Exploring the diaspora experience, race, politics, and identity, Listen, Layla is an own voices novel for young readers, bursting with passion, humor, and truth.
What's a queen to do when her summer plans go horribly wrong? A powerful, funny, and timely novel for young readers.
Layla has ended the school year on a high and can’t wait to spend the holidays hanging out with her friends and designing a prize-winning Grand Designs Tourismo invention. But Layla’s plans are interrupted when her grandmother in Sudan falls ill and the family rushes to be with her. The last time Layla went to Sudan she was only a young child. Now she feels torn between her Sudanese and Australian identities. As political tensions in Sudan erupt, so too do tensions between Layla and her family. Layla is determined not to lose her place in the invention team, but will she go against her parents’ wishes? What would a Kandaka do?---from the publisher
288 pages 978-1760896065 Ages 12 and up
Keywords: identity, cultural identity, coming of age, finding yourself, summer, friends, inventions, inventor, grandmother, family, family life, humor, self image, self acceptance, politics, Africa, Australia, diversity, diverse books, multicultural, choices, social issues, Arabic phrases, Islam, 12 year old, 13 year old, 14 year old
