Sabrena Swept Away
By Karuna Riazi, Read by Marlo Underwood
Price: $5.99
Formats:
About the Book
JLG Gold Standard Selection
This lush reimagining of the classic characters from The One Thousand and One Nights is for fans of The Last Mapmaker, Mañanaland, and Graciela in the Abyss. Sabrena’s family has always claimed they are descended from the legendary sailor Sinbad. But when the sea calls Sabrena to a whole new world, she’ll have to fight for her own story.
Sabrena’s destiny—her qadr—is strong. Or so her family has always said. After all, according to her dad, they are the descendants of the legendary Sinbad the sailor, who sailed the seven seas in The One Thousand and One Nights. But Sabrena has felt anything but strong lately. Mostly, she has felt worried. Worried about being the new girl in a school everyone else has attended since kindergarten, worried about Grandma’s memory failing and her stories getting more outlandish, worried about Mom deciding that Grandma can’t even live at home anymore. Worried about the strange—almost fantastical—things that keep happening whenever she’s around water.
And then, one day, the sea’s call will not be denied. It floods into her life and sweeps her away, to be fished out of an ocean both strange and oddly familiar. It only takes her a moment to realize that she’s in the stories spun by the legendary queen Scheherazade. Yet no one has ever heard of Sinbad, nothing seems to be going quite as it does in the tales as she knows them, and a frightening jinn is terrorizing the kingdom. Can Sabrena find the courage to claim her destiny before it’s too late?
Product Details
Reviews
“A girl’s destiny is linked to her heritage and her gift for storytelling. . . . Riazi’s narrative features beautifully written, lyrical descriptions. The tale speaks to the power and connection found in stories, family, and emotions that arise in the face of loss and change.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The wondrous storybook surroundings and occasionally unsettling mythological figures are delightfully drawn, and the fast pace and shorter length will appeal to a wide range of ages. A beautiful, bite-sized fairy tale that reminds readers of the power in telling your own story.” — Booklist
“[Sabrena’s] adventures make for enjoyable reading, and the sensitively drawn family dynamics anchor Sabrena’s emotional journey. . . . This will. . . reassure readers that even when facing things beyond their control—be it climate catastrophe or a loved one’s decline—one person telling a story can make a difference.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A heartfelt portal fantasy that centers heritage, memory, and the connective power of stories. A strong choice for readers drawn to lyrical writing and emotionally resonant adventures.” — School Library Journal
About the Book
JLG Gold Standard Selection
This lush reimagining of the classic characters from The One Thousand and One Nights is for fans of The Last Mapmaker, Mañanaland, and Graciela in the Abyss. Sabrena’s family has always claimed they are descended from the legendary sailor Sinbad. But when the sea calls Sabrena to a whole new world, she’ll have to fight for her own story.
Sabrena’s destiny—her qadr—is strong. Or so her family has always said. After all, according to her dad, they are the descendants of the legendary Sinbad the sailor, who sailed the seven seas in The One Thousand and One Nights. But Sabrena has felt anything but strong lately. Mostly, she has felt worried. Worried about being the new girl in a school everyone else has attended since kindergarten, worried about Grandma’s memory failing and her stories getting more outlandish, worried about Mom deciding that Grandma can’t even live at home anymore. Worried about the strange—almost fantastical—things that keep happening whenever she’s around water.
And then, one day, the sea’s call will not be denied. It floods into her life and sweeps her away, to be fished out of an ocean both strange and oddly familiar. It only takes her a moment to realize that she’s in the stories spun by the legendary queen Scheherazade. Yet no one has ever heard of Sinbad, nothing seems to be going quite as it does in the tales as she knows them, and a frightening jinn is terrorizing the kingdom. Can Sabrena find the courage to claim her destiny before it’s too late?
Product Details
Reviews
“A girl’s destiny is linked to her heritage and her gift for storytelling. . . . Riazi’s narrative features beautifully written, lyrical descriptions. The tale speaks to the power and connection found in stories, family, and emotions that arise in the face of loss and change.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The wondrous storybook surroundings and occasionally unsettling mythological figures are delightfully drawn, and the fast pace and shorter length will appeal to a wide range of ages. A beautiful, bite-sized fairy tale that reminds readers of the power in telling your own story.” — Booklist
“[Sabrena’s] adventures make for enjoyable reading, and the sensitively drawn family dynamics anchor Sabrena’s emotional journey. . . . This will. . . reassure readers that even when facing things beyond their control—be it climate catastrophe or a loved one’s decline—one person telling a story can make a difference.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A heartfelt portal fantasy that centers heritage, memory, and the connective power of stories. A strong choice for readers drawn to lyrical writing and emotionally resonant adventures.” — School Library Journal
