Aarzu All Around
Aarzu All Around by Marzieh Abbas, published by Simon and Schuster on July 29, 2025, is a 384-page children’s book that explores themes of friendship, social skills, and the challenges of growing up. The story follows twelve-year-old Aarzu, a cricket-loving girl in Karachi, Pakistan, who faces patriarchal expectations that limit her opportunities. Determined to help her sister with urgent medical bills, Aarzu disguises herself as a boy to secure a job, navigating the complexities of her dual life while pursuing her passion for cricket.
Readers will find a narrative rich in determination and resilience as Aarzu balances her responsibilities at school and home with her secret cricket practices. The book delves into the dynamics of family and societal expectations, highlighting the struggles young girls face in pursuing their dreams. Through Aarzu’s journey, the story addresses important topics such as gender roles and the importance of friendship, making it a relevant read for children navigating similar challenges.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Heartfelt and triumphant.” —Rajani LaRocca, Newbery Honor–winning Author of Red, White, and Whole
A cricket-loving Pakistani girl stifled by patriarchal expectations disguises herself as a boy to get a job to pay her sister’s medical bills in this “lyrical action-packed debut full of determination and grit” (Reem Faruqi, award-winning author of Golden Girl).
Living with her aunt and patriarchal uncle in Karachi, Pakistan, recently orphaned twelve-year-old Aarzu detests the way she and her younger sister get treated like extras and excluded from all the fun stuff. Aarzu dreams of playing cricket, just like her male cousins and the neighborhood boys in the streets, but her uncle will hear nothing of it. According to him, girls ought to master the art of making round rotis, not play sports.
When her sister requires urgent medical treatment but finances are tight, Aarzu decides to earn money herself. She hears of a part-time job at a bungalow near her school—but it’s only open to boys. Aarzu has no choice but to disguise herself as a turban-wearing boy to get the gig.
Now, Aarzu must find a way to balance school, work, chores, and secret cricket practices—all without burning out or getting caught by her uncle—or else her dreams of making the girls cricket team and her quest to save her sister will crumble around her.
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