Forty Words for Love
Written by Aisha Saeed
Published by Penguin Young Readers Group
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?
Primary ISBN: 9780593326466
Publication Date: August 2023
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Young Adult, Age 12 or older
Community Represented: Unspecified
Themes: Allegory, Audiobook, Cross-Group Dating, Cross-Group Friendship, Discrimination: Immigration Status, Family Relationship: Parents, Genre: Fantasy & Folklore, Genre: Romance, Refugee: Unspecified, Trauma & Healing: Death of Family or Friend, Welcoming by Individual
Setting: Moonlight Bay (Magical)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Immigrant, In Home Country
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