This M’sian Author’s Novel is Featured on Oprah Winfrey’s Website, Alongside Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’!

Very rarely do Malaysian authors or books garner much-deserved attention both within our own country and overseas.

One Malaysian author, Hanna Alkaf, is finally getting the praise she deserves with her debut Middle-Grade novel, The Girl and The Ghost.

Oprah Winfrey’s website, Oprah Daily, recently shared a list of ‘5 Books to Give Your Middle School Girl‘, and Hanna’s The Girl and The Ghost; which tells the story of a lonely Malaysian girl named Suraya, is featured!

“Suraya is a young girl living in a Malaysian village with her cold and guarded single mother who is struggling to keep their family afloat. Lonely Suraya feels like an outcast – both at school and in her own home,”

“But, everything changes when her estranged grandmother passes away, and Suraya inherits her grandma’s special friend, a dark spirit disguised as a grasshopper,” Oprah Daily described the story.

They added that the novel carries a captivating plot full of fantasy and mystery, and at its core is a resilient girl facing enormous ethical dilemmas and painful family secrets.

“Girls who enjoy magical characters and yet still want to engage with topics such as self-discovery and challenging relationships will find this book to be the perfect fit.”

The other books included in the list are Zora & Me by Victoria Bond and R.R. Simon, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, and Matilda by Roald Dahl!

Not only has this book been featured in Oprah Daily, this story has also received various accomplishments since it was published in August 2020.

Among its accomplishments are: 

• A Kirkus Prize 2020 finalist
• A Junior Library Guild selection
• A Kids Indie Next List Fall 2020 pick
• Kirkus Reviews Best MG of 2020
• A CCBC Choices 2021 selection
• Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2021 selection

Despite the book being meant for Middle-Grade kids and teens, we’re actually excited to get our hands on The Girl and The Ghost for ourselves!

What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

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