Samira's Worst Best Summer: A Humorous Tween Mystery About Friendship, Belonging, and Muslim Kids (Ages 8-12)

From the author of Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year comes another wryly humorous tween novel about finding belonging in an unexpected place. A must-read for fans of Hena Khan, Kelly Yang, and Karina Yan Glaser.

Samira knows this is going to be the worst summer ever. Her best friend, Kiera, ditched her for the cool girls. Her parents and older sister are taking a trip to India, so Sammy is staring down endless weeks spent with Imran, her little brother, and her Umma. To top it all off―literally!―her house gets TP’d. 

The TP’ing upsets Imran, who is convinced that they’re being targeted because they’re the only brown family on the block. When Sammy attempts to solve the problem, she creates a bigger mess instead. But she also meets new girl Alice, who is determined to figure out who was behind the TP’ing.

Suddenly, Sammy’s “boring” summer is full of clue-finding hunts, garage band practices, and getting to know her neighbors like never before. But when Kiera starts stealing Alice away, Sammy must decide if she wants to stand up for herself. One thing is certain: This summer is either going to be the worst (or maybe the best) of Samira’s life.

One TP’d house. One new friend. And a summer that will change everything.

• A Neighborhood Whodunit: Who toilet-papered Samira’s house, and why? Follow the clues as she and new girl Alice try to solve the case.
• Losing a Best Friend: A funny and heartfelt exploration of navigating the hurt when your lifelong best friend ditches you for the cool girls.
• Funny Grandmother: Meet Umma, Samira’s “secret weapon” of a grandmother, who proves that family is always there for you, even when they’re a little embarrassing.
• Coming of Age: From shy observer to garage band roadie, this is a relatable story about stepping out of your comfort zone and learning to make some noise.

Nina Hamza is a writer and physician who lives in Minnesota. She struggles with math, calculating time zones, and parking. She is the author of Ahmed Aziz's Epic Year. Her favorite part of being a writer has been meeting kids who learned something from her books that she hadn't even intended. Visit her online at ninahamza.com.