Hamra and the Jungle of Memories

During the Covid pandemic, 13-year-old Hamra contends with perilous fantastical situations and internal struggles stemming from familial concerns in this riveting jungle adventure by Alkaf, a "Little Red Riding Hood"-inspired Malaysian fantasy. When Hamra isn't taking care of her grandmother, who grows more forgetful each day, she spends most of her time during the pandemic dreaming of grand adventures. On her 13th birthday, Hamra sets off into the woods to pluck ulam leaves to make nasi ulam for her grandmother. But in her eagerness to accomplish her task, Hamra--accompanied by her best friend Ilyas Chang Abdullah--forgets to heed one of the most important rules of the jungle: "Always ask permission before you enter." As the duo venture further into the woods, they break another rule--"Never take what isn't yours"--and inadvertently anger a weretiger, with whom they must make a deal if they hope to leave the forest alive. Creatures from Malaysian mythology appear throughout, adding texture and imbuing the girls' tale with peril. Alkaf employs lively prose alongside Hamra and Ilyas's dynamic personalities and earnest friendship to deliver a tale about sacrifice, perseverance, and the enduring bonds of love. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

"With her beautiful, poetic prose, Hanna Alkaf is here to tug at heartstrings yet again with this adventure full of rich cultural legends that also poignantly captures the feeling of loss in a post-COVID world." — Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Hanna Alkaf's writing is a dream in the best possible way. Her words will transport you deep into the jungles of Langkawi, side-by-side with a heroine who reminds us that honoring ourselves is just as important as honoring those we love." — Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times Bestselling author of Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting

"Hamra and the Jungle of Memories embodies the best middle grade fantasy has to offer, from one of the greatest living masters in the genre: profound emotion, gorgeous craft, and a journey worth the taking in spite of the danger that lies ahead. What a gift to be alive at the same time as Hanna Alkaf, and be able to experience this wonderful, intense and healing adventure as only she can write it." — Karuna Riazi, author of The Gauntlet and A Bit of Earth

"In Hamra and the Jungle of Memories, master of the contemporary fairy tale Hanna Alkaf takes us on a fantastical adventure through a jungle filled with wonders and terrors that ultimately leads to a particularly timely revelation—though the world may be full of uncertainty and peril, what will get us through is friendship and love. A remarkable book." — Anne Ursu, author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy

"Alkaf takes a familiar tale and imbues it with otherworldly urgency, balancing immediate relevance with profound wisdom. A perfect blend of classic magic and contemporary storytelling." — Kyle Lukoff, author of Too Bright to See, a Newberry Honor, Stonewall Book Award winner, and National Book Award Finalist

"Hanna Alkaf takes us on an emotional journey of a fierce-hearted girl who must complete a magical quest. Intertwining Malaysian folklore with daring adventure, this well-crafted story highlights the beauty of friendship, the healing of forgiveness, and the gift of being fully human." — Karen Strong, author of Eden's Everdark

"An enchanting Little Red Riding Hood retelling full of heart and adventure centered around the importance of family and tradition and fiercely protecting the ones we love."
— Rena Barron, author of the Maya and the Rising Dark series

"Hanna Alkaf is an exceptional writer who brings her worlds to life with specificity, a delightful humor, and honest and unflinching prose. We are all lucky to be able to take the distinctly and unapologetically Malaysian journey this book offers. The impulsive and spirited Hamra is the perfect protagonist for the new classic that Alkaf's book deserves to be." — Shing Yin Khor, author of The Legend of Auntie Po

"Hamra and the Jungle of Memories is a triumph! A heart-wrenching, creative, and magical book steeped in Malaysian folklore; it is both an incredible adventure, set deep in a magical jungle, filled with folklore but also, at its heart, it is the story of a girl, learning how to navigate grief and heartache and all the feelings they bring up - including and especially - anger. It is also about the pure unshakeable power of forgiveness. I want to put this book into the hands of every child I see. That's how important this story is." — Ally Malinenko, author of Ghost Gil and This Appearing House

"[Hamra and the Jungle of Memories] questions what it means to be human, what happens to those who are not the hero of the story, and what it means to pay debts and take care of your community... This fresh take on Little Red Riding Hood is a necessary purchase for libraries and fantasy shelves." — School Library Journal (starred review)

"A retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood" that manages to both feel distinctly Malaysian and capture and interrogate contemporary concerns, this is a tale of family, friendship, and sacrifice. Both mature and whimsical, demonstrating how magic and modern-day anxieties can intersect." — Kirkus Reviews

"This is an immersive story, exploring loss, grief, and vulnerability as core human experiences. Thoughtful readers will likely contemplate the weight of being human long after they finish the novel"— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books