Secrets of the Henna Girl

16 year old Zeba Khan thinks she's just going to Pakistan for the summer with her parents to visit her Nannyma, but when she gets there she finds out that she is there to officially become engaged to her cousin Asif, who she has NO intention of marrying. Her parents transform into people she can hardly recognize, and refuse to consider her happiness or desires. The book does a great job of providing some history without being dry or dull, and Zeba is a character you can't help but root for. Won't tell you what happens, but will tell you that it's a very enjoyable read, and when you occasionally break for a tea break, you'll be surprised to see you're not in Pakistan.

This book is very similar to Rosanne Hawke's "Marrying Ameera". I found it a little bit slow in parts, but it gives an interesting insight into the traditions and culture of Pakistan.

Although the topic of forced marriages is not new, I did like the fact that there were a number of strong female characters including sixteen year-old Zeba herself, Zeba's grandmother, who is well respected in her village, her aunt, who wishes the world for her, and Sehar, another young British girl who has been forced to live in Pakistan and marry a man she has never met, but who remains defiant and is determined to escape. However, I never took to Zeba's mother who seemed cold and heartless to her daughter's plight.

Even though the plot is show more straight-forward and predictable, "Secrets of the Henna Girl" is still an enjoyable read and deals with an issue that is still occurring around the world. show less