While watching the Perseids meteor shower with best friend Naznen, Aya is hit by a shooting star that leaves her with mysterious powers—steam puffs out of her ears, flames shoot out of her mouth, and flowers spring up where her tears fall. A confused Aya discovers that a prophecy that “a star would strike a special child” might be connected to her father’s disappearance when she was a baby. Meanwhile, rumors of abductions by a criminal gang circulate throughout Alferra, causing fear. After the evil, power-hungry witch Abnus the Great ambushes the royal family and claims the throne, Aya and her mother flee, hiding in neighboring Al Bahr. But when Ammu goes missing, Aya is compelled to return to Alferra to confront the witch and her army of demonic, red-eyed bhoots. Dreamy, artistic Aya, a brown-skinned Muslim girl who wears a headscarf, loves stargazing and is a likable protagonist; her transformation from diffident schoolgirl to brave hero will strike a chord. By contrast, many other characters, especially the antagonist, Abnus, feel flatter and less developed. The interesting premise is let down by slow pacing and a meandering narrative but is offset by a satisfying ending. The characters are predominantly brown-skinned. McKean’s striking gray-toned illustrations complement this uneven yet heartening story.
