The Henna Wars

Description

When Nishat comes out to her parents, they say she can be anyone she wants-as long as she isn't herself. Because Muslim girls aren't lesbians. Nishat doesn't want to hide who she is, but she also doesn't want to lose her relationship with her family. And her life only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flavia is beautiful and charismatic and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flavia and Nishat choose to do henna, even though Flavia is appropriating Nishat's culture. Amidst sabotage and school stress, their lives get more tangled-but Nishat can't quite get rid of her crush on Flavia, and realizes there might be more to her than she realized.

Adiba Jaigirdar is a Bangladeshi/Irish writer and teacher.She is a contributor for Bookriot and an editor/writer for Cultured Vultures. Previously, she has published short fiction and poetry in various journals and anthologies. She lives in Dublin, Ireland.

"This is a book that will speak to teens who are navigating their own tightrope of identities and assure them that it's okay to be messy, as long as you own up to your mistakes and try to be better moving forward." --NPR "[The Henna Wars] will give you a deeper understanding of social justice and friendship. And, how to ALWAYS be the best version of yourself, even if you're a baller." --Teen Vogue "If lesbian enemies-to-lovers between rival Henna business-owning teen girls set in Ireland can't sell you on a book, nothing will." --Buzzfeed * Authentic and inspiring, this debut is one to seek out. --Shelf Awareness, starred review * "Debut author Jaigirdar seamlessly weaves issues of racism and homophobia into a fast-moving plot peopled with richly drawn characters...Impossible to put down." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review a wholly uncontrived story with lesbians who aren't just brown but diverse in a multitude of ways. --Booklist Deeply satisfying... Highly recommended for fans of school stories that celebrate intersectional experiences. --SLJ