The True Story of … MAYSOON ZAYID, The Girl Who Can Can: Interview with author Dr. Seema Yasmin (and a giveaway, too!)

WHO ARE YOU IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS? is splashed across the back cover of The True Story of … MAYSOON ZAYID, The Girl Who Can Can, written by Dr. Seema Yasmin and illustrated by Noha Habaieb. Published on February 10, 2026 by Salaam Reads, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, this is the first chapter book in the nonfiction Muslim Mavericks series.

After reading this inspiring book, I can testify that Maysoon Zayid is a maverick in the true sense of the word: a driven, fearless, breaker of expectations, a role model for anyone who faces significant challenges, whatever from they take, but longs to achieve their dreams. Maysoon’s most significant challenges comes in the form of Cerebral Palsy and the societal pressures that brings. But wow, she certainly proves that she can CAN CAN despite these challenges, in the words of her extremely loving and supportive father. Please give Dr. Seema Yasmin, a tremendously accomplished and inspiring woman herself, a huge Writers’ Rumpus welcome!

Laura: Seema, thank you for bringing the amazing story of Maysoon Zayid to our Writers’ Rumpus audience. Can you explain the mission for the Muslim Mavericks nonfiction chapter book series, and how Maysoon’s story was chosen to be first?

Dr. Seema Yasmin: Thank you so much, Laura—I’m so happy to talk about these books.

The mission of the Muslim Mavericks series is to show young readers that there is no single way to be Muslim, no single way to dream big, and no single way to be yourself. I grew up in a community that was proud of its Muslim heritage, where stories of Muslim ingenuity and creativity were celebrated. But as a kid who loved books and who practically lived in books, I often wondered: why aren’t our stories on the bookshelf at school or in the library? Where are the books about Muslims who invent, perform, adventure, and imagine? The Muslim Mavericks series is my attempt to help fill that gap by introducing children to real people whose lives expand narrow definitions and stereotypes.

Maysoon’s story felt like the perfect place to begin because she immediately challenges expectations. She’s a disabled Palestinian American Muslim woman who uses comedy to claim space, speak truth, and bring people together. Her story is full of humor, courage, and ambition. Maysoon sets the tone for the entire series. I wanted the first book to make it clear: these are stories about brilliance, joy, and complexity—not just struggle. Maysoon embodies all of that.

Laura: I found this quote on the 2023 annual ALA conference website: https://2023.alaannual.org/featured-speakers/maysoon-zayid: She (Maysoon) had the most viewed TED Talk of 2014, in which she joked that if there were a competition called the Oppression Olympics, she would win gold: “I’m Palestinian, Muslim, I’m a woman of color, I’m disabled, and I live in New Jersey.”

Did you ever have the opportunity to meet Maysoon, a comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate? Or in what way were you influenced by Maysoon ?

Seema: Yes! I had the opportunity to work closely with Maysoon while writing the first book in the Muslim Mavericks series, and she was deeply involved in shaping how her story was told. I had been influenced by her long before we met, especially by the TED Talk you mentioned, which I watched while writing my book Muslim Women Are Everything. Maysoon’s 2014 TED Talk introduced millions of people to her voice and perspective. I highly recommend watching it if you haven’t seen it.

What struck me most about Maysoon is how she uses humor as both a mirror and a bridge. That “Oppression Olympics” line is funny, and it’s incredibly sharp—it names multiple identities and challenges people to confront their assumptions without shutting down the conversation.

When I spoke with Maysoon, I saw that same intentionality offstage. She is very thoughtful about how she represents herself as a disabled woman, as a Palestinian American, as a Muslim, and she understands the power of storytelling in shaping how others see those identities. That influenced me enormously as a writer. It pushed me to make sure that this book didn’t just convey what happened in her life, but captured her voice, her humor, and her refusal to be reduced to any single label.

Laura: I love how you present Maysoon’s wildest, most delicious dreams up front, especially how she dreams of becoming the best entertainer in the planet and shining like the Hollywood sign. Only after sharing her dreams do you introduce the physical challenge she faces with Cerebral Palsy (and the different symptoms it can cause in different people) in understandable, kid-friendly language. When enrolling at Public School Number Six in her hometown of Cliffside Park, New Jersey, you introduced the societal pressures that are sadly too common.

How did you research this story and what was your writing process?

Seema: Thank you. That structure was intentional. I wanted readers to meet Maysoon first through her dreams, because that’s how she sees herself and how she imagined her life. To research her childhood, I interviewed Maysoon, and we talked through her childhood memories: her family, her school experiences, her summer trips to a village in Palestine, and the moments that shaped her confidence. I also reviewed her talks, performances, and writing, and drew on my medical training to explain cerebral palsy in a way that would be accurate but accessible for young readers.

Maysoon Zayid. Photo courtesy of artist

My writing process begins with identifying the emotional arc: a child with big dreams navigating a world that mostly doesn’t expect her to succeed, or to even dream. From there, I built the story scene by scene, making sure that any explanations—whether about CP or social barriers—felt natural and grounded in Maysoon’s lived experience. I wanted kids to learn but to never feel like they were being taught a lesson.

Laura: The relationship between Maysoon and her father is so heartwarming, and I absolutely adore how he always championed her despite the naysayers. Other characters appear in the book as the story progresses, some supportive and some quite the opposite. How did you decide what characters to delve into and which ones to tread lightly with?

Seema: I’m so glad that came through. Her father’s belief in her is such a powerful force in Maysoon’s life. When I was deciding which characters to focus on, I kept asking: who helped shape Maysoon’s sense of what was possible? Her father absolutely did, so I gave that relationship space and depth.

For other characters—especially those who doubted or underestimated her—I included them more lightly. Their role was to show the kinds of barriers Maysoon faced, but I didn’t want those voices to take up too much space or overshadow the bigger story. For young readers, it felt important to center encouragement, resilience, and agency, rather than amplify negativity.

Ultimately, every character is there to serve Maysoon’s journey—either by lifting her up, challenging her, or helping readers understand the world she was navigating.

Laura: I believe The True Story of … MAYSOON ZAYID, The Girl who Can Can will appeal to any young readers who feel different or face challenges, no matter what form they take. Maysoon’s story is so richly told, I immediately began to research her after reading this book, and feel that young readers will be inspired to do the same. To me, one of the greatest pieces of advice Maysoon received as a young adult was from her comedy school teacher Mike. From page 60: “You have to tell the audience you have CP,” Mike said. “If you don’t tell your audience why you’re shaking, they’ll wonder what’s going on and they won’t concentrate on your jokes.” That advice, owning who you are, is gold, and Maysoon clearly took it to heart with great success. What do you hope readers will learn or gain from Maysoon’s story?

Seema: I love that you pulled out that moment and that it stayed with you. It’s a powerful shift in Maysoon’s journey. What her teacher was really telling her is: don’t hide who you are. Name it, own it, and let it become part of your strength.

I hope readers take away that their differences, whatever they may be, are not something to be ashamed of or to tuck away. They can be a source of creativity and connection. Maysoon’s story shows us that when you stop trying to fit into other people’s expectations and start showing up as your full self, that’s when things begin to change.

More than anything, I hope kids feel encouraged to dream big and define success on their own terms. Maysoon didn’t wait for permission—she built her own path. And that’s something every child deserves to believe they can do.

Laura: Your response is brilliant, and I wholeheartedly agree!! Your accomplishments are incredibly impressive as well, and my vote is that someone should write about you in this MUSLIM MAVERICKS series. I especially love how you splashed Author, Science Writer, Disease Detective across your website, and am so impressed with this: Dr. Seema Yasmin is an Emmy-award winning journalist, author, medical doctor and professor. She trained in medicine at the University of Cambridge and in journalism at the University of Toronto. What else would you like to share, about your career and about what’s next for this series? How can our readers connect with you?

Seema: That’s so kind of you to say. Thank you! My career has taken turns and different paths, but they’re all connected by a love of storytelling and a commitment to making complex ideas accessible. I’m currently in acting school learning the Meisner technique, and I’m also in clown school. Whether I’m wearing my journalist hat, my disease detective or doctor hat, or whether I’m on stage performing my comedy special, I’m always thinking about how to communicate in a way that informs, empowers, and connects.

Right now, I am continuing to work on the Muslim Mavericks series, with more books featuring incredible Muslim trailblazers across different fields. Each story builds on the idea that there isn’t just one way to be Muslim and that there isn’t one kind of success. I’m excited for young readers to meet more of these changemakers.

Laura: Thank you for this wonderful interview, Seema, and best wishes with all your endeavors. I can absolutely understand why you were chosen to write this chapter book series, and I look forward to reading them all. I eagerly signed up for your newsletter and expect many of our readers will as well.

Now for details about the giveaway of The True Story of … MAYSOON ZAYID, The Girl who Can Can, hardcover version: to enter, please leave a comment on this post. If you share this post on social media, you’ll earn two chances to win. The winner (US addresses only) will be notified on April 20, so make sure to check back then. Good luck!