Aarzu all around

After Aarzu's beloved parents died in an earthquake, her life of cricket playing and relative freedom were exchanged for a Karachi slum with her far more traditional relatives. Aarzu desperately wants to try out for the junior girls' league, but her uncle feels strongly that Muslim girls belong indoors as homemakers and caretakers, so she'll have to sneak in the sports. To make things worse, her little sister's health is deteriorating, so Aarzu decides to pose as a boy and work at a nearby mansion to drum up treatment funds. Can she find a way to keep her secrets while staying true to her beliefs, her family, and her own heart? The stirring story is told through an incredible variety of poetic forms (readers will find the entire list of those constructions in the back matter). Urgent, elegant language, mouthwatering descriptions, and the bustling Pakistani setting make for an enthralling read, and watching Aarzu embrace her religion while chafing against societal expectations is a thought-provoking process. A rousing read that affirms the power of persistence and love.

Following her cricket player baba and educator mama's deaths in an earthquake, 12-year-old Aarzu and her younger sister Sukoon move in with their aunt, uncle, and cousins in Karachi. Aarzu longs to follow in Baba's footsteps, but while her uncle allows his sons to play cricket, the sisters must stay inside and assist their aunt with housework. When Sukoon--who lives with kidney disease--faces health complications, Aarzu determines to earn money for a transplant. She first heeds a friend's advice that she sell roti, which Aarzu gamely practices making despite her poor culinary skills. Then a chance encounter sparks an idea, and Aarzu cuts her hair, disguises herself as a boy, and gains employment as a servant for a wealthy family, which, serendipitously, affords her an opportunity to play cricket. While earning money, cultivating new skills, and finally pursuing her passion, Aarzu learns hard truths about friendship. In her debut verse novel, Abbas (Excited for Eid) employs numerous poetry forms (acrostic, blackout, ghazal) to deliver an accessible tale about resilience as well as the comfort that earnest connection and following one's dreams can bring. Opens with information about cricket; ample back matter, including a recipe and author's note, conclude. Ages 8--12. (July)