How to Free a Jinn

A Malay Muslim tween contends with the consequences of a generational connection with spirits in Idil’s energetic debut. After her grandmother, Nenek, suffers a fall, 12-year-old Insyirah and her mother must move from Australia to Malaysia to care for Nenek. Though Syirah worries about leaving behind everything she’s ever known and fears potential complications around establishing accommodations for her anxiety at school, she quickly finds belonging with classmates Nadia, who is Indian Muslim, and Chinese Malaysian Kai Xin. Soon however, she becomes plagued by visions of a boy named Ari, whom none of her new friends can see, and learns that her mother and Nenek can also view spirits called jinn—and that Ari isn’t the only jinn Syirah perceives. There is an evil spirit haunting her school, and upon realizing that her family has a history with the jinn—one that proves potentially dangerous—Syirah teams up with Ari and her aikido teacher, Sensei Bilquis, to confront the supernatural beings. Syirah’s relationship with Malaysian culture, as well as her desire to overcome her perceived limitations to protect herself and her loved ones, adds dimensionality to this bustling mythological adventure. Ages 8–12. (Nov.)