Golden Girl

by Reem Faruqi (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

From the award-winning, ALA Notable author of Unsettled and Lailah's Lunchbox, this is a captivating coming-of-age middle grade novel in verse about seventh grader Aafiyah Qamar, a Pakistani American girl who hatches a special plan to help her family but finds that doing what's right isn't always easy. For fans of The Thing About Jellyfish and Clean Getaway, this is a heartfelt, soul-searching story with laughter, hope, and lessons learned.

Seventh grader Aafiyah loves playing tennis, reading Weird but True facts, and hanging out with her best friend, Zaina. However, Aafiyah has a bad habit that troubles her--she's drawn to pretty things and can't help but occasionally "borrow" them.

But when her father is falsely accused of a crime he hasn't committed and gets taken in by authorities, Aafiyah knows she needs to do something to help. When she brainstorms a way to bring her father back, she turns to her Weird but True facts and devises the perfect plan.

But what if her plan means giving in to her bad habit, the one she's been trying to stop? Aafiyah wants to reunite her family but finds that maybe her plan isn't so perfect after all. . .

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$16.99

Kirkus

"Faruqi seamlessly weaves in elements of Aafiyah’s Islamic identity while capturing telling details about Aafiyah, her family, and other characters…A story about family, friendship, change, and hope." — Kirkus Reviews

Publisher's Weekly

“This story [has] a well-characterized, flawed heroine and a lot of heart.”  — Publishers Weekly

ALA/Booklist

“In Aafiyah, Faruqi creates a relatable but flawed protagonist whose road to redemption makes for an engaging, warmhearted storyReaders who enjoyed Hena Khan's Amina’s Voice (2017) or are looking for nuanced portrayals of South Asian Muslim identity will enjoy this selection." — Booklist
Reem Faruqi

Reem Faruqi is the award-winning children's book author of Lailah's Lunchbox, which is based on her own experiences as a young Muslim girl immigrating to the United States. She also wrote Amira's Picture Day and I Can Help, and two middle grade novels, Golden Girl and Unsettled. Her award-winning books have received many starred reviews and appeared on various "Best of" lists, including Amira's Picture Day, which was selected as an ALA Notable Book for 2022. After surviving Atlanta traffic and the school drop off, Reem spends her days trying to write, but instead gets distracted easily by her camera and buttery sunlight. She lives with her husband and three daughters. You can find her at www.ReemFaruqi.com.

Asma Enayeh, like Yusra, grew up in Damascus, Syria, and is honored and thrilled to illustrate a story so close to her heart. A full-time children's book artist, Asma has illustrated several previous books including Olive and Charlotte, a tale of two princess sisters, and The Unbreakable Thread about the bond between a mother and child. Besides creating art for her next book, Asma enjoys crafting sweet treats in the kitchen and playing her sport of choice: tennis. An enthusiastic traveler, Asma has visited more than 27 countries, and currently lives in Dubai with her husband and two daughters. Find her online at www.asmaoriginal.com.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780063044753
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
HarperCollins
Publication date
February 20, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039250 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emigration & Immigration
JUV030110 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Middle East
JUV070000 - Juvenile Fiction | Poetry (see also Stories in Verse)
Library of Congress categories
-

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