Tag: harpercollins

Samira’s Worst Best Summer by Nina Hamza

Samira’s Worst Best Summer
by Nina Hamza
Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins

From the author of Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year, this tween novel centers the experiences of an Indian American Muslim girl who fears that she’s going to have the worst summer ever, but finds a new sense of community. Filled with irreverent humor and lots of heart, and perfect for fans of Hena Khan and Karina Yan Glaser.

Samira has always been best friends with Kiera. But these days, Kiera would rather hang out with the cool girls, leaving Sammy to play with Imran, her little brother, who is on the autism spectrum. Then out of nowhere, Sammy’s house gets TP’d. Could Kiera be behind the prank? Or maybe it’s because they’re the only Muslim family on the street?

Sammy and her Umma try to convince Imran, who is upset that their house was targeted, that they weren’t being singled out. Their solution—asking a neighbor to TP their own house—works a little too well, and Sammy is left cleaning up soggy toilet paper after a surprise storm. It’s there that she meets new girl Alice. Alice wants to figure out who was responsible for the original TP’ing, and she wants Sammy to help her.

Suddenly, Sammy’s “boring” summer is full of clue-finding hunts, dinner parties, garage band practices, and getting to know her neighbors (and neighborhood) like never before. And when Kiera starts stealing Alice away, Sammy must decide whether she can continue on without a best friend or if she wants to stand up for her new pal. One thing is certain: this summer is either going to be the worst (or maybe the best) of Sammy’s life.

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

All This Twisted Glory by Tahereh Mafi

All This Twisted Glory
by Tahereh Mafi
HarperCollins

The third installment in the bestselling epic romantic fantasy series based on Persian folklore, by the powerhouse author of the Shatter Me series, A Very Large Expanse of Sea, and An Emotion of Great Delight.

Picking up at the explosive cliff-hanger ending of These Infinite Threads, Alizeh, the heir to the Jinn throne, has been stolen away to the neighboring kingdom of Tulan by Cyrus, its mercurial ruler. He plans to marry her there, giving her everything she needs to become the Jinn queen. Only then will he be able to fulfill his own bargain with the devil.

Alizeh is determined to escape, until she realizes that Cyrus’s plan may be the key to fulfilling her own destiny—and that she may actually have begun to trust him.

Back in Ardunia, Kamran has been trying to pick up the pieces after his grandfather’s murder, only to find out that the palace advisers have betrayed him. He seizes upon a mysterious parcel, left to him by his grandfather, that holds a magical way for Kamran to finally get to Tulan to find Alizeh. And along the way he finds an unlikely trio of supporters to aid him in his journey.

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan 

Stay with My Heart
by Tashie Bhuiyan
Inkyard Press/HarperCollins

From the author of Counting Down With You and A Show for Two comes a new YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band and falls for its enigmatic leader while secretly trying to make up for her mistake. Perfect for fans of Emma Lord and Leah Johnson.

From the author of Counting Down with You and A Show for Two comes a new YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band and falls for the guitarist while secretly trying to make up for her mistake.

Liana Sarkar lives and breathes music, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her A&R coordinator father. Maybe if she succeeds, he’ll finally give her the time of day instead of drowning himself in work to distract from the grief of her mother’s passing.

When Liana accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band, Third Eye, she makes it her mission to steer them towards success—without them discovering her role in their setback. But as she gets closer to Third Eye, especially their enigmatic leader Skyler Moon, it becomes harder to hide the truth.

With both her heart and their futures on the line, will Liana be able to undo the damage she’s caused?

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

Ramadan Kareem by M. O. Yuksel; Illustrated by Hatem Aly

Ramadan Kareem
by M. O. Yuksel;
Illustrated by Hatem Aly
HarperCollins

From the acclaimed creative team of In My Mosque, M. O. Yuksel and New York Times bestselling illustrator Hatem Aly, comes Ramadan Kareem, a lyrical picture book that celebrates the joys and traditions of the holiday of Ramadan around the world.

Ramadan is here!

Hooray!

Come in and experience the sacred traditions of Ramadan, the month of mercy and blessings, around the world. From waking up early for suhoor and fasting from dawn to dusk, to praying and preparing an iftar meal to be shared, Ramadan is a time of spirituality, gratitude, charity, and empathy for all.

The acclaimed creators of In My Mosque, M. O. Yuksel and New York Times bestselling illustrator Hatem Aly, reunite in this joyful celebration of Islam’s holiest month.

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi

The Partition Project
by Saadia Faruqi
Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins

In this engaging and moving middle grade novel, author Saadia Faruqi writes about a contemporary Pakistani American girl whose passion for journalism inspires her to learn more about her grandmother’s experience of the Partition of India and Pakistan—and the bond that the two form as she helps Dadi tell her story.

When her grandmother comes off the airplane in Houston from Pakistan, Mahnoor knows that having Dadi move in is going to disrupt everything about her life. That fact is confirmed when Maha has to give up her bedroom to the grumpy old woman and is assigned to be Dadi’s unofficial babysitter.

As an aspiring journalist, Maha knows all about the importance of facts (though her best friend would say that stories are just as important). She can’t wait to start her journalism elective—until their teacher announces that their big assignment will be to film a documentary, which feels way outside of what she would call “journalism.”

While Dadi starts to settle into life in Houston and Maha scrambles for a subject for her documentary, the two of them start talking. About Dadi’s childhood in northern India—and about the Partition that forced her to leave her home and relocate to the newly created Pakistan.

As details of Dadi’s life are revealed, Dadi’s personal story feels a lot more like the breaking news that Maha loves so much. And before she knows it, she has the subject of her documentary.

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

Dear Muslim Child by Rahma Rodaah; illustrated by Aya Ghanameh

Dear Muslim Child
by Rahma Rodaah;
illustrated by Aya Ghanameh
Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins

From the author of Dear Black Child, this is a love letter to Muslim children that celebrates their faith and encourages them to take their rightful space in the world.

Dear Muslim child,

your story matters.

From the author of Dear Black Child comes a lyrical ode to Muslim children all over the world, a joyful celebration of Islam.

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

Hamra and the Jungle of Memories by Hanna Alkaf

Hamra and the Jungle of Memories
by Hanna Alkaf
HarperCollins

From Hanna Alkaf, the critically-acclaimed author of The Girl and the Ghost, comes a middle grade contemporary fantasy that puts a Malaysian spin on Little Red Riding Hood, perfect for fans of Kelly Barnhill and Roshani Chokshi.

Courage is the strongest magic there is.

On Hamra’s thirteenth birthday, she receives nothing but endless nagging and yet another errand to run in the Langkawi jungle that looms behind her home.

No one has remembered her special day.

And so, stifled and angry, Hamra ignores something she shouldn’t: the rules of the jungle.

Always ask permission before you enter. Hamra walks boldly in.

Never take what isn’t yours. Hamra finds the most perfect jambu and picks it.

Of course, rules exist for a reason, and soon an enormous weretiger is stalking her dreams, demanding payment for her crimes—or her entire family will suffer.

With her almost-best friend Ilyas by her side, Hamra embarks on a quest deep into the jungle to set things right. Along the way she’ll encounter creatures she thought only existed in legends, uncover the weretiger’s secret history, and most important of all, discover the courage to become the hero of her own story.

For fans of Ikegna and A Tale Dark and Grimm comes a tale of a brave heroine, a beguiling villain, fantastical worlds, magical adventures, and a journey that will remind you that hope, friendship, and love endures all.

 

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

A Bit of Earth by Karuna Riazi

A Bit of Earth
by Karuna Riazi
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins

Maria Latif is used to not having a space of her own. But what happens when she feels the sudden urge to put down roots in the most unexpected of places? Karuna Riazi crafts a tender coming-of-age story about friendship, family, and new beginnings. A Bit of Earth is a reimagining of the classic The Secret Garden for readers of Other Words for Home and The Bridge Home.

Growing up in Pakistan, Maria Latif has been bounced between reluctant relatives for as long as she can remember—first because of her parents’ constant travel, and then because of their deaths. Maria has always been a difficult child, and it never takes long for her guardians to tire of her. So when old friends of her parents offer to “give her a better life” in the United States, Maria is shipped to a host family across the world.

When Maria arrives on Long Island, things are not quite what she was expecting. Mr. Clayborne has left on an extended business trip, Mrs. Clayborne seems emotionally fraught, and inexplicable things keep happening in the Claybornes’ sprawling house. And then Maria finds a locked gate to an off-limits garden. Since she’s never been good at following rules, Maria decides to investigate and discovers something she never thought she’d find: a place where she feels at home.

With a prickly main character, a sullen boy, two friendly allies, and a locked garden, A Bit of Earth has everything a reader could want from a retelling of The Secret Garden. Karuna Riazi’s evocative prose is interspersed with poetic verses, illuminating each character’s search for a place they can truly call home. This tender yet incisive reimagining of a classic work will captivate fans of the original—and widen the appeal for a modern audience.

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

Milloo’s Mind: The Story of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer for Women’s Education by Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi

Milloo’s Mind: The Story of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer for Women’s Education
by Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi
HarperCollins

Perfect for fans of Malala’s Magic Pencil and She Persisted! From the author of Lailah’s Lunchbox comes a powerful picture book biography about Maryam Faruqi, the founder of the Happy Home Schools, which provided education to thousands of girls across India and Pakistan at a time when girls weren’t encouraged to go to school. Maryam was a trailblazer for women’s education and the author is her granddaughter, creating a personal, inspiring tale.

Enough is enough!

Milloo lives in a time when school is considered unnecessary for girls. But to Milloo, education is not a choice; it is essential. When Milloo reads, her thoughts dance and her mind breathes. Milloo courageously dreams of becoming a teacher, but in fifth grade her parents tell her she has had enough school. Milloo is heartbroken but finds a way to achieve her educational goals, graduating high school and college with honors. When she’s married, Milloo’s husband tells her to stay home, but she does not let that stop her. She decides to open a school in her house and later expands her schools to India and Pakistan, fulfilling her dreams and those of so many young girls.

Reem Faruqi, author of Lailah’s Lunchbox and Unsettled, has written a stirring picture book biography about Maryam Faruqi, the founder of the Happy Home Schools, and Reem’s grandmother. Maryam was a true trailblazer for women’s education.

Cover image and summary via Edelweiss

Posted in Books, Reviews

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

Posted on by Ariana Hussain

Mafi,Tahereh. This Woven Kingdom. Feb. 2022, 512 pp. HarperCollins, $19.99. (9780062972446). Grades 9 – 12

In the world of This Woven Kingdom, once powerful Jinn are living as second-class citizens to humans. 

Alizeh is a Jinn; alone in the world at a young age, she works laborious jobs for humans in order to survive. Because of the actions of Iblees, who eventually became Shaytan (the devil), her people are collectively demonized, even at a truce with human beings, their powers are reduced, and they are subject to constant exploitation and threats of violence. Alizeh is additionally set apart from her people by the ice runs in her blood and identifies her as part of a larger prophecy that could lead to the liberation of jinnkind or the destruction of mankind. She lives in hiding and constant fear of being killed or used. 

Heir to the kingdom of Ardunia, currently led by his grandfather, King Zaal, Kamran encounters Alizeh by chance. Immediately attracted to each other they grow close, but as plots are uncovered and more is revealed about Alizeh, their situation grows increasingly complicated and each must make irrevocable decisions.

Mafi’s prose is deliberately paced to build tension and intensity while building a rich fantasy world based on Islamic folklore and the Persian Shahnameh epic. Intended to be a multi volume series, Mafi skillfully builds the foundation for a tale that promises adventure, romance, and political intrigue. Alizeh is a formidable protagonist and readers will find themselves emotionally invested in her happiness.

The world of This Woven Kingdom is predicated on Islamic stories of jinn and the creation of humankind, with jinn having the same moral capability of humans to exercise free will and thought in which they choose to worship Allah. However, in many cultural contexts, jinn are associated with evil, and Mafi’s use and tying of the actions of Iblees and the properties of jinn and their abilities to the status of jinnkind is both intriguing and validating, moving this story beyond common tropes or retellings of western fairytales. Iblees moved into a villain role devoid of religious context still very much works for the story, while also having the reader examine and reflect on the irony of the lack of freewill the characters have at times, and the structures of power upon a subjugated people. Elements of Islam, Islamic practices, and culture (i.e. miswak used for oral hygiene) throughout the book are instantly recognizable to those familiar, though religion itself is never mentioned in the world. Instead, Mafi translates these religious concepts of Islam to a fantasy world setting impeccably and respectfully. This Woven Kingdom is an outstanding fantasy novel that feels fresh and swoonworthy, in a world accessible to any reader.