Marya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party (Marya Khan #1)

August 1, 2022
A soon-to-be tween has big plans for her eighth birthday. Marya Khan can't stand that Alexa R. was born two days before her. Alexa, her rich neighbor who wears gorgeous outfits ("Who even wears fancy dresses to school?") and carries a glittery unicorn backpack, always has a big party for her birthday. Marya, on the other hand, observes the day by having pizza and cake with her family and her best friend, Hanna. Jealousy rears its ugly yet understandable head, and after seeing a girl on TV with henna on her hands, Marya decides she wants to throw an epic henna party. But her plan of buttering up her family with Operation Help the Khans keeps getting messed up, leading to mayhem, fun, and lots of shattered hopes, which make up for the slightly predictable ending. There's so much to love about Marya. She's spunky, persistent, and resourceful. Her best friend is supportive, her family exasperatingly adorable, and Alexa a worthy nemesis--though Faruqi makes clear that much of what makes her irritating is in Marya's head. Each chapter is prefaced with an excerpt from Marya's "Word of the Day" diary, offering a glimpse of what's going to unfold next. Bushry's charming black-and-white illustrations enhance this breezy read. Marya and her family are Pakistani American and Muslim; Alexa appears light-skinned in the artwork, while Hanna is tan-skinned. A delightful story of friendship, family, and upended expectations. (Chapter book. 6-9)

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October 1, 2022

Gr 1-3-Seven-year-old Pakistani American Marya Khan is on the precipice of turning eight, and she has big ambitions for this year's birthday celebration. Unfortunately, Baba and Mama are not on the same page with Marya's plans-instead they want to do their traditional low-key, pizza-and-cake family celebration. To make matters worse, Marya's neighbor Alexa's birthday is two days before hers, and that celebration will be one for the books. While Marya only gets to invite her best friend Hanna to her party, Alexa is inviting the whole class. As Alexa is distributing her party invites, Marya blurts out that she, too, is having a birthday party with fairy lights, yummy food, and henna! Of course, her parents haven't agreed to any of this, so Marya sets out on an ill-fated crusade to convince her parents that this year must be the year of the incredible henna party. Short chapters are sprinkled with simple, expressive illustrations that will keep readers who are transitioning to more text-heavy chapter books engaged. Culturally specific terms, like daal, shalwar kameez, and paratha, will be welcome by readers of South Asian descent and embraced by others not part of that community. VERDICT This early chapter book will find favor with fans of "Definitely Dominguita" and "JoJo Makoons" and has broad appeal. Readers will look forward to reading more of plucky Marya's adventures.-Sarah Simpson

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 31, 2022
Third grader Marya Khan is tired of her birthday arriving two days after that of her popular and wealthy next-door neighbor Alexa. Each year, Alexa, who reads as white, throws an extravagant, well-attended fete, while Marya celebrates by eating pizza and cake with her best friend and family. Mama and Baba won’t take on a larger party, citing limited resources, but after Alexa brags about her shindig one too many times, Marya says she’s throwing one of her own—a henna party inspired by her dadi’s favorite Pakistani dramas. With only a few days to go and no parental permission, Marya encounters various obstacles, navigating family, friends, and themes of integrity versus desire en route to a feel-good end that takes everyone’s needs into account. Chapters each begin with a “Word of the Day” that hint at events to come. A lively voice brings the large cast to life in this fast-paced, entertaining chapter book from Faruqi (the Meet Yasmin! series). B&w vignettes by Bushry (Queen Baby) foreground the characters. Ages 6–9. Author’s agent: Kari Sutherland, Bradford Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Christy Ewers, CAT Agency.

November 1, 2022
Grades 1-3 Pakistani American Marya, an irrepressible third-grader, frets over her upcoming eighth birthday in this appealing early chapter book. The tween is miffed at being one-upped by Alexa, her impeccable neighbor and classroom deskmate, who is two days older and always throws the biggest bashes on the block. High jinks ensue when Marya impulsively fabricates an epic henna party of her own and then launches a campaign to convince her parents to actually make it happen. While her do-good plan (dubbed "Operation Help the Khans") goes comically awry, her heart is always in the right place. Excerpts from Marya's "Word of the Day" diary preface each of the 12 short chapters, providing vocabulary-building definitions and hints at plot points. Bushry's expressive black-and-white cartoon vignettes capture a loving, multigenerational Muslim family and their slice-of-life activities, including sibling squabbles at the kitchen table and grocery-shopping excursions. Marya's realistic and irrepressible narrative voice makes this a series to celebrate.

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