The Door Is Open (anthology of stories) edited by Hena Khan (Little, Brown Books for Readers, 2024) The Door Is Open, edited by Hena Khan, is a powerful collection of interconnected short stories that center the voices and experiences of South Asian American middle schoolers in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey. Each story …
Omar Ali receives a scholarship to the distinguished Ghalib Academy Boarding School in Pakistan. He is excited to start school and join clubs and teams, but instead is met with many challenges that he has to overcome in an unfair and unequal educational system. (Grades 5-9)
Twelve-year old Amal aspires to be a teacher in Pakistan. After unintentionally insulting a member of her village’s ruling family, that dream is sunk. As punishment, Amal is forced to leave her distraught family behind and work as an indentured servant at the Khan estate. Discovering their corruptness, Amal summons her courage and intellect to secure justice and freedom. (Grades 5-8)
