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About this item
Highlights
- Now in paperback, from New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed comes a luminous young adult novel about two teen protagonists who grow from friends to something more in the aftermath of a tragedy in their magical town.
- 8.2" x 5.4" Paperback
- 304 Pages
- Young Adult Fiction, Magical Realism
Description
Book Synopsis
Now in paperback, from New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed comes a luminous young adult novel about two teen protagonists who grow from friends to something more in the aftermath of a tragedy in their magical town. Moonlight Bay is a magical place--or it once was. After a tragic death mars the town, the pink and lavender waters in the bay turn gray, and the forest that was a refuge for newcomers becomes a scourge to the townspeople. Almost overnight, the entire town seems to become devoid of life and energy. The tourists stop coming. And the people in the town are struggling. This includes the two teens at the heart of our story: Yasmine and Raf. Yas is a child of the town, and her parents are trying and failing to make ends meet. Raf is an immigrant, a child of Willow Forest. The forest of Moonlight Bay was where people from Raf's community relocated when their home was destroyed. Except Moonlight Bay is no longer a welcoming refuge, and tensions between the townspeople and Raf's people are growing. Yas and Raf have been friends since he first arrived, nearly ten years ago. As they grew older, their friendship blossomed. Not that they would ever act on these feelings. The forest elders have long warned that falling in love with "outsiders" will lead to devastating consequences for anyone from Willow Forest. But is this actually true? Can Yas and Raf find a way to be together despite it all?Review Quotes
"Filled with Aisha Saeed's dazzling writing and profound insight into the human heart, Forty Words for Love is a tale of shimmering magic and searing heartbreak, a story of unexpected adversaries and surprising allies, and an unforgettable romance that's equal parts gentle and powerful."
--Anna-Marie McLemore, author of National Book Award longlist selection Self-Made Boys
About the Author
Aisha Saeed's novels include the New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Written in the Stars, Yes No Maybe So (with Becky Albertalli), Diana and the Island of No Return, and Forty Words for Love, and her picture books include Bilal Cooks Daal and The Together Tree. She is a Pakistani American writer, teacher, and attorney. She has been featured on MTV, the Huffington Post, NBC and the BBC. As one of the founding members of the We Need Diverse Books Campaign, she is helping change the conversation about representation in literature. Aisha lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and sons. Find her online at www.aishasaeed.com.Dimensions (Overall): 8.2 Inches (H) x 5.4 Inches (W) x .9 Inches (D)
Weight: .6 Pounds
Sub-Genre: Magical Realism
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Number of Pages: 304
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Format: Paperback
Author: Aisha Saeed
Language: English
Street Date: June 4, 2024
TCIN: 90215521
UPC: 9780593326473
Item Number (DPCI): 247-36-1446
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 0.9 inches length x 5.4 inches width x 8.2 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.6 pounds
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3.5 out of 5 stars with 2 reviews
100% would recommend
1 recommendations
YA fantasy
3 out of 5 stars
bostieslovebooks - 1 year ago
After tragedy strikes their magical town, two teen friends’ relationship evolves into something more. The premise of FORTY WORDS FOR LOVE caught my attention but unfortunately, I didn’t end up liking the book as I anticipated. The impact of the themes of immigration, refugees, tolerance, acceptance, and community seemed to be diminished by the extremely slow pace, odd worldbuilding, and underdeveloped characters. I wish the overall execution had worked better as there were some meaningful messages that likely would have been stronger. I liked the concept of FORTY WORDS FOR LOVE but it unfortunately wasn’t a good fit for me. It may work better for other readers interested in YA fantasy/romance/magical realism. This is the first book I’ve read by Aisha Saeed. Despite this one not working for me, I’d still be interested in checking out her other works.
Beautifully written magical realism
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
lurkykitty - 2 years ago
Yas and Raf live in Moonlight Bay where tourism once thrived because of the town's magical pink and lavender ocean, until one night, a tragedy occurred, and the ocean and sky turned dark. The tourists stop coming, a major employer leaves, and the town starts to die. Raf is Golub, part of a group of immigrants who came to Moonlight Bay through the magical Golub tree because their land has frozen over and become uninhabitable. Some of the townspeople blame the Golub for the tragedy which has led to the town dying. Yas' family has lived in the town for generations and their livelihood has depended on shells from the magical ocean. Yas and Raf are best friends whose romantic feelings for each other are evolving. A romantic relationship between them is forbidden. The story follows their exploration of their feelings for each other and their desire to forge their own path, independent of family expectations, against the backdrop of a dying town where tensions are mounting. Forty Words for Love tackles important issues such as immigration, xenophobia, racism, environmental exploitation, grief, fear and loss. It is beautifully written genre bending magical realism with vivid worldbuilding and many parallels to our own world.