Genre: YA Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Murder/Crime Mystery, Fantasy
Key Stage: Year 8/9
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Djinn’s Apple by Djamila Morani (2024)
Plot: Historical fiction meets crime fiction in The Djinn’s Apple, an award-winning YA murder mystery set in the Abbasid period—the golden age of Baghdad. A ruthless murder. A magical herb. A mysterious manuscript. When Nardeen’s home is stormed by angry men frantically in search of something—or someone—she is the only one who manages to escape. And after the rest of her family is left behind and murdered, Nardeen sets out on an unyielding mission to bring her family’s killers to justice, regardless of the cost…
Likes and dislikes: This story was genuinely such a roller-coaster of a ride; so turbulent, unexpected and unpredictable. I loved how this story switched between the past and present; in the times when Nardeen’s family were alive and when they were not. What I really admired the most was Nardeen’s character development. She became from being unsure, indecisive and anxious to brave, certain and ambitious. I also really liked that she became the first female doctor in her time and broke the expectations of women in her time. I think, that my favourite line would have to be the last few lines of the story- they were so meaningful, so powerful and so passionate. What I also loved even more was the additional information on the period that this story was set in; it gave me a good understanding of where and when this story was based.
Who I would recommend this to and what to read next: I love the fact that this story is a mashup of multiple genres into one- this means that there are more types of readers which I can recommend this to! I think, even if you do not prefer the genres of this story, I would still recommend you to give it a go. This story is quite the short one, so if you dislike long, time consuming chapters or in general books, then try this- I, personally, finished it in one sitting. The main genres of the Djinn’s Apple are historical fiction and crime/murder mystery so this would be perfect for those who enjoy those. If you are stuck on what to read next, then I would recommend other crime/murder mystery novels like The Lovely Bones, and the One of us is Lying sequel.
Reviewer: Yaminah, Year 9