HOW TO FREE A JINN

In this debut, a young Malay Muslim girl confronts difficult choices as she grapples with her matrilineal legacy—an inherited bond to jungle spirits called jinn.

Twelve-year-old Insyirah Abdullah is not happy. Her mother’s decision to uproot her from Sydney, Australia, and return to Malaysia is causing her anxiety to peak beyond its normally high level. Nenek, her widowed maternal grandmother, needs more help, which is understandable—but things are already tense between Nenek and Mama, and Kuala Lumpur is insufferably hot and humid. Plus, there’s Nenek’s and Mama’s unnerving talk about “the unseen realm” and spirits that have the power to harm as well as protect. At least school begins well. Syirah makes two new friends who are also outsiders: Nadia (who’s Indian Muslim) and Kai Xin (who’s Chinese Malaysian). But things quickly deteriorate as she discovers that her school is haunted, her mother got entangled with a spirit as a young woman, and Nenek is hiding something serious. With help from Ari, a youthful spirit, and her aikido teacher, Sensei Bilqis, who’s a part-jinn master of exorcism, Syirah steps up to fight for freedom, equality, and peace. In the process, she redefines an ancient bond her family has with a special guardian spirit. This delightful coming-of-age tale weaves humor, deep family bonds, steadfast faith, and mythology into a wholly believable narrative. Cultural elements, including mouthwatering descriptions of Malaysian food, enrich the story.

An intriguing exploration of mysticism and religion, centering on a strong and deeply relatable girl.