Children's books and middle grade are not normally my bailiwick, but I was hooked by the absolutely stunning cover illustration, and the concept seemed neat, once I read the blurb. I guess we'll see how I do, reviewing a category I have not read in a very long time.

And the book itself in fact proved a fun one, quick-paced and warmhearted right down at its core. Sabrena was a good character, easy to relate to, but not without her flaws or depth. For a bit there, I was worried that she'd turn out to be a bit of a pinball, as others around her inevitably helped her and came to her rescue, but by the time the climax came around, she grew, and boy did she step up!

I enjoyed reading about the Bangladeshi-American Muslim culture Sabrena grew up steeped in, which, of course, tied into growing up on the stories of 1001 Nights. Or at least a kid-friendly version of same. Fun fact: my own family owned the 16-volume unsanitized version, and it was the only book my mom ever forbade me from reading, as an overly precocious tot. Which, of course, made it all the more enticing, but whoooo boy, mom was right, that was NOT for seven year olds! Obviously, this would be way outside the scope of a real-life children's book, but a part of me really wants to read Sabrena's father's perspective on how he might balance nurturing his daughter's love for the stories he's studying, potentially exploring some of their darker elements as part of critical reading, all while being careful not to traumatize her or give her access to something REALLY age-inappropriate.

Going back to the cultural aspect, I think seeing Sabrena and her family in a book like this would be really valuable for either a Muslim kid looking for a character whose life reflects theirs, or a curious young reader from outside the culture. The portrayal is immersive, straightforward without being overly simplistic, and clearly written by someone with personal experience.

But the element of this book I really could not have anticipated when I began was Sabrena's relationship with her grandmother. The empathy and verisimilitude with which it was written was something truly special. The portrayal of an elder with dementia was top-notch, incredibly believable, never sugar-coated, but also never once stripping the character of her humanity, spark, or bond with her family. I was not surprised to read, in the afterword, that Riazi put a lot of her own love for her own grandparents into her writing.

This is a book about stories, but it's also, at its core, a book about families. I was glad to see the warmth of Riazi's familial portrayal extend beyond the nuclear family, to grandparents, adopted families, good stepparents, and former strangers willing to open their homes and hearts to a lost child.

I may not have been this book's target audience, but I still think there's a lot to like here, whether for me, or an actual middle grade reader.

Thank you NetGalley and Greenwillow Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.