HAFSA'S WAY

Abstract

(Fiction. 9-13)

Category: None

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Page Count: 224

A young Pakistani girl harbors big dreams.

Aspiring doctor Hafsa secretly applies to the Bukhari Summer Science Camp for girls. Her enthusiasm over being accepted is tempered by the exorbitant fees and her conservative parents’ objections. Hafsa has a stroke of good luck when her brother-in-law offers to cover her expenses, and her sister suggests she stay in their home in Lahore, near the camp. Hafsa is disappointed to learn this year’s program is about climate change; the medical course will take place the following summer. At home, she notices her sister being roped into working on the family’s charity project at the cost of her own aspirations. At camp, she feels like an outsider when other girls mock her rural background. A brief encounter with a local zoo elephant sparks events that threaten Hafsa’s resolve, but she puts aside her fears and channels her learning into action. This companion to Amal Unbound (2018) and Omar Rising (2022) highlights challenges that girls face in traditional households. Hafsa’s persistence and advocacy help her overcome her insecurities, and meaningful interactions create moments of introspection and understanding. Inspired by a real-life story from the Islamabad Zoo, this is a timely story. Readers familiar with the setting may find some elements seem framed in ways that accommodate Western readers, but the story nevertheless effectively blends climate change, wildlife conservation, and the tug of cultural expectations.

An inspiring story showing the power of one person’s voice to make a difference. (author’s note, resources) (Fiction. 9-13)

Audience: Children's

ISBN: 9780593529379

Price: $17.99

Author: Saeed, Aisha