This looks beautiful! I got this as a wishlist present for the birthday group, but now think it looks so tempting I may have to read it myself first. ;)

Nadira works as a servant and lives away from her mother and little brother Umar, so she keeps a diary with all the things she would tell Umar if he was there. She tells him the little things that go on every day, but also her memories from happier days -- times when their father was alive, when they didn't have to rely on the charity of their mean uncle Rubel, and when Nadira didn't and that Umar may be too young to remember.
This sets the scene and introduces us to a close-knit family going through hard times; then, the "real" story starts when Umar is kidnapped, and Nadira has to be as brave and as wise as Shahrazad to find him.

I'm so glad I got a chance to read this -- this is an uplifting story and, what with the "migrant crisis", its message felt more important than ever. Too many people lose their homes and their livelihoods; yet, love and kindness exist in the most hostile environments, so that, given half a chance, a smart and compassionate person can make all the difference.

Still, this story has fuelled the phase of rabid humanism I'm currently experiencing: how shitty does a culture (or a religion) have to be to make their people feel so small and worthless? How does a society dare to effectively cripple at least half of its population, and for such rubbish and contrived concepts as "honour" or "purity"?
If a simple but eternally true tale like this cannot cause people to forsake their old-fashioned and inhumane traditions and embrace all of mankind regardless of their sex, gender, physique or wealth, I don't know what could.

Thanks a lot for thinking of sending me this book! One more granted wish!

This short story was quite interesting and a fast reading!
This book was given to a fellow bookcrosser!

The book was given to me by alexiapapa. Looking forward to reading it!