Golden Girl

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

Now in paperback! From the award-winning author of ALA Notable books 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 . . .

About the Author

Reem Faruqi is the award-winning author of Unsettled and the forthcoming Anisa’s International Day. She is also the author of the ALA Notable picture books Lailah’s Lunchbox and Amira’s Picture Day, as well as Let Me Show You the Way. Of Pakistani descent, Reem immigrated to Peachtree City, Georgia, in the United States from the United Arab Emirates when she was thirteen years old. Reem is also a teacher and photographer who loves to doodle. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and three daughters. Like Aafiyah, Reem loves tennis, photography during golden hour, and her father, Abba. Visit her online at www.reemfaruqi.com.