{"product_id":"hafsas-way-isbn-9780593529379","title":"Hafsa's Way","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn this gripping novel by the author of the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller \u003ci\u003eAmal Unbound\u003c\/i\u003e, Hafsa pushes back against her family’s expectations—and discovers her own power.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHafsa intends to be a doctor one day, so she’s thrilled to be accepted into Bukhari Summer Science Camp for kids who share her dream. Her parents, however, do not share her enthusiasm. They don’t support the idea of girls being doctors, the camp is expensive, and they don’t want to send her off to the big city of Lahore unsupervised. But when her brother-in-law offers to pay, and he and her sister invite her to stay at their house instead of in the dorms, her parents grudgingly give in. Hafsa couldn’t be more excited, but things get off to a shaky start when it immediately becomes apparent that she accidently signed up for the wrong program. And since she’s the only one not staying in the dorms, her fellow students treat her like an outsider—and a country bumpkin. On top of all that, she’s worried about her sister, who seems to have set aside her own career goals to please her in-laws.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut Hafsa’s way is to forge ahead, whether that means finding ways to pursue her medical studies, immersing herself in the climate studies program, or taking a pivotal field trip to the zoo—where an encounter with an elephant leads to several unexpected outcomes. It’s not easy to negotiate being part of a community—and a family—that doesn’t support her dreams, but Hafsa’s never been the type to take no for an answer. She’s determined to grab any chance she can for a better future, no matter what the odds are stacked against her.“This companion to \u003ci\u003eAmal Unbound \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eOmar Rising \u003c\/i\u003ehighlights challenges that girls face in traditional households. Hafsa’s persistence and advocacy help her overcome her insecurities, and meaningful interactions create moments of introspection and understanding. Inspired by a real-life story from the Islamabad Zoo, this is a timely story. . . . Effectively blends climate change, wildlife conservation, and the tug of cultural expectations. An inspiring story showing the power of one person’s voice to make a difference.” —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Through Hafsa, Saeed artfully illustrates the challenges of trying to meet familial expectations while also forging one’s own path and making the most of life in an ever-changing world. . . . Hafsa’s desire to help both herself and others succeed is inspiring. This standalone companion to \u003ci\u003eAmal Unbound\u003c\/i\u003e will satisfy Saeed's existing fans and entice newcomers to her work.” —\u003ci\u003eBooklist \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“[Hafsa’s] disappointment soon grows into curiosity and concern for the animals in the city zoo and their deteriorating living conditions—especially for elephant, Gulab. Hafsa’s deepening attachment to Gulab and her activism against animal cruelty steadily unfolds. . . . The development of Hafsa’s passions evolves naturally and credibly, and her achievements feel well-earned.” —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Tweens will admire how [Hafsa] builds on her individual experiences to fight for something more than just herself. Whether dealing with bullies, convincing her sister to follow her own dreams, starting a campaign to send the elephant to a sanctuary, or studying hard . . . Hafsa learns when to rock the boat and when to allow other people to want different things than she does.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eAisha Saeed\u003c\/b\u003e (AishaSaeed.com) is an award-winning and \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of books for children, including her middle grade novels \u003ci\u003eOmar Rising \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eAmal Unbound \u003c\/i\u003e(a \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestseller and Global Read Aloud). Her picture book \u003ci\u003eBilal Cooks Daal\u003c\/i\u003e received an APALA honor, and she also wrote the picture books \u003ci\u003eZuni and the Memory Jar \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Together Tree. \u003c\/i\u003eAisha is also a founding member of the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books™.  She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her family.\u003cu\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI follow Amal through an endless maze of towering sugarcane.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Where are we going?” I ask her for the third time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Shh!” my best friend chides me. “If you talk too loudly, one of my sisters will hear, and there’ll be no secret conversations.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“We could talk quietly right here and—­Ouch!” I flinch as my arm grazes the jagged edge of a dried stalk. Amal shoots me a look.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt takes a few more minutes, but at last we find ourselves on the other side of the field, where a grassy plain stretches into the blue horizon. Water buffalo graze and goats bleat in the distance. Amal heads toward a narrow stream slicing the land in two. Balancing atop a fallen tree trunkthat bridges the divide, she settles down and gestures for me to join her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Why here?” I ask, though I can see it \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e a pretty spot. The stream gurgles inches from our swinging feet. Overhead, the sun slips behind a patch of feathery clouds.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You said you needed to talk about something top secret.” She gestures to the expanse stretching out around us. “This is the best spot to be free of prying eyes and ears.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You have a top secret place \u003ci\u003eI\u003c\/i\u003e didn’t even know about?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You’ve never asked for a top secret discussion before.” Amal tilts her head. “What’s up?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“See for yourself.” I pull out the folded envelope nestled in the bottom of my satchel and show it to her. She squints as she takes in the golden calligraphy. Her eyes widen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Is that . . . is that the acceptance letter from the Bukhari summer camp?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Or the \u003ci\u003erejection\u003c\/i\u003e letter.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You don’t know what it says?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I . . . I haven’t opened it yet.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Hafsa!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I know, I know. It’s just . . . I didn’t tell Amma and Abu that I applied,” I remind her. “I’ve been stalking the mailman for weeks so I’d be the one to intercept it. And now that it’s here . . . I guess I didn’t want to be alone when I got the news.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Well, I’m here now.” Amal points to the letter. “Go on. Open it.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I probably \u003ci\u003edidn’t\u003c\/i\u003e get in. It’s the best program in Pakistan. They only have a handful of spots for students who aren’t enrolled during the regular school year.” I shrug. “It’s not a big deal either way.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmal nods agreeably, even though we both know I’m lying. This \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e a big deal. I’ve had my eye on this camp for months, ever since my teacher told us about attending it herself when she was my age. I’d studied Miss Sadia’s faded flyer until I’d practically memorized it. This session is a four-­week program for girls who are curious about a career in medicine—­shadowing not just doctors but also researchers who are trying to find cures for all sorts of different diseases, and \u003ci\u003ealso\u003c\/i\u003e spending class time doing other fun stuff, like dissecting worms and frogs. Miss Sadia ended up changing her mind when she grew up and became a teacher instead, but I \u003ci\u003eknow\u003c\/i\u003e that I want to be a doctor, so this program is tailor-­made for me. I \u003ci\u003ehad\u003c\/i\u003e to apply. I also knew my parents’ answer would be no if I asked them. So I didn’t. Figured I’d worry about that later, if I actually got in. And now? Later has arrived. This thin envelope holds my fate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNervously, I tear at the wax seal. Pull out the neatly folded letter. My eyes travel over the words. I read them once. Then again to be certain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo the parents of Hafsa Imtiaz,\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCongratulations!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe are pleased to extend an invitation to the Bukhari Summer Science Camp for the upcoming B session. Our top-­of-­the-­line courses are taught by nationally certified educators with supplemental learning, excursion experiences, and more provided by renowned experts in their field.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlease secure your child’s spot by June 24. Classes begin on July 13. Course fees include all outings and food for the duration of your child’s stay. Lodging is additional. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing your child soon.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStay learning and stay curious! Here’s to a Bukhari-­tastic summer!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWarmly,\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Bukhari Summer Science Camp Team\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Out with it!” Amal pokes me. “What does it say?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“It says . . . it says \u003ci\u003eyes\u003c\/i\u003e!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmal squeals and tackle-­hugs me so hard I nearly lose my balance, my sandals dipping into the cool stream below. I laugh. The pressure that had been bubbling in me all these weeks fades. I feel so light right now, I could float away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I knew it! Hafsa, this is incredible!” She grins. “Don’t get me wrong. Four weeks dissecting frogs doesn’t sound like \u003ci\u003emy\u003c\/i\u003e idea of a good time, but you probably can’t think of anything more exciting, right?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI’m about to respond, but then I flip to the next page. My giddy relief fades.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“What’s wrong?” Amal asks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The fees.” I stare at the number for tuition plus lodging.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmal leans over, then gapes at the numbers. “That’s ridiculous! My father just paid that much for his new motorbike!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI sink back to earth like a deflated balloon. Of \u003ci\u003ecourse \u003c\/i\u003ethere’d be a high cost for a program like this. I’d been so fixated on whether I’d get in and how I’d convince my parents to let me attend that I hadn’t stopped to think about this part.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“It’s impossible,” I say.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Well . . . it \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e a big number.” Amal bites her lip. “But it’s also a big opportunity, right?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I don’t think Abu will see it like that.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Start with your mother? Convince her to convince your dad?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI shake my head. “She’ll say everything has to go through him.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You never know, your father could surprise you. He’ll probably say no \u003ci\u003eat first\u003c\/i\u003e. But you’ll convince him. You will! No one’s telling \u003ci\u003eyou\u003c\/i\u003e no.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmal laughs when I side-­eye her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This is different than getting a new pair of shoes for Eid or even riding my bike around town—­and you know how hard it was to convince my father that it was okay for a girl to be on a bike. This is climbing to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro level of difficulty.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Well, people \u003ci\u003ehave\u003c\/i\u003e climbed that mountain, haven’t they? Sure, these fees are high, but if it’ll help you become a doctor, it will be worth it. Doctors make lots of money, don’t they?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I could tell him I’ll pay him back,” I say slowly. “I definitely would.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You shouldn’t \u003ci\u003ehave\u003c\/i\u003e to pay him back! You’re always working at your family’s market.” She straightens a bit. “You want to know what I think? I think you’ve earned it.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI \u003ci\u003edo\u003c\/i\u003e help Abu most days. I’ve been working at our family produce market since I was old enough to poke my head out from behind the counter. And ever since my sister, Shabnam, got married and moved away a few months ago, I’ve been at the market whenever I’m not in school.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Shabnam lives in Lahore,” I say slowly. “She could promise my parents that she’ll check on me if they’re worried about my being so far away.” I brighten. Maybe I could see her on the weekends! My sister and I used to do everything together before she got married.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You’ll figure out a way to make it work,” Amal says, sounding so sure as she gives me a hug.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI hug her back. This is what best friends are for, right? To remind you of your strength when you’re feeling wobbly. This camp costs a lot of money. A \u003ci\u003ewhole\u003c\/i\u003e lot of money. I know it won’t be as easy as Amal’s making it out to be. But this is important. I’ll work on my father. I’ll convince him. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe’ll come around. He has to.","brand":"Nancy Paulsen Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233213100261,"sku":"NP9780593529379","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780593529379.jpg?v=1767728614","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/hafsas-way-isbn-9780593529379","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}