When neighborhood queen bee Zara is threatened by new girl Naomi, Zara decides to break a Guinness World Record to get everyone to notice her again, until she realizes that maybe sharing her crown wouldn’t be so bad. Simultaneous and eBook. Illustrations. - (Baker & Taylor)
From the beloved author of Amina’s Voice comes the first book in a humor-filled middle grade series starring a young Muslim girl with an endless list of hobbies who searches for ways to maximize fun for her family and neighborhood friends.
Meet Zara Saleem, the queen of the neighborhood.
Zara’s in charge of it all: she organizes the games, picks the teams, and makes sure everyone has a good time…and they always do.
When a new family moves in across the street, suddenly Zara’?s reign is threatened by Naomi, who has big ideas of her own about how the neighborhood kids can have fun. To get everyone to notice her again, Zara decides she’s going to break a Guinness World Record—if her little brother Zayd doesn’t mess things up.
But when she finds herself increasingly alone in her record-breaking quest, Zara starts to wonder if sharing the crown and making a new friend might end up being the best rule of all. - (Simon and Schuster)
Hena Khan is a Pakistani American writer. She is the author of the middle grade novels Amina’s Voice, Amina’s Song, More to the Story, Drawing Deena, and the Zara’s Rules series and picture books Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, and It’s Ramadan, Curious George, among others. Hena lives in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland, with her family. You can learn more about Hena and her books by visiting her website at HenaKhan.com or connecting with her @HenaKhanBooks. - (Simon and Schuster)
Booklist Reviews
After following Zayd Saleem in his own trilogy (Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream, 2020), Khan gives older sister Zara the spotlight in this new series. Zara adores her tight-knit neighborhood friend group, and she excels at organizing activities that keep their exploits fair and fun. She'd prefer to maintain her carefully orchestrated balance, but when Naomi moves in across the street and introduces new possibilities, Zara's title of "Queen of the Neighborhood" is threatened. A jealous Zara determines that she has to do something big to regain attention, and an old copy of The Guinness Book of World Records inspires her to action. After a few humorous false starts, Zara settles on Hula-Hooping, but Zayd scuttles that, too. Can she learn to share the crown and expand the fun? In turns heartfelt and humorous, the story beautifully captures the trials of new friendships and jealousies. Short chapters and appealing illustrations will keep emerging readers absorbed (and certain to brainstorm record-breaking activities of their own). A strong start to a series that readers will happily follow into the future. Grades 2-5. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.
