first installment OUT jan 29!
In this quiet town, a magic awakens . . .
Thirteen-year-old Yumna lives in a sleepy town where nothing ever happens. So when her friends start sneaking into the woods at night, curiosity gets the better of her and she follows. There, she discovers something unbelievable. Kareem can turn into a golden horse. Sami can touch fire without burning. Even her cousin Nafisa has a strange new power. Everyone's changing . . . except Yumna.
But when Kareem vanishes and a mysterious new family, the Maidstones, seem to be hiding something, Yumna is the only one asking the right questions. As secrets unravel and danger creeps closer, it's up to Yumna to rally her friends and uncover the truth.
In a town full of secrets and powers, can one ordinary girl become the hero they all need?
explore the magical world of silverbrook in
yumna and the golden horse
Hi Readers!
So, you might be wondering. Why did I write this book?
Well! From Agatha Christie to Percy Jackson, I grew up on a healthy diet of mystery AND fantasy, but was always sad that my mythological world I was brought up with wasn’t represented in any of the books I read. Also, none of the heroines wore a hijab (sad face).
Being both Sudanese and Muslim meant that my cultural education was full of mystical stories told by family members and friends. Djinns and magical creatures, prophetic gifts and natural miracles, these were all stories I inhaled growing up and were the fun tales I never grew out of – which is why I’ve been so desperate to bring them to my writing and to the world. Thus, SILVERBROOK!
But while Silverbrook is fun fantasy adventure. Yumna and the Golden Horse is about a group of friends coming face to face with the hostile realities of living in a place where some people – with more power than them – want them out. It’s a story about exile and displacement, but also empowerment and belonging. It’s a book full of magic and mystery, and while there are truly villainous villains, there is also hope.
So, I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. I hope you find strength in the messages in the book, and also have a few laughs along the way. Thank you, for giving the world of SILVERBROOK, and Yumna, your attention and care. It means the world.
“A riveting read! A fresh and fun mix of mystery and magic.”
― Ashley Thorpe, author of award-winning The Boy to Beat the Gods
Tour dates.
Other books i’ve written for younger readers
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You Must Be Layla
With her long skirt and headscarf Layla certainly stands out at her new high school. Everyone thinks they know her, just from a glance. But do they?
Although she believes she was justified for doing what she did, a suspension certainly isn't the way she would have wished to begin her time at her fancy new high school.
Despite the setback, Layla's determined to show everyone that she does deserve her scholarship and sets her sights on winning a big invention competition. But where to begin?
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Listen, Layla
School's out for the summer! And Layla's going to spend it getting her inventions ready for the grand design competition. But when her grandmother falls ill and her family must rush to Sudan to be with her, Layla feels like she's being pulled in many different directions.
Family, friends, home, inventions - there's a lot to navigate. With big protests looming in Sudan, could Layla save the day with her revolutionary ideas?The hilarious follow-up title to You Must Be Layla.
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Stand up and speak out against racism
Using questions canvassed from children around the UK as the framework, writer, engineer and broadcaster, SUSOAR gives clear context to the racism that persists today and shows how to recognize, resist and disrupt racist conversations and attitudes.
Ideal as a way to open the conversation with readers aged 9 and up, nurturing compassion, encouraging ways to create change and giving them the confidence to challenge inequality and strive towards racial justice for everyone.