I WANT GOLDEN EYES

What if your worth were determined by your IQ at birth?

As a Limited, someone born with an IQ of less than 1111, 16-year-old Diyala lives with her family in the Burrow, a gigantic subterranean community beneath the city of Quartzia. Her opportunities are few, and her actions are closely monitored by the grotesque and cruel griffin bats, terrifying cloned creatures. Those lucky enough to have scores above 1111 receive golden eyes from the National Iris Center and enjoy the privilege of living aboveground, where they attend better schools, earn more, work less, and are waited upon by Limiteds. After Diyala is caught borrowing books from her employer, Professor al-Azizi, he forces her into indentured servitude by threatening to expose her to the police. Intellectually curious Diyala accidentally enters a math competition disguised by her avatar as a Golden, an experience that offers her a glimmer of hope for escape. But a shocking discovery means Diyala must use her wits to stay alive and keep her family safe. Written by a Syrian author and translated from Arabic, this suspenseful novel is set in the year 2095 on the island of Comoros. Although some dialogue is stiff, the imaginative worldbuilding is captivating, the characters are compelling, and Diyala’s relationships with her family are steadfast. Her budding romance with Raji, a kind, golden-eyed, dark-skinned musician with cute dimples, is tender and sweet.

Strong worldbuilding anchored by heartfelt relationships brings a stratified world to life.