AUDIOBOOK
About
A hilarious and heartwarming fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief! This is the middle grade debut from acclaimed author Sabina Khan.
Laila Habib is having the worst birthday ever, as she's just discovered that her family's two-year stay in Houston, Texas, is going to be extended . . . indefinitely. With one foot in her current life and one foot back in her old home in Mumbai, she doesn't feel like she truly belongs anywhere.
But her day only gets worse from there. Opening up what she thinks is a hidden birthday present, Laila unleashes an evil jinn from a magical amulet. Trapped there long ago by Laila's father, the jinn is eager for revenge, and drags Laila's father back to the magical world of Qaf.
To save her father, Laila must travel to Qaf, where she discovers that there's only one hope for freeing him. She must find the Bloodstone, an object that gives the holder absolute power. But doing so will require a quest that changes everything Laila ever thought she knew about who she is, what she believes, and who she can trust. Not fully belonging in the jinn world or our own, Laila has to create her own community, forge friendships, and fight for her family-no matter who or what they are.
Inspired by Islamic mythology, this hilarious and richly-woven middle-grade fantasy from Sabina Khan sparkles with humor, magic, friendship, and heart -- perfect for fans of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief and Percy Jackson.
Praise for What a Desi Girl Wants:
"A madcap romance. Lush and inviting." -- Publishers Weekly
Praise forZara Hossain Is Here:
Featured in The New York Times
★ "[Zara Hossain Is Here] establishes Khan as a powerful rising voice in YA." -- Booklist, starred review
"Fans of Samira Ahmed, Tahereh Mafi, and Randa Abdel-Fattah will find Khan's powerful work timely and affecting." -- School Library Journal
"Khan's examination of the legal difficulties many immigrants face on their road to citizenship, and the precariousness of the immigrant experience more generally, fortify this timely novel." -- Teen Vogue
★ "Khan unapologetically tackles prejudice in its various manifestations while simultaneously engaging openly with the complexities of accountability. A vivid account exploring issues many immigrant teens face." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Khan creates a gripping story line centering the conflict between prejudice and tolerance." -- Publishers Weekly Sabina Khan, author of The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali and many other acclaimed novels, writes about Muslim teens who straddle cultures. She was born in Germany, spent her teens in Bangladesh, and lived in Macao, Illinois, and Texas before settling down in British Columbia with her husband, two daughters, and the best puppy in the world. Visit her online at sabina-khan.com.
Laila Habib is having the worst birthday ever, as she's just discovered that her family's two-year stay in Houston, Texas, is going to be extended . . . indefinitely. With one foot in her current life and one foot back in her old home in Mumbai, she doesn't feel like she truly belongs anywhere.
But her day only gets worse from there. Opening up what she thinks is a hidden birthday present, Laila unleashes an evil jinn from a magical amulet. Trapped there long ago by Laila's father, the jinn is eager for revenge, and drags Laila's father back to the magical world of Qaf.
To save her father, Laila must travel to Qaf, where she discovers that there's only one hope for freeing him. She must find the Bloodstone, an object that gives the holder absolute power. But doing so will require a quest that changes everything Laila ever thought she knew about who she is, what she believes, and who she can trust. Not fully belonging in the jinn world or our own, Laila has to create her own community, forge friendships, and fight for her family-no matter who or what they are.
Inspired by Islamic mythology, this hilarious and richly-woven middle-grade fantasy from Sabina Khan sparkles with humor, magic, friendship, and heart -- perfect for fans of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief and Percy Jackson.
Praise for What a Desi Girl Wants:
"A madcap romance. Lush and inviting." -- Publishers Weekly
Praise forZara Hossain Is Here:
Featured in The New York Times
★ "[Zara Hossain Is Here] establishes Khan as a powerful rising voice in YA." -- Booklist, starred review
"Fans of Samira Ahmed, Tahereh Mafi, and Randa Abdel-Fattah will find Khan's powerful work timely and affecting." -- School Library Journal
"Khan's examination of the legal difficulties many immigrants face on their road to citizenship, and the precariousness of the immigrant experience more generally, fortify this timely novel." -- Teen Vogue
★ "Khan unapologetically tackles prejudice in its various manifestations while simultaneously engaging openly with the complexities of accountability. A vivid account exploring issues many immigrant teens face." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Khan creates a gripping story line centering the conflict between prejudice and tolerance." -- Publishers Weekly Sabina Khan, author of The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali and many other acclaimed novels, writes about Muslim teens who straddle cultures. She was born in Germany, spent her teens in Bangladesh, and lived in Macao, Illinois, and Texas before settling down in British Columbia with her husband, two daughters, and the best puppy in the world. Visit her online at sabina-khan.com.