ZEYNA LOST AND FOUND

In 1970 London, while living an uneventful life and silently enduring bullying at school, 12-year-old Zeyna Akhtar dreams of becoming a detective.

She longs to fit in but has trouble making friends, feels alienated as a British person of color, and struggles to embrace her Pakistani roots. Her immigrant parents, Saleem and Zubaida, don’t seem to appreciate her observation and pickpocket skills and ignore her alarm over a menacing stranger who’s begun to follow them and even breaks into their home. A sudden family trip to Pakistan, plus Mum and Papa’s strange behavior, make Zeyna increasingly suspicious. Soon after Zeyna finds a ruby in Mum’s purse, the police accuse her parents of stealing the Shirin Jewel, a Persian heirloom—but they’ve disappeared. With younger brother Mahir, who’s adept at designing gadgets, and their quick-witted cousin Amina in tow, Zeyna sets out to find her parents and prove their innocence. The children embark on an eventful journey along the Hippie Trail through Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey. Following Saleem and Zubaida’s clues, they crack codes and solve riddles, chase international thieves, uncover family secrets, and stay one step ahead of their pursuer. While the story sags in the middle, the book maintains a brisk pace overall. Readers will enjoy the layered and engaging characters and the ways the kids outwit the adults they encounter. Debut author Khan also explores issues around racism, identity, and belonging.

An entertaining cross-border adventure, sure to thrill readers.