Aisha Bushby blends the logic of a video game quest with a sensory journey into the past to explore a fractured mother daughter relationship. Safiya navigates vivid memories of Kuwait to solve a family mystery while her mother is in a coma. Books in this family share magical realism, cultural discovery, and characters reconciling with their parents.
A parent would reach for this book when their child is experiencing a disconnect with a family member or navigating the heavy, confusing emotions of a loved one's serious illness. Safiya is a thirteen-year-old girl who struggles to relate to her mother, but when her mother falls into a coma, Safiya is transported into a magical, video-game-like version of her mother's childhood in Kuwait. Through these vivid memories, Safiya collects 'stars' to bring her mother back, learning about her mother's identity beyond just being a parent. It is a beautiful, emotionally resonant choice for middle-grade readers (ages 9-13) that balances the weight of grief with the wonder of discovery and the healing power of cultural heritage.
