Here’s our it-list of the year.

Comics in 2023 for the whole family: “L’Arabe du Futur” by Riad Sattouf 

We’ve been eagerly awaiting it, and here it is at last! The latest installment of the “L’Arabe du futur” saga is now available in bookstores. Its release was greeted with great fanfare as the author has just won the Grand Prix at the Angoulême Festival in France (the equivalent of the Palme d’Or for comics). Thus is quite the  recognition for this autobiographical project started in 2014, translated into 23 languages, with over three million copies sold worldwide. In the sixth volume of his best-selling series, comic book artist Riad Sattouf continues to narrate the twists and turns that agitate his family during his childhood in Syria. This time, he focuses on the years 1994 to 2011, on the eve of the war. This is a perfect  comic  to read alone or with the family to explain some of the major conflicts in the Middle East to children. We won’t spoil it for you, but if you haven’t read the first five volumes yet, you know what to do before starting this one. 

Publisher: Allary Éditions.
Price: 320 DH

Comics in 2023 that raise our ecological awareness: “Le monde sans fin” by Christophe Blain and Jean Marc Jancovici 

You have certainly heard of Jean-Marc Jancovici. This French engineer is known for his strong stance in favor of downsizing,  but also and above all for the fight against climate change. These are the theses he tirelessly defends on television or at many highly

. In order to continue his fight (and the popularization of his scientific ideas), he teamed up with illustrator Blain to create a hard-hitting comic book. The idea? To address the economic and ecological issues facing our contemporary societies. While some examples are specifically French, the book provides a good overview of current debates. It was also the best-selling book in France in 2022! Although it was released in 2021, it deserves its place in our list of 2023 comics, as it remains very topical. 

Publisher: Éditions Dargaud. 
Price: 360 DH

Comics in 2023 that relate the origins  of a struggle: “Gisèle Halimi, une enfance tunisienne” by Danièle Mass and Sylvain Dorange 

Gisèle Halimi’s political struggle and feminist commitment date back to her childhood. Born in Tunisia, the young girl first had to rise up against the dictates of her family, and more broadly of society. As a child, she rebelled against having to serve men at home and perform household chores. The racism and anti-Semitism she experienced pushed her to become politically active  and interested in decolonization. After her baccalaureate, she flew to France where she continued her studies in law and philosophy. There, she led several battles, whether in favor of Tunisian independence or the right to abortion. Far from the battles of her adult life, this brightly illustrated comic book offers an immersion in the daily life of the young girl — a dive into the Tunis of the 1930s that tells the origin of her ideals. We await its release with impatience. 

Publisher: Éditions Delcourt. 
Price: around 180 DH (available for pre-order from February 15, 2023)

Read also : BOOKS 2023: THE FIVE NOVELS TO READ DURING YOUR YEAR-END HOLIDAYS

Comics in 2023 that deal with the tension between two cultures: “Je suis métisse” by Sayra Begum 

Translated from English to French, Sayra Begum’s graphic novel is directly inspired by the author’s personal story. We follow Shuna, a young woman born to an English father and a Bangladeshi mother. Although Muslim, she decides to marry a non-Muslim. The rest, you might say, is history: parental refusal, weight of tradition and religion, disgrace, etc. But we take pleasure in discovering it through the intimate lens of Begum shares, and  from the perspective of a different culture. 

Publisher: Éditions Delcourt.
Price: around 280 DH

Comics in 2023 that immerse us in early 20th century Tangier: “Tanger sous la pluie” by Fabien Grolleau and Abdel de Bruxelles 

Many artists have been captivated by the beauty of Morocco, especially its sunshine.  Nevertheless,  it was in pouring rain that Henri Matisse would arrive in Tangier with his wife one day in January 1912. Forced to stay in his room, the French painter would then ask for a model to be brought to him. Frustrated, he wanted to practice his art despite the bad weather. The graphic novel relates his encounter with Zohra (a Moroccan prostitute) who came to pose for him.  The result? A very beautiful graphic novel in black, blue and ochre tones. Their two stories intertwine and give the reader a glimpse into the lives of Moroccan women at the beginning of the last century. 

Publisher: Éditions Dargaud.
Price: around 230 DH

Bonus: The comic book that resonates with current events: “Love story à l’iranienne” by Jane Deuxard and Zac Deloupy

Since September 2022 and the death of Mahsa Amini, the whole world has been moved by the fate of Iranian women. On Shoelifer, we have tried to depict the lives of the Iranian people, beyond stereotypes. This effort  has also been undertaken in 2017, in this very beautiful book written by the journalist couple Jane Deuxard (pseudonym of the duo) and the illustrator Zac Deloupy. Thanks to numerous testimonials from Iranian youth, they conceived a  graphic novel that examines  the dreams, questions, and frustrations of Iranians today. A must-read!

Publisher: Éditions Delcourt / Mirages.
Price: around 180 DH

Picture (c) :  Coveteur