Hope everyone is doing well, September has been a busy month overall. I’ve been mostly focused on the Orilium magical readathon. I’m sorry to just be getting around to these reviews. I don’t think I would have picked up Golden Girl by Reem Farqui if it hadn’t been for the cover. It fit the prompt for one of the subjects I needed for the Orilium quest. The book had to have jewelry on the cover. I particularly liked Aafiyah’s outfit and and jewelry, so I chose it. The book turned out to be pretty good. While it didn’t blow me out of the water. I like the way the story was told in lyrical form, I’ve seen other books like this style. The specific book it reminds me of is Red, White and Whole by Rajani LaRocca.
The book focuses on seventh grader Aafiyah. She is a Muslim young woman who is focused on her family, tennis and weird but true facts. Aafiyah only has one little bad habit, she likes to take things that don’t belong her. However, it hasn’t proved harmful, and while she does feel guilty. Aafiyah doesn’t think it is causing any major problems as she usually returns the items.
Her habits regarding her kleptomania start to change when her family goes back to Pakistan. They are in Pakistan to bring back her grandfather who needs cancer treatment in the United States. When her family is trying to leave Pakistan her father is held for a crime he says he didn’t commit. The rest of Aafiyah’s family is forced to go back to the US without her father and her grandmother. They aren’t able to stay because her grandfather needs immediate treatment
While her father is detained As her father is detained her family starts having financial trouble. This trouble comes from both from the cost of her grandfather’s cancer treatment. As well as the fact that her father has lost his job. As they tighten their belts Aafiyah’s stealing moves to a new level.
Thinking she has to help her mother with the bills Aafiyah steals some jewelry from her neighbor’s sister. While Aafiyah doesn’t get caught at first, she is caught trying to return the jewelry.
Her mother focuses on helping her control her kleptomania. While she is thinking about what she did. She goes to cancer treatments with her grandfather and visits the mosque. Eventually her father is released and her family is back together. She gets a chance to apologize to her friend and improve her life. Overall its a middle of the road book. Though it was the first one I’ve read that dealt with kleptomania. I’d give it three and a half stars. Not bad but not knocking me out of the park.
Rose's Book Garden 