Book of the Week

Set in Melbourne, Akeal’s family of seven siblings are thrown into turmoil when their Tayta falls ill in Lebanon.

Mum and Dad leave the horrified siblings behind in the care of the awful Aunt Amel, who quickly treats them like her own personal servants… Things are not going well at all!

Akeal’s ever confident nine-year-old sister Huda has had enough, and takes matters into her own hands, booking them plane tickets to Lebanon. But can they really travel half way across the globe to their parents who will make everything alright?

This is a wonderful adventure with themes of culture, discrimination, siblings and family, and determination. These are some deep topics but handled lightly, and with good outcomes, that make it a terrific novel for readers 9 - 13 years old.

Reviewed by Lamont Books