How to Free a Jinn
Written by Raidah Shah Idil
Published by Salaam Reads
Insyirah’s calm, orderly world falls into chaos when her proud nenek (grandmother) has a bad fall, and Insyirah and her mother must move back to Malaysia to take care of her.
Her new home holds wild and dangerous mysteries, and while finding her feet, Insyirah discovers a shocking secret: the women in her family can control jinn—powerful, ancient jungle spirits—and, one day, she will inherit one of her own. What’s more, her new school is haunted by an evil spirit determined to force her out of Malaysia.
As Insyirah discovers the fascinating ways of the seen and unseen worlds, she finds danger around every corner. And when her family situation grows perilous, she must gather all her resilience to overcome unexpected obstacles and make a life-changing decision.
Primary ISBN: 9781665982634
Publication Date: November 2025
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older
Community Represented: Chinese/Chinese American, Indian/Indian American, Malaysian/Malaysian American
Themes: Coming of Age, Cross-Group Friendship, Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Celebrations & Traditions, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Food, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Identity, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Family Relationship: Parents, Generation: 1st, Genre: Fantasy & Folklore, Identity: Exploration, Identity: Multilingual, Multilingual: Malay Featured Words, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Religious Background: Muslim, Setting: Home Country, Trauma & Healing, Trauma & Healing: Illness, Trauma & Healing: Intergenerational, Welcoming by Individual
Setting: Australia (Sydney), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation, Home Country
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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