Starred review from May 15, 2024
A conceited 12-year-old in Lahore, Pakistan, agrees to help a jinn princess win a competition to become the heir of her kingdom in exchange for her assistance in searching for his missing mother. Belying the arrogance that's a result of a hyperprivileged upbringing, Amir Rafiq suffers from the loss of his beloved mother, who mysteriously disappeared from his family's brick-making company. When Amir's domineering grandmother announces that his father will be remarrying, Amir vows to locate his mother in time to stop the wedding. He doesn't expect his quest to take him into another realm alongside spirited, shape-shifting jinn princess Shamsa. They are kindred spirits in their marginalization by siblings who regard them as competition, but they're opposites in their desire to take their places at the top--Amir wants nothing of it, while Shamsa is driven to win by a secret promise. They strike a deal: Shamsa will help Amir find his mother, and Amir will use his cunning to help Shamsa ascend the throne. Khan superbly crafts a redemption arc for Amir, developing his character from unlikable to heroic as he navigates a variety of different circumstances from isolation to belonging, in the process growing from callous and entitled to complicated and altruistic. She also deftly and accessibly weaves into the story important social commentary on corporate ethical dilemmas such as exploitative labor practices, greed, greenwashing, and the blurred lines between social responsibility and buying people's support. Captivatingly well written and magical. (Fantasy. 8-13)
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July 8, 2024
The 12-year-old heir to a brick-making company in Lahore, Pakistan, partners with a powerful jinn princess to find his absent mother in this beguiling fantasy adventure by Khan (Nura and the Immortal Palace). Privileged Amir Rafiq yearns for his mother. Whether she went missing or abandoned the family is unclear, but when Amir’s grandmother decides that his father must remarry before the end of summer to remove the “stain” her disappearance placed on their family name, Amir determines to find her. Fortunately, he soon learns that the cat he adopted in secret is a jinn princess named Shamsa in disguise. Shamsa offers to help Amir search for his mother; in exchange, Amir must assist Shamsa in her quest to become next in line as king of the jinn. During their journey, which teems with playfully tinged practicalities (Shamsa and Amir travel to the jinn world via train), Amir learns that he’s not the only one facing hardships. Khan conveys these lessons with sensitivity, taking care not to invalidate Amir’s concerns, culminating in an empathetic portrait of two lonely tweens who help to broaden each other’s worldviews, along the way finding genuine companionship and previously untapped strength. Ages 8–12.
August 9, 2024
Gr 4-6-A rollicking fantasy adventure set in Pakistan and based on the mystical realm of jinn. Wealthy 12-year-old Amir, destined to inherit the Rafiq Bricks Company, prefers to be in his garden alone where he can feel connected to his missing mother. His world unravels when his father announces plans to remarry and ends the search for Amir's mother. Unwilling to give up hope, Amir teams up with Shamsa, a shape-shifting jinn princess who is different from him in every way. They work together on a thrilling quest through the jinn realm, with Shamsa guiding Amir, and Amir aiding Shamsa in a royal tournament to win her rightful throne. On their wild journey, they meet sneaky tricksters, magical foes, and learn some hard lessons about loss and life. Khan's captivating prose and tight action sequences will keep readers engaged and eager to see how the odd-couple duo resolves their quest. VERDICT This book is a mix of adventure, friendship, and courage and is perfect for young readers who revel in magical escapades.-Helen Prince
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