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A Girl Called Genghis Khan

How Maria Toorpakai Wazir Pretended to Be a Boy, Defied the Taliban, and Became a World Famous Squash Player

Contributors

By Michelle Lord

Illustrated by Shehzil Malik

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Feb 28, 2020
Page Count
48 pages
Publisher
Union Square Kids
ISBN-13
9781454941392

Price

$12.99

Price

$16.99 CAD

Format

Format:

  1. ebook $12.99 $16.99 CAD
  2. Hardcover $16.95 $22.95 CAD

This compelling, timely, and empowering picture book introduces children to Maria Toorpakai Wazir, a Pakistani girl who braved threats from the Taliban in order to play the sport she loved.

Malik’s artwork is extraordinary, with each page displaying brilliant colors and poster-worthy images that contribute to the narrative’s overall messages of female empowerment and triumph against impossible odds. . . . this book has something for every reader.” —Booklist

 Meet Maria Toorpakai Wazir, a Pakistani girl who loved sports and longed for the freedom that boys in her culture enjoyed. She joined a squash club to pursue her dream, and was taunted, teased, and beaten—but still continued playing. Then, when Maria received an award from the President of Pakistan for outstanding achievement, the Taliban threatened her squash club, her family, and her life. Although forced to quit the team, she refused to give up. Maria kept practicing the game in her bedroom every day for three years! Her hard work and perseverance in the face of overwhelming obstacles will inspire all children.

Michelle Lord

About the Author

With three sisters and two daughters, Michelle Lord believes in girl power. She is the author of Sterling’s A Girl Called Genghis Khan, as well as A Song for Cambodia,Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin, and numerous science books. Michelle lives in New Braunfels, TX, with her family.

Alleanna Harris is an illustrator and artist from Willingboro, NJ. She graduated from the University of the Arts in 2015 with a BFA in Animation. Visit her online at alleannaharris.com and on Instagram @alleannaharris.

Learn more about this author