From Afghanistan to America, family matters most in this âempowering mysteryâ (Publishers Weekly), a companion to Shooting Kabul, which Kirkus Reviews called a âstory with much to offer.â
A rough and tumble tomboy, twelve-year-old Ariana couldnât be more different from her cousin Laila, who just arrived from Afghanistan with her family. Laila is a proper, ladylike Afghan girl, one who can cook, sew, sing, and who is well versed in Pukhtun culture and manners. Arianna hates her. Laila not only invades Arianaâs bedroom in their cramped Fremont townhouse, but she also becomes close with Mariam Nurzai, Arianaâs best friend.
Then a rival Afghan grocery store opens near Arianaâs family store, reigniting a decades-old feud tracing back to Afghanistan. The cousins, Mariam, and their newfound frenemy, Waleed Ghilzai, must ban together to help the families find a lasting peace before it destroys both businesses and everything their parents have worked for.
âSenzai successfully weaves the dynamics of Afghan culture, history and political wranglings into a classically American mystery story (Kirkus Reviews).â