Naila only has eyes for Saif in California. She breathes, sleeps, and dreams about him, longing for life together forever with him. But her parents have other ideas.

They are aghast at the notion of her choosing her own mate. They decide to set their daughter straight by traveling to Pakistan so she will know her roots. Saif is ever hopeful that Naila's parents will change their minds, but such a metamorphosis does not seem likely. 

Naila meets so many people in Pakistan, as her mother and father keep a steady entourage of men flowing through their front doors, so much so that it exhausts the teen. She wishes the visitors would take a break so she would not be required to entertain them constantly. She is perplexed by all of the activity until someone lets her in on what is really going on: her parents are evaluating potential suitors for her and negotiating dowries with their families.

Naila feels shocked and betrayed by her kin. She longs for Saif's sweet touch and reassuring words, but fears she will never see him again. Meanwhile, discussions about a mate for her are escalating to a fever pitch. One suitor, Amin, is thrust upon her against her wishes.

After a sham marriage ceremony occurs, he forces himself upon her, an experience Naila would rather put behind her and obliterate from her memory. The sexual trauma adds to the nightmare she is already living, and desperate to escape. Her family's actions, and her mother-in-law's aggressive nature, sear into the young girl's psyche. Saif is the only flame of light in her life.

Written In the Stars by Aisha Saeed, 2015

This was a disturbing view of arranged marriage in Pakistan.

Books about Pakistan

Books about arranged marriage

Aisha Saeed's website

Eden is a girl with an unusual past… very unusual. She has lived for many years, and exists in girl form though, for decades, she had been stuck in a lamp. No free time playing, just sitting in a boring old piece of metal. Not exactly a girl's sense of fun.

Until… she breaks free from both her lamp and her responsibilities. No more wish-granting and cog-in-the-wheel type of existence. This girl is going to live it up.

First stop in Eden's freedom adventure: the Big Apple. There, she hangs with fellow genies, Pepper and Violet. Violet has lived in virtually every neighborhood over the centuries, and details the pros and cons of each extensively with Eden. Throughout their sightseeing adventures, the women observe mortals simply going about their finite lives with activities whose purpose seems to elude Eden.

Eden loves all the activity, which she takes in with wide eyes. However, she does not follow the instructions of higher-ranking genies to the letter, and they are not pleased with her. Eden only has good intentions, and wishes that Pepper, Delta, and Bola would either leave her alone or be nicer to her. 

Eden's Escape by M. Tara Crowl, 2016|

This is a very fun, carefree book. I saw the author present at the Bronx Library Center a few years ago.

M. Tara Crowl's website

Books about genies

Riley used to be overweight. Then, suddenly, she was not. When the girl hit puberty and tired of popular Talia's relentless mockery, the tween takes up track. She loves becoming thinner, and running  serves as a means to an end. As her weight drops, she feels more and more victorious. But her grades drop… and her parents become concerned.

One night, Riley sits eating a salad with her family, her mother begs her to eat some lasagna. The tween eyes the full-fat mozzarella cheese with longing, but will not allow herself to consume any. The next day, her mom calls the hospital to inquire about admitting her daughter into the eating disorders unit.

Riley is obsessed with food and weighing as little as possible. She fears foods with a high fat content such as peanut butter. She refuses to eat in front of other people because consuming nutrients causes her an intolerable amount of anxiety. She even misses her best friend Josie's 13th birthday party because she feels unable to face the loads of junk food the girls will eat. Riley used to think of things other than food, but now it is all she considers.

Ed (aka her eating disorder) has taken over the youngster's life. The hospital she lands in supposedly has a "really good program." Riley's roommate is Ali, who is so thin she walks around with an IV that provides her with nutrition. At first, Riley feels alone, but then makes friends with the other girls. She especially likes talking to Brenna, who is bulimic.

Willow, her therapist, presses Riley to discuss her feelings. Heather accompanies the girls at mealtime, stands outside the bathroom, and conducts "check-ins" with them. All the patients have such difficulty with eating and food, but the staff and other girls talk them through it.  The girls must finish all meals and snacks. Exercise is forbidden, and their days are filled with group therapy, individual therapy, and bonding with each other. 

Riley's mom and sister, Julia, come to the hospital to visit her on family days. Gradually, Riley starts envisioning life without "Ed" and a fascination with all things food and nothing but food. She likes drawing and art, as does her sister and many of the other patients. The tween contemplates pursuing a career in art, a goal that seems much more laudable than accomplishing a life of slimness.

Good Enough by Jen Petro-Roy, 2019

This work is an interesting look into eating disorder units in hospitals.

Jen Petro-Roy's website

Books about eating disorders