  | Once there was Author: Monsef, Kiyash | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
When fifteen-year-old Iranian American Marjan discovers her murdered father was secretly a veterinarian to magical creatures, she realizes she must take up his mantle, despite the many dangers.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.90 Points: 16.0 Quiz: 521662 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/15/23)
Booklist (03/15/23)
The Hornbook (00/05/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 03/15/2023 “Once was, once wasn’t.” Monsef’s debut novel opens with a fable about a girl who saves a unicorn. It then jumps to current-day Berkeley, where 15-year-old Marjan Dastani struggles to keep her dad’s veterinary clinic afloat while also trying to be a normal high-schooler. Her dad died under mysterious circumstances, and Marjan, now an orphan, has been forced to grow up fast. She is soon called on by a secret society to take her dad’s place and is sent on an adventure to help heal a magical beast. Marjan must navigate this new life and her feelings of anger and abandonment, all while aiding strange creatures like djinns and unicorns. She has also begun uncovering clues to who murdered her father. The fables interweave old lore with the contemporary world to guide Marjan on her journey. The main character is Iranian American, and the story’s themes include mixed-race identity and holding two worlds, as well as grief and loss. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
