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“A girl struggling with change finds herself swept into a fantasy “world next door” heavily informed by her Lebanese-immigrant grandmother’s stories. …In her first novel for children, Abu-Jaber includes pieces of Beirut…—meals they prepared together like kibbee, bamia, and tabbouleh; the adthan, or call to prayer—evoking a powerful image of that place while acknowledging Sami’s bicultural American experience. An exciting fantasy with familiar elements—magical creatures, high stakes, and courage—rich with Lebanese texture.”

– Kirkus Reviews

Silverworld

Written by Diana Abu-Jaber
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers

Sitti, Sami’s Lebanese grandmother, has been ill for a while, slipping from reality and speaking in a language only Sami can understand. Her family thinks Sitti belongs in a nursing home, but Sami doesn’t believe she’s sick at all. Desperate to help, Sami casts a spell from her grandmother’s mysterious charm book and falls through an ancient mirror into a world unlike any other.

Welcome to Silverworld, an enchanted city where light and dark creatures called Flickers and Shadows strive to live in harmony. But lately Flickers have started going missing, and powerful Shadow soldiers are taking over the land.

Everyone in Silverworld suspects that Shadow Queen Nixie is responsible for the chaos, which is bad enough. But could Nixie be holding Sami’s grandmother in her grasp too? To save Sitti and Silverworld, Sami must brave adventure, danger, and the toughest challenge of all: change.

Primary ISBN: 9780553509670
Publication Date: March 2020
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (Florida), Fictional Location

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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