“This circular story has the ring of an Indian folk tale. Its art strikingly contrasts the warm bright colors of silks and spices with the lush turquoise of peacock feathers.” —The New York Times

“Zia expertly code-switches between Indian language-inspired slang and standard English, rendering the narratorial voice pleasantly distinct…. The author’s use of the rule of threes…strikes a beautifully balanced storyline that is predictable yet surprising. The pictures accompanying the text are full of color and motion, depicting a lush, rural landscape and perfectly supporting the quick-moving protagonist. Three cheers for this feisty girl of color and her big imagination.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The musicality of the prose, dotted with Hindi expressions, lends a folkloric tone to this whimsical tale. The illustrations are lush and cheerful, countering the idea that the loss of the feather is to be mourned. A surprise ending will have readers predicting the sequel to this just-for-fun story.” —Booklist

“Buoyant…a prime candidate for reading aloud.” —Publishers Weekly

Parents’ Choice Silver Honor —Parents’ Choice Foundation, 2020

Farhana Zia spent her early years in Hyderabad, India. A retired elementary school teacher, her stories blend humor and tradition, memories and contemporary moments. She is the author of the novels The Garden of My Imaan and Child of Spring and the picture books Hot Hot Roti for Dada-ji and Lali’s Feather. She lives in Massachusetts and enjoys reading, writing and making French macarons.

Stephanie Fizer Coleman is an illustrator and freelance designer. She has created the art for many children’s books and loves drawing animals. For her 100 Days project in 2018, she drew one hundred birds, one day at a time. You can visit her website here.

“Zia (Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-Ji) has deep insight into adolescent Muslim life and capably handles diversity within American Islam.” ―Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

“The novel is at its best when depicting Aliya’s interactions with her grandmother and great-grandmother as well as comic incidents such as a halal turkey mix-up at Thanksgiving dinner. This would be a good addition for libraries serving Muslim populations; it also might be of interest to non-Muslim readers wanting to find out more about the religion’s everyday life and practices.” ―School Library Journal

“Zia’s gentle message—that Muslims come from many cultures whose observances differ, while the long shadow of 9/11 hovers over all—is timely and beautifully conveyed.” ―Kirkus Reviews

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“The complexities of race relations are also delicately handled: Aliya faces some clearly racist attacks when she is called a terrorist, but the author also includes instances of well-intentioned people saying the wrong, and often ignorant, thing… The bones here are comfortably familiar, adding to the resonance of this accessible story about fitting in [with]in a global world.” ―Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Author Farhana Zia creates a nice balance of universality and more culturally specific issues, opening a door into a world that is less familiar to many Americans… This is a relatable book well suited to starting dialogue between Middle Eastern and Western readers.” ―Parents’ Choice

“A thoughtful coming-of-age story.” ―Bristol Herald Courier

“I’m always on the lookout for books that show different faiths in the lives of contemporary kids without being didactic, and this one fits the bill just right.” ―Confessions of a Bibliovore

“I really enjoyed reading this book, especially because it’s written from a young girl’s perspective and I love the way children see the world… I think it’s terribly important that children read books like this one, because if we want to create a respectful and understanding generation we need to start teaching them at an early age.” ―Eat, Read, Explore

“The author gives us a look into the culture and growth of a young girl as she approaches womanhood… I highly recommend this book.” ―It’s About Time, MaMaw

“This book would be an AWESOME novel-study for middle schoolers. The strong culture and Muslim religion portrayed throughout the book can lead students to discussions, inquiry, research and much more. This is no doubt a great novel to learn about a different culture, the hurt of prejudices, and to expand upon a culture that students may be wary of.” ―Novel Nutritious

“The book is full of delightful, well-rounded characters from across the generations; and it probes readers to think about religious observances, both private and public, without restricting them to a specific set of answers.” ―Paper Tigers

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Parents’ Choice Recommended Award ―Parents’ Choice Foundation, 2013

Best Children’s Books of the Year ―Bank Street College of Education, 2014

Social Justice Literature Award ―Literacy and Social Justice Special Interest Group, International Reading Association, 2014

South Asia Book Award (Honor Book) ―South Asia National Outreach Consortium, 2014

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Society of School Librarians International Book Awards (Honor Book, Language Arts Grades K-6 Novels) ―Society of School Librarians International, 2013

Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Intermediate) ―Kansas National Education Association, 2014

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Farhana Zia spent her early years in Hyderabad, India. A retired elementary school teacher, her stories blend humor and tradition, memories and contemporary moments. She is the author of the novels The Garden of My Imaan and Child of Spring and the picture books Hot Hot Roti for Dada-ji and Lali’s Feather. She lives in Massachusetts and enjoys reading, writing and making French macarons.

“A sweet, authentic Indian slice of middle-grade life.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“A gentle story about an impulsive child’s growth into a compassionate local citizen.” ―Booklist Online

“A solid, diverse purchase for middle grade collections.” ―School Library Journal

“With strong themes, stunning imagery, and excellent character growth from Basanta…a lovely novel perfect for middle grade readers.” ―YA and Kids Book Central

Parents’ Choice Gold Award ―Parents’ Choice Foundation, 2016

Best Children’s Books of the Year ― Bank Street College of Education, 2017

Farhana Zia spent her early years in Hyderabad, India. A retired elementary school teacher, her stories blend humor and tradition, memories and contemporary moments. She is the author of the novels The Garden of My Imaan and Child of Spring and the picture books Hot Hot Roti for Dada-ji and Lali’s Feather. She lives in Massachusetts and enjoys reading, writing and making French macarons.