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Iasmin Omar Ata reminds us "you never know what could be waiting for you tomorrow" in Nayra and the Djinn

An exclusive look into the upcoming coming-of-age graphic novel by Iasmin Omar Ata

Pastel toned illustration of a girl and a large purple djinn sitting on a crescent moon, smiling at each other
Image credit: Penguin Random House
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Feature by Tiffany Babb Deputy Editor
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Iasmin Omar Ata's forthcoming graphic novel Nayra and the Djinn is a coming-of-age story that melds the world of magic fantasy with Islamic folklore. The book follows Nayra as she deals with the stresses of school, family, and friends, and how meeting a djinn changes her life.

Book cover in pastel colors that reads Nayra and the Djinn and features a girl in a white shirt and purple pants and a large purple djinn sitting on a crescent moon and smiling at each other
Image credit: Penguin Random House

"At the beginning of the story, Nayra is caught between worlds, in the sense that she feels like she can never truly be herself and never be quite where she wants. She can’t express herself to her overbearing family, but when she has an opportunity to mesh with a group where she could express herself, she doesn’t feel like she can reach out," Iasmin Omar Ata tells Popverse. "She desperately wants to leave her school, but is stuck with waiting for who-knows-how long before she can get a chance. She feels caught in a nexus point of uncertainty, of things never working out — but she doesn’t know that something life-changing is just around the corner.

"Something for all of us to remember is this: no matter how confusing or hopeless things may seem today, you never know what could be waiting for you tomorrow."

Nayra and the Djinn is being published by Penguin Young Readers, which describes the book as a story where "nothing is going right for Nayra Mansour."

"Between the constant pressure from her strict family, ruthless bullying from her classmates, and exhausting friendship demands from Rami – the only other Muslim girl at school – Nayra has had enough. Just when she's considering transferring schools to escape it all, a mysterious djinn named Marjan appears," the description continues. "As a djinn, a mythical being in Islamic folklore, Marjan uses their powers and wisdom to help Nayra navigate her overwhelming life. But Marjan's past in the djinn realm is fraught with secrets, guilt, and trouble, and if they don’t face what they’ve done with the help of their newfound friendship, Nayra could pay the price."

Read the exclusive excerpt of Nayra and the Djinn here:

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Book cover in pastel colors that reads Nayra and the Djinn and features a girl in a white shirt and purple pants and a large purple djinn sitting on a crescent moon and smiling at each other A comics page featuring a house, then a girl walking into the house. The bottom of the page, there's an unconnected world balloon that reads "Nayra!" A comics page with a white background with a woman yelling "Nayra!" "Are you trying to run upstairs without saying hello again? You've been holed up in your room too much lately... you'd better be studying!" One figure responds "Mom Just chill." with a girl running up the stairs saying "It's none of your business." and slamming the door Comics panel with a dark purple background. A girl is reading her emails. She says "Lots of people today! Look at that. They all seem so nice... Maybe I should try... Nah never mind." Illustrated comics page featuring a hand over white squares representing text messages. And a girl laying on her bed reading. The thought bubbles read "Whien I was little. My family used to tell me all these stories. Ghouls. Qarinahs.. and Djinns. They all seemed so cool and mysterious... so different.I/ I Know I'm older now. But still, whenever I think about all this stuff, I feel a little lighter. Like I don't have to focus on all the complicated stuff that keeps happening lately." Comics page featuring purple star background, and clouds that read "It makes me kinda wish I could see one. Day 7 of Ramadan. First Quarter. Even just once..." And closed eyes.
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Nayra and the Djinn will go on sale February 28. Pick it up from your local bookshop.

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