Most Popular Books by Aisha Saeed

"A wonderfully complex love story unlike any you’ve read before. Saeed has given a novel that is both entertaining and important.”—Matt de la Peña, New York Times bestselling author This heart-wrenching novel explores what it is like to be thrust into an unwanted marriage. Has Naila’s fate been written in the stars? Or can she still make her own destiny? Naila’s conservative immigrant parents have always said the same thing: She may choose what to study, how to wear her hair, and what to be when she grows up—but they will choose her husband. Following their cultural tradition, they will plan an arranged marriage for her. And until then, dating—even friendship with a boy—is forbidden. When Naila breaks their rule by falling in love with Saif, her parents are livid. Convinced she has forgotten who she truly is, they travel to Pakistan to visit relatives and explore their roots. But Naila’s vacation turns into a nightmare when she learns that plans have changed—her parents have found her a husband and they want her to marry him, now! Despite her greatest efforts, Naila is aghast to find herself cut off from everything and everyone she once knew. Her only hope of escape is Saif . . . if he can find her before it’s too late.

In this tender genre-bending young adult novel by New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed, two teen protagonists grow from friends to something more in the aftermath of a tragedy in their magical town. Moonlight Bay is a magical place—or it was once. After a tragic death mars the town, the pink and lavender waters in the bay turn gray, and the forest that was a refuge for newcomers becomes a scourge to the townspeople. Almost overnight, the entire town seems devoid of life and energy. The tourists have stopped coming. And the people in the town are struggling. This includes the two teens at the heart of our story: Yasmine and Rafay. Yasmine is a child of the town, and her parents are trying and failing to make ends meet. Rafay is an immigrant, a child of Willow Forest. The forest of Moonlight Bay was where people from Rafay’s community relocated when their home was destroyed. Except Moonlight Bay is no longer a welcoming refuge, and tensions between the townspeople and his people are growing. Yasmine and Rafay have been friends since Rafay first arrived, nearly ten years ago. As they''ve gotten older, their friendship has blossomed. Not that they would ever act on these feelings. The forest elders have long warned that falling in love with "outsiders" will lead to devastating consequences for anyone from Willow Forest. But is this actually true? Can Yasmine and Rafay find a way to be together despite it all?

"Saeed''s timely and stirring middle-grade debut is a celebration of resistance and justice."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review The compelling story of a girl''s fight to regain her life and dreams after being forced into indentured servitude. Life is quiet and ordinary in Amal''s Pakistani village, but she had no complaints, and besides, she''s busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams are temporarily dashed when--as the eldest daughter--she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Amal is upset, but she doesn''t lose hope and finds ways to continue learning. Then the unimaginable happens--after an accidental run-in with the son of her village''s corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family''s servant to pay off her own family''s debt. Life at the opulent Khan estate is full of heartbreak and struggle for Amal--especially when she inadvertently makes an enemy of a girl named Nabila. Most troubling, though, is Amal''s growing awareness of the Khans'' nefarious dealings. When it becomes clear just how far they will go to protect their interests, Amal realizes she will have to find a way to work with others if they are ever to exact change in a cruel status quo, and if Amal is ever to achieve her dreams.

Four kids meet at an airport for one unforgettable night in this middle-grade novel by four bestselling and award-winning authors—Aisha Saeed, Huda Al-Marashi, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, and S. K. Ali When a thunderstorm grounds all flights following a huge Muslim convention, four unlikely kids are thrown together. Feek is stuck babysitting his younger sister, but he’d rather be writing a poem that’s good enough for his dad, a famous poet and rapper. Hanna is intent on finding a lost cat in the airport—and also on avoiding a conversation with her dad about him possibly remarrying. Sami is struggling with his anxiety and worried that he’ll miss the karate tournament that he’s trained so hard for. And Nora has to deal with the pressure of being the daughter of a prominent congresswoman, when all she really wants to do is make fun NokNok videos. These kids don’t seem to have much in common—yet. Told in alternating points of view, Grounded tells the story of one unexpected night that will change these kids forever.

A book about the power of love and resistance from New York Times bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed. YES Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone) Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya. NO Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her. MAYBE SO Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural crush of the century is another thing entirely.

Warrior. Princess. Hero. Diana''s destiny is to be the world''s greatest female super hero... if she can survive this action-packed adventure! Young Princess Diana is fierce and whip-smart, and she loves her island home of Themyscira. Her deepest wish is to be able to train with the rest of the Amazons and protect her homeland--but she''s told it''s out of the question. This is the year Diana hopes to persuade her mother, Queen Hippolyta, to let her learn how to fight when the world''s most powerful women gather on Themyscira for a festival to celebrate their different cultures. But at the start of the festivities, an unexpected and forbidden visitor--a boy!--brings news of an untold danger that threatens Themyscira and all of its sacred neighboring lands. It''s up to Diana and her best friend, Princess Sakina, to save them, even if it means tangling with a cunning demon who reveals that a terrifying force is out to capture Diana against her will. In the first of three high-octane, breathtaking Wonder Woman Adventures, Diana finally gets the chance to prove her worth as a warrior and save not just her friends and family but their entire way of life. As long as she can make it out alive herself....

A joyful picture book about celebrating everyday moments of fun, beauty, and wonder, from New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed Meet Zuni. She''s sweet, silly, ever-so-charming, and full of bright ideas. Her family has a memory jar. Anytime someone in the family does something important, they mark those moments through notes and photos stored in the jar and share those memories together at the end of the year. Her parents tell Zuni that when she grows up, she’ll have important memories to share, too, like graduations, and milestones, and trophies. But Zuni is already making memories! And at the end of the year, her family gets to see the moments that made an impact on little Zuni. A deceptively simple story for young and old alike, Zuni and the Memory Jar is a reminder to celebrate everyday joys in life along with the grand achievements.

In this compelling companion to New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Omar contends with being treated like a second-class citizen when he gets a scholarship to an elite boarding school. When Omar gets a scholarship to the prestigious Ghalib Academy, it’s a game changer. It will give him, the son of a servant, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a better future—and his whole village is cheering him on. Omar can’t wait to dive into his classes, play soccer, and sign up for astronomy club—but those hopes are dashed when he learns first-year scholarship students can’t join clubs or teams; instead, they must earn their keep by doing chores. Even worse, it turns out the school deliberately “weeds out” scholarship kids by requiring them to get grades that are nearly impossible. Omar is devastated to find such odds stacked against him, but the injustice of it all motivates him to try to do something else that seems impossible: change a rigged system.

A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019 An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book 2019 Six-year-old Bilal introduces his friends to his favorite dish—daal!—in this charming picture book that showcases the value of patience, teamwork, community, and sharing. Six-year-old Bilal is excited to help his dad make his favorite food of all-time: daal! The slow-cooked lentil dish from South Asia requires lots of ingredients and a whole lot of waiting. Bilal wants to introduce his friends to daal. They’ve never tried it! As the day goes on, the daal continues to simmer, and more kids join Bilal and his family, waiting to try the tasty dish. And as time passes, Bilal begins to wonder: Will his friends like it as much as he does? This debut picture book by Aisha Saeed, with charming illustrations by Anoosha Syed, uses food as a means of bringing a community together to share in each other’s family traditions.

The world''s #1 female Superhero saves the world from a cunning villain in the final installment of the Wonder Woman Adventures trilogy! Pre-teen Diana travels to the mortal realm for the first time ever to fight against the evil force stealing the powers of the Olympian gods. Diana is tired of adults underestimating her because she''s only a girl! So when the opportunity strikes for Diana to save a group of children kidnapped by an evil entity intent on stealing their special powers for his own nefarious use, she takes the chance, knowing that she''ll have to undergo the journey alone. But she doesn''t expect that her adventure would take her straight to the world of humans! Diana must save the stolen children and bring down the mysterious force who''s been trying to capture her all along--all the while running from a god squad, villainous henchmen, and... kids with cameras who record Diana using her powers to post on TikTok?! The fate of the worlds is on Diana''s shoulders in her most thrilling adventure yet!

“Truthful and empowering.” —Booklist From Amy Reed, Ellen Hopkins, Amber Smith, Nina LaCour, Sandhya Menon, and more of your favorite YA authors comes an “outstanding anthology” (School Library Connection) of essays that explore the diverse experiences of injustice, empowerment, and growing up female in America. This collection of twenty-one essays from major YA authors—including award-winning and bestselling writers—touches on a powerful range of topics related to growing up female in today’s America, and the intersection with race, religion, and ethnicity. Sure to inspire hope and solidarity to anyone who reads it, Our Stories, Our Voices belongs on every young woman’s shelf. This anthology features essays from Martha Brockenbrough, Jaye Robin Brown, Sona Charaipotra, Brandy Colbert, Somaiya Daud, Christine Day, Alexandra Duncan, Ilene Wong (I.W.) Gregorio, Maurene Goo. Ellen Hopkins, Stephanie Kuehnert, Nina LaCour, Anna-Marie LcLemore, Sandhya Menon, Hannah Moskowitz, Julie Murphy, Aisha Saeed, Jenny Torres Sanchez, Amber Smith, and Tracy Deonn.

The world''s #1 female Super Hero, Wonder Woman, is back in another breathtaking adventure! This time, Diana will travel to the Underworld to take on Hades--but will she make it out alive? After Diana thwarts a stunning attempt to defeat the Amazons and Themyscira for good, she has finally been granted permission to start training as a warrior! Except, the goddess Artemis brings news that children all over are disappearing without a trace. Diana is the only one who can be trusted to save them--even if she must confront Hades, Persephone, and all of the undead souls and mythical creatures of the Underworld. That is, until she discovers that a far more sinister villain is out to capture her--and will do whatever it takes to find her. With her warrior training barely underway, will young Wonder Woman be able to rely on her strength from within to save the missing children and defeat Hades? Or will she instead be dragged to the Underworld--forever?

Star-crossed lovers, meddling immortals, feigned identities, battles of wits, and dire warnings: these are the stuff of fairy tale, myth, and folklore that have drawn us in for centuries. Fifteen bestselling and acclaimed authors reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia in short stories that are by turns enchanting, heartbreaking, romantic, and passionate. Compiled by We Need Diverse Books’s Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman, the authors included in this exquisite collection are: Renée Ahdieh, Sona Charaipotra, Preeti Chhibber, Roshani Chokshi, Aliette de Bodard, Melissa de la Cruz, Julie Kagawa, Rahul Kanakia, Lori M. Lee, E. C. Myers, Cindy Pon, Aisha Saeed, Shveta Thakrar, and Alyssa Wong. A mountain loses her heart. Two sisters transform into birds to escape captivity. A young man learns the true meaning of sacrifice. A young woman takes up her mother’s mantle and leads the dead to their final resting place. From fantasy to science fiction to contemporary, from romance to tales of revenge, these stories will beguile readers from start to finish. For fans of Neil Gaiman’s Unnatural Creatures and Ameriie’s New York Times–bestselling Because You Love to Hate Me.

All Are Welcome meets Be Kind in this poignant and accessible picture book about the power every bystander—no matter how small—has to extend kindness and stand up in the face of intolerance. At his new school, quiet Rumi feels small and unwelcome, and a few kids bully him for being different and wearing bright shoes. He finds refuge beneath the old willow tree by the playground and builds his own world of hope and dreams of belonging. One day, when Rumi is made a target again, one of his classmates bravely steps in to defend him. It’s in that moment of solidarity Rumi’s class finally realizes that under the shade of the willow tree, all are welcome, and they create a space they can all play in—together.

Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in this warm-hearted novel of interconnected stories that celebrates the diversity of South Asian American experiences in a local community center. Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the local kids gather at the community center to discover new crushes, fight against ignorance, and even save a life. Cheer for Chaya as she wins chess tournaments (unlike Andrew, she knows stupid sugary soda won''t make you better at chess), and follow as Jeevan learns how to cook traditional food (it turns out he can cook sabji-- he just can''t eat it). These stories, edited by bestselling and award-winning Pakistani-American author Hena Khan, are filled with humor, warmth, and possibility. They showcase a diverse array of talented authors with heritage from the Indian subcontinent, including beloved favorites and rising stars, who each highlight the beauty and necessity of a community center that everyone calls home.

This stunning original novel will tell an all-new story set in the world of the new film, featuring Aladdin and Jasmine. A magic carpet ride full of adventure, suspense, and wonder written by New York Times Bestselling author Aisha Saeed, this story will be a must-read for any Aladdin fans who find themselves drawn into and enchanted by the magical world of Agrabah and beyond.

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Malala Yousafzai! Growing up as a girl in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai had to fight every step of the way to get an education. After she was attacked for doing so, Malala took her fight to the world stage, pushing for the right to an education for every girl, everywhere. Her activism earned her a Nobel Peace Prize and inspired girls and women everywhere to stand up for their own rights too. In this chapter book biography by bestselling and award-winning author Aisha Saeed, readers learn about the amazing life of Malala Yousafzai--and how she persisted. Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Malala Yousafzai''s footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum. And don’t miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Coretta Scott King, Oprah Winfrey, and more! Praise for She Persisted: Malala Yousafzai: "A compelling story that''s empowering and inspirational." --Kirkus Reviews

Uma eleição acirrada, um romance complicado e dois adolescentes tentando mudar o mundo Jamie Goldberg é um dos voluntários mais dedicados na campanha democrata para as eleições locais — mas só nos bastidores. Porque, além de especialista em questões políticas, ele é especialista em passar vergonha em público. (Sério, seu brinde no bat mitzvá da irmã com certeza vai ser um desastre.) Não existe a menor chance de Jamie pedir votos de porta em porta... até encontrar Maya. Maya Rehman está tendo o pior Ramadã de todos. Ela odeia mudanças, mas terá que enfrentar várias. Sua melhor amiga vai morar em outra cidade e vive ocupada, a viagem em família foi cancelada e agora seus pais estão se separando. Para completar, a mãe de Maya a obriga a pedir votos com um garoto desajeitado que ela mal conhece. Bater à porta de estranhos não é nada glamoroso, mas Maya e Jamie vão descobrir que não é a pior coisa do mundo. Conforme as eleições se aproximam, os dois começam a passar cada vez mais tempo juntos. Afinal, precisam encarar projetos de lei racistas, uma avó famosa no Instagram e memes com poodles do mal. Mas o que era só uma aliança política se complica quando sentimentos entram na jogada. As chances de sucesso nas urnas e no amor parecem baixas, mas... quem sabe? Inspiradas pela própria experiência como voluntárias de campanha nos Estados Unidos, as premiadas Becky Albertalli e Aisha Saeed constroem em Sim, não, quem sabe uma história engraçada, apaixonante e necessária sobre como podemos, pouco a pouco, ajudar a construir um mundo mais justo.

Amal a toujours rêvé de devenir institutrice. Mais quand sa mère, qui vient de mettre au monde une seconde fille, sombre dans la dépression, elle doit la remplacer et s''occuper de la maison. Elle ne peut plus aller à l''école et voit son rêve d''émancipation s''éloigner. Sa situation s''aggrave encore lorsque, suite à une altercation sur le marché avec Jawad, l''homme tout puissant de son village, elle est obligée de s''installer chez lui comme servante. Malgré les brimades et les humiliations, pourtant, à force de courage et de détermination, Amal trouvera bientôt sa place parmi les domestiques, auxquelles elle apprendra à lire. Elle se battra pour sa liberté et, avec le soutien de quelques personnes bienveillantes, elle saura saisir sa chance. Grace à elle, la tyrannie qu''exerce Jawad sur le village pourrait même prendre fin...

D’un côté : Jamie Goldberg, dix-sept ans, une maladresse maladive. Il s’est retrouvé embarqué dans la campagne d’un candidat aux élections locales. De l’autre : Maya Rehman, dix-sept ans, un caractère bien affirrmé. Ses vacances en famille ont été annulées, mais sa meilleure amie est trop occupée pour traîner avec elle. Ensemble, et surtout malgré eux, ils sont recrutés pour faire du porte-à-porte. Ça n’a rien de très sexy, mais ce n’est pas la pire activité au monde non plus, surtout que peu à peu les rebondissements de la campagne électorale les rapprochent...

Rodiče v duchu islámské tradice trvají na domluveném sňatku, proto před nimi Naila tají, že se zamilovala. Pod záminkou návštěvy příbuzných odjedou všichni do Pákistánu a tam propuknou svatební přípravy. Zatímco rodina se těší na výhodné spojení, Naila si zoufá. Je pošetilé se bránit, když všechno je psáno ve hvězdách? Ale co kdyby vzala osud do vlastních rukou?

Inspirado en el bestseller #1 del New York Times Ella persistió / She Persisted de Chelsea Clinton y Alexandra Boiger, llega ahora esta serie en Chapter Books sobre mujeres que sobresalieron, lucharon y se levantaron contra viento y marea, como Malala Yousafzai. Durante su niñez en Pakistán, Malala Yousafzai tuvo que luchar contra muchos obstáculos para poder acceder a una educación. Después de ser atacada por el hecho de pelear por ese derecho, Malala llevó su lucha al escenario mundial, exigiendo el derecho a la educación para todas las niñas, en todas partes del mundo. Su activismo le valió un Premio Nobel de la Paz e inspiró a niñas y mujeres de todo el mundo a defender sus propios derechos también. En este libro biográfico escrito por la autora ganadora de varios premios Aisha Saeed, los lectores aprenderán sobre la increíble vida de Malala Yousafzai y cómo ella persistió. ¡El libro incluye una introducción de Chelsea Clinton, ilustraciones en blanco y negro y una lista de maneras en que los lectores pueden seguir los pasos de Malala Yousafzai y así marcar la diferencia! ¡Y no te pierdas los demás libros de la serie She Persisted, con muchas más mujeres que persistieron, como Coretta Scott King, Harriet Tubman, Sonia Sotomayor, Diana Taurasi y más!

A society matchmaker realizes she’s in danger when her clients’ weddings are sabotaged in increasingly disturbing ways—an utterly original mystery from New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed. “An intriguing mystery and a heartfelt romance all in one . . . fresh, original, and utterly charming.”—Liane Moriarty, author of Big Little Lies Business has never been better for Nura Khan, a third-generation matchmaker in Atlanta. Her exclusive clientele benefits from her impeccable track record. And while a single thirty-one-year-old matchmaker would normally raise some perfectly threaded eyebrows in the community, Nura’s childhood best friend, Azar, is willing to double as her pretend fiancé at her clients’ weddings—even though Nura’s feelings for him might not be so pretend. But all that glitters isn’t gold. While it’s not uncommon to get the occasional hate mail from rejected prospective clients, Nura is blindsided after a couple’s carefully constructed wedding implodes, the first in a cascading chain of suspicious and increasingly terrifying events. Someone is taking things too far, and with Azar and her matchmaking team by her side, Nura embarks on a dangerous cat-and-mouse game that threatens not only her safety but everything she’s worked so hard to build.

Jamie Goldberg no tiene ningún problema con ser voluntario para el candidato a senador de su estado, siempre y cuando le permitan estar alejado del centro de atención. Cuando se trata de hablar con extraños (o, admitámoslo, cuando se trata de hablar con cualquiera), Jamie es el peor. No hay manera de que llame a las puertas de las casas para pedir el voto de la gente... hasta que conoce a Maya.Maya Rehman está viviendo el peor Ramadán de su vida. Su mejor amiga está demasiado ocupada como para quedar con ella, su viaje de verano se ha cancelado y ahora sus padres se están separando. Tampoco entiende por qué su madre cree que la solución a sus problemas es hacer campaña política con un chico torpe al que apenas conoce.Ir de puerta en puerta no es exactamente glamuroso, pero tal vez no sea lo peor del mundo. Al fin y al cabo, las elecciones se están acercando… igual que Maya y Jamie. Dominar el activismo local es una cosa; navegar por el romance intercultural del siglo es otra cosa completamente distinta.Becky Albertalli y Aisha Saeed, autoras best seller del New York Times, han creado una historia divertida e inolvidable sobre el poder del amor y de la resistencia.

One magic carpet ride to a mysterious land, one unforgettable adventure . . . Princess Jasmine has always wanted more out of her life--to travel beyond the palace walls, to get to know her people better . . . to one day become sultana and lead Agrabah. Unfortunately, her overprotective father does not agree. And he keeps introducing her to foreign princes, including a strange--if admittedly charming--one named Ali. Prince Ali has a secret. He''s not actually royalty from the far-off kingdom of "Ababwa," as he''s claimed to be. He''s really Aladdin from the streets of Agrabah, who''s stumbled upon an all-powerful genie and a magic carpet and used the first of three wishes to become a prince. Because he, too, longs for a different life. And when "Prince Ali" presents the magic carpet to Princess Jasmine, she agrees to embark on a journey with him . . . and asks that he take her to his homeland, Ababwa. On an adventure in a fantastical kingdom, Aladdin and Jasmine get caught up in the magic therein. But soon sinister outside forces come into play, threatening to strand them there forever. Will they learn from legends past? Or will the alluring promise of a path to a new life get the best of them?

Study on the works of Ḥasrat Mūhānī, 1875-1951, Fani Badauni, 1879-1941, Aṣg̲h̲ar Gonḍvī, 1884-1936, Jīgar Murādābādī, 1890-1960, contemporary 20th century''s Urdu poets.