“This contemporary coming-of-age story of two friends on opposite shores explores difficult topics in a relatable tone… Give to fans of Robin Talley’s What We Left Behind or Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl. VERDICT A first purchase for all libraries serving older teens.”—School Library Journal, starred review
“Drawing from both Snow White and the Snow Queen, this beautifully wrought novel offers plenty of fairy-tale wonder, but Bashardoust resists the most common tropes; instead, she tells a story where women save each other with their own ingenuity, bravery, and love, and power and compassion can exist hand in hand. Compellingly flawed characters, vivid world-building, and pitch-perfect pacing make this utterly superb.”—Booklist, starred review
A dark psychological romance perfect for fans of Holly Black or Maggie Stiefvater, whose yet to be published sequel won the Golden Heart ® for Best Young Adult Romance.
“An Iraqi childhood is cherished, examined, and let go in this tender look at youth amid upheaval… an ode to a lost era, to be sure, but one with its feet planted securely in the present.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review