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Sabrena Swept Away: A Middle Grade Fantasy About Sinbad's Descendant Claiming Her Ocean Destiny for Kids
Sabrena’s father has always claimed their family is descended from the legendary sailor Sinbad. But when the sea calls Sabrena to a whole new world, she’ll have to fight to claim her own story. From the author of the acclaimed A Bit of Earth, this reimagining of the classic characters from One Thousand and One Nights is perfect for fans of The Last Mapmaker and Mañanaland.
Any other story would begin with “once upon a time.” But Sabrena’s story is different. “Fulfilling all my worst fears,” her mother says, “you were born by the sea.” And it’s true that the sea has always seemed to call to Sabrena. Her father reminds her that they are, of course, descended from the legendary sailor Sinbad. So it’s basically qadr—fate—that Sabrena has an affinity toward the sea.
Even so, Sabrena has had a truly ordinary trying to be an exemplary daughter, meeting all of her parents’ high expectations. Despite, maybe, wanting something more interesting for herself. At least she can escape into the family’s favorite book—One Thousand and One Nights—and all the adventures and magic found there.
But one day, the sea’s call will not be denied. It sweeps her away to be fished out of an ocean both strange and oddly familiar. It only takes her a moment to realize that she’s in the stories spun by the legendary queen Scheherazade. Yet no one here has ever heard of Sinbad, a frightening jinn is terrorizing the kingdoms, and nothing seems to be going quite as it does in the stories.
Inspired by the classic One Thousand and One Nights, acclaimed author Karuna Riazi has crafted a tantalizing tale about fate, choice, and being torn between them both. Sabrena Swept Away is a thematically rich story that will resonate with fans of Christina Soontornvat’s The Last Mapmaker and Kiyash Monsef’s Once There Was.
Any other story would begin with “once upon a time.” But Sabrena’s story is different. “Fulfilling all my worst fears,” her mother says, “you were born by the sea.” And it’s true that the sea has always seemed to call to Sabrena. Her father reminds her that they are, of course, descended from the legendary sailor Sinbad. So it’s basically qadr—fate—that Sabrena has an affinity toward the sea.
Even so, Sabrena has had a truly ordinary trying to be an exemplary daughter, meeting all of her parents’ high expectations. Despite, maybe, wanting something more interesting for herself. At least she can escape into the family’s favorite book—One Thousand and One Nights—and all the adventures and magic found there.
But one day, the sea’s call will not be denied. It sweeps her away to be fished out of an ocean both strange and oddly familiar. It only takes her a moment to realize that she’s in the stories spun by the legendary queen Scheherazade. Yet no one here has ever heard of Sinbad, a frightening jinn is terrorizing the kingdoms, and nothing seems to be going quite as it does in the stories.
Inspired by the classic One Thousand and One Nights, acclaimed author Karuna Riazi has crafted a tantalizing tale about fate, choice, and being torn between them both. Sabrena Swept Away is a thematically rich story that will resonate with fans of Christina Soontornvat’s The Last Mapmaker and Kiyash Monsef’s Once There Was.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2024
2 people are currently reading
3306 people want to read
About the author
Karuna Riazi
16 books179 followersKaruna Riazi is a born and raised New Yorker, with a loving, large extended family and the rather trying experience of being the eldest sibling in her particular clan. She holds a BA in English Literature from Hofstra University, and is an online diversity advocate, blogger, and educator. She is a 2017 honoree on NBC Asian America's Redefining A-Z list, featuring up and coming talent within the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, and her work has been featured on Entertainment Weekly, Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, Book Riot and Teen Vogue, among others.
Karuna is fond of tea, Korean dramas, writing about tough girls forging their own paths toward their destinies, and baking new delectable treats for friends and family to relish.
The Gauntlet (S&S/Salaam Reads, March 28, 2017) is her middle grade debut, with a companion, The Battle (August 2019). Her next title is A Bit of Earth, forthcoming from Greenwillow Books in 2022. She has also adapted The Jungle Book for the Apple TV series Ghostwriter (Sourcebooks/Sesame Workshop, 2019).
Karuna is fond of tea, Korean dramas, writing about tough girls forging their own paths toward their destinies, and baking new delectable treats for friends and family to relish.
The Gauntlet (S&S/Salaam Reads, March 28, 2017) is her middle grade debut, with a companion, The Battle (August 2019). Her next title is A Bit of Earth, forthcoming from Greenwillow Books in 2022. She has also adapted The Jungle Book for the Apple TV series Ghostwriter (Sourcebooks/Sesame Workshop, 2019).
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 20, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
June 1, 2025
After Sabrena's grandmother is diagnosed with dementia her family packs up and moves to Virginia from Brooklyn leaving her friends and her beloved ocean behind. Between the stress of being the new kid at school and having to help with her grandmother, she feels very alone in the world, it doesn't help that she's socially awkward to boot so when one afternoon the sea rises up at her school no less and sweeps her away to a whole new world; one of stories and magic Sabrena is certain she may not have what it takes to save this world and return home. Even if she is the descendant of the great Sinbad.
I loved every minute of this! Sabrena's story was one of believing in yourself and those around you, especially family wrapped up in a fantastic isekai-style adventure!
Sebrena herself is honestly a great character and completely reminds me of how I felt being the new kid sometimes three times in one school year. She is painfully shy and consistently undermines her contributions something I think we can all relate to whether we are fourteen or forty. Her love for her grandmother is obvious from the get-go go but also that she feels like it's her responsibility alone to help her grandmother. Again this is so relatable, as a parent I can see my own children shouldering responsibilities that they don't need to instead of asking for help, so on that level this is a read that would appeal to all ages.
I especially enjoyed that this springboarded off of One Thousand and One Nights. Sabrena's story would fit rather well within that collection, however, I appreciate that it's not necessarily a true retelling but a completely new tale making the main characters of the original side characters was a stroke of genius in my opinion. Sure, Ali Baba and Sinbad are there but it isn't about them, it's about Saberna and the friends she makes that give her the confidence to embrace her gift. And honestly, it may have been a much easier book to write if Riazi had opted to do a straightforward retelling with Sinbad at the helm but I'm glad she didn't. Don't get me wrong I love a good retelling but Sabrena would have been washed away had she had to compete with such a well-known character.
This portion is a bit of a spoiler but I *loved* that the bad guy was easily defeated. His existence is simply to show Sabrena that she needs to believe in herself and take charge of her story. We literally never lose focus on Sabrena whether it was through side characters or the evil Jinn and I really loved that.
Finally, I loved the ending. What Sabrena is really worried about more than anything is the future. Her adventure allows her to see that she's been worrying about things that she has no control over right now in the moment and all she can do is face whatever comes next when it comes. You can use any of a billion sayings regarding this and they'd all be valid. Don't borrow trouble, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. This is such an important piece of advice that many of us ignore often and on purpose sometimes.
Highly recommend this one for any age group, but I think it would be especially helpful for multi-generational families.
I loved every minute of this! Sabrena's story was one of believing in yourself and those around you, especially family wrapped up in a fantastic isekai-style adventure!
Sebrena herself is honestly a great character and completely reminds me of how I felt being the new kid sometimes three times in one school year. She is painfully shy and consistently undermines her contributions something I think we can all relate to whether we are fourteen or forty. Her love for her grandmother is obvious from the get-go go but also that she feels like it's her responsibility alone to help her grandmother. Again this is so relatable, as a parent I can see my own children shouldering responsibilities that they don't need to instead of asking for help, so on that level this is a read that would appeal to all ages.
I especially enjoyed that this springboarded off of One Thousand and One Nights. Sabrena's story would fit rather well within that collection, however, I appreciate that it's not necessarily a true retelling but a completely new tale making the main characters of the original side characters was a stroke of genius in my opinion. Sure, Ali Baba and Sinbad are there but it isn't about them, it's about Saberna and the friends she makes that give her the confidence to embrace her gift. And honestly, it may have been a much easier book to write if Riazi had opted to do a straightforward retelling with Sinbad at the helm but I'm glad she didn't. Don't get me wrong I love a good retelling but Sabrena would have been washed away had she had to compete with such a well-known character.
This portion is a bit of a spoiler but I *loved* that the bad guy was easily defeated. His existence is simply to show Sabrena that she needs to believe in herself and take charge of her story. We literally never lose focus on Sabrena whether it was through side characters or the evil Jinn and I really loved that.
Finally, I loved the ending. What Sabrena is really worried about more than anything is the future. Her adventure allows her to see that she's been worrying about things that she has no control over right now in the moment and all she can do is face whatever comes next when it comes. You can use any of a billion sayings regarding this and they'd all be valid. Don't borrow trouble, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. This is such an important piece of advice that many of us ignore often and on purpose sometimes.
Highly recommend this one for any age group, but I think it would be especially helpful for multi-generational families.
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July 3, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Sabrena Swept Away by Karuna Riazi is a third person-POV Middle Grade portal fantasy reimagining of the stories of A Thousand and One Arabian nights. Sabrena has always heard that she is a descendant of the legendary Sinbad but she lives an ordinary life in Virginia. When the sea whisks her away from her normal life to the world of Scheherazade, things don’t go exactly how she planned.
One of the things I really appreciated was that Sabrena is Blasian with her mother being Black and her father being SWANA. I feel like we don’t get that very often and that it is tied to Muslim mythology made it every more special. Blasians come in a variety of backgrounds and home situations so it's nice to see that represented with a lead character like Sabrena.
Sabrena’s grandmother has dementia and the subject is handled gently for young readers but still handled with believability. Sabrena notes that some days are better than others and that it’s hard when her grandmother sometimes forgets about her and the things they have discussed. As more and more children might have grow up in multigenerational houses that include taking care of grandparents with dementia, books like this are very important.
The characters from A Thousand and One Nights are not exactly as most would be familiar with, such as Marjana being the niece of Ali Baba instead of a servant. Because this is a portal fantasy and is more on the dreamy side, it does read like Sabrena fell into the story itself. It’s very fun and will appeal to kids who love imagining themselves as the leads of their favorite stories.
I would recommend this to fans of Middle Grade reimaginings and young readers who need books discussing dementia gently
Sabrena Swept Away by Karuna Riazi is a third person-POV Middle Grade portal fantasy reimagining of the stories of A Thousand and One Arabian nights. Sabrena has always heard that she is a descendant of the legendary Sinbad but she lives an ordinary life in Virginia. When the sea whisks her away from her normal life to the world of Scheherazade, things don’t go exactly how she planned.
One of the things I really appreciated was that Sabrena is Blasian with her mother being Black and her father being SWANA. I feel like we don’t get that very often and that it is tied to Muslim mythology made it every more special. Blasians come in a variety of backgrounds and home situations so it's nice to see that represented with a lead character like Sabrena.
Sabrena’s grandmother has dementia and the subject is handled gently for young readers but still handled with believability. Sabrena notes that some days are better than others and that it’s hard when her grandmother sometimes forgets about her and the things they have discussed. As more and more children might have grow up in multigenerational houses that include taking care of grandparents with dementia, books like this are very important.
The characters from A Thousand and One Nights are not exactly as most would be familiar with, such as Marjana being the niece of Ali Baba instead of a servant. Because this is a portal fantasy and is more on the dreamy side, it does read like Sabrena fell into the story itself. It’s very fun and will appeal to kids who love imagining themselves as the leads of their favorite stories.
I would recommend this to fans of Middle Grade reimaginings and young readers who need books discussing dementia gently
August 7, 2025
I received a free copy from the publisher for review.
This new middle grade novel reimagines the classic characters from The One Thousand and One Nights in a meaningful and child friendly new story! Set in modern day it follows a girl whose family has always believed they are descendants of Sinbad the Sailor. She has just felt unremarkable and worried about her grandma's failing memory when she gets swept away and comes out of the ocean in a new world with familiar aspects.
I always love seeing retellings of legends and I haven't seen a lot for Sinbad (whom l've had a soft spot for for years) so all the little tie-ins to Scheherazade's tales were very fun. I also loved the theme of how every person has their own story and, no matter how ordinary they feel, each is important and can be shaped by our choices. At just about 200 pages this is an attainable and engaging story for young readers that can leave them thinking about their own stories and the stories of others around them.
Trigger/content note: grandmother with dementia
This new middle grade novel reimagines the classic characters from The One Thousand and One Nights in a meaningful and child friendly new story! Set in modern day it follows a girl whose family has always believed they are descendants of Sinbad the Sailor. She has just felt unremarkable and worried about her grandma's failing memory when she gets swept away and comes out of the ocean in a new world with familiar aspects.
I always love seeing retellings of legends and I haven't seen a lot for Sinbad (whom l've had a soft spot for for years) so all the little tie-ins to Scheherazade's tales were very fun. I also loved the theme of how every person has their own story and, no matter how ordinary they feel, each is important and can be shaped by our choices. At just about 200 pages this is an attainable and engaging story for young readers that can leave them thinking about their own stories and the stories of others around them.
Trigger/content note: grandmother with dementia
July 18, 2025
Modern retelling of 1001 Nights, sort of
More than a retelling of 1001 nights, this is more an interpretation of the story. You don’t have to be familiar with the original, although it makes it more fun, but the story is alive and interesting, either way.
Sabrina travels back to the time of the stories, and meets Sinbad and others, before they went on their adventures and became famous, and leads them on a pre-adventure, controlling the sea, which has become like glass to all but her.
There are jinns to fight, and sultans to meet, and the words of her grandmother play in her ears, that she is to write her own story.
The story flows smoothly, and the tie to her grandmother, as the teller of tales keeps her from making too many mistakes.
A wonderful jaunt. I was sorry when the book came to its end.
A fun story.
More than a retelling of 1001 nights, this is more an interpretation of the story. You don’t have to be familiar with the original, although it makes it more fun, but the story is alive and interesting, either way.
Sabrina travels back to the time of the stories, and meets Sinbad and others, before they went on their adventures and became famous, and leads them on a pre-adventure, controlling the sea, which has become like glass to all but her.
There are jinns to fight, and sultans to meet, and the words of her grandmother play in her ears, that she is to write her own story.
The story flows smoothly, and the tie to her grandmother, as the teller of tales keeps her from making too many mistakes.
A wonderful jaunt. I was sorry when the book came to its end.
A fun story.
November 2, 2025
This was literally so fun and magical I love middle grade audiobooks
May 8, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for this ARC.
I went into Sabrena Swept Away knowing it was a middlegrade fantasy but I seem to have skipped over the part where it is a partial retelling of some of the stories in 1001 Arabian Nights. Partial. After having finished the book, I would have actually liked to see this become a more full retelling of at least one story from the original, rather than three spliced parts in one story. This is a little critical as this is a middle grade book, but due to the many directions Karuna Riazi decided to take in the novel, I feel it lessened the impact of the story.
Don't get me wrong, Sabrena Swept Away had an important message, as it revolved around Sabrena's grandmother who is afflicted with dementia and going downhill fast. The primary focus of Sabrena's story is her relationship with her grandmother and the stories they tell to grow a connection between one another. However, I feel Riazi did not push more into the family dynamics of a Muslim/Bangladeshi family. Throughout the story I was never able to pinpoint Sabrena's exact age and therefore had trouble discerning what exactly is her role in the family outside of essentially grounding grandma as no one else was able to do it the way she could. The family culture was stripped down to the bare bones in order to shift the perspective onto the grandparent-grandchild relationship, which honestly isn't a aspect that is written about extensively.
Furthermore, when Sabrena is finally "swept away", her connection to her family is tenuous and comes for fleeting moments. Instead, she is focused on the survival of the here and now. As one does when your situation drastically changes. But then the pacing seemed to get out of whack as Sabrena continued to go on adventure after adventure, and making shallow relationships that helped her develop. Personally, I rarely find other fleeting people in my life to leave a lasting impression, so I don't understand how Sabrena will continue to keep them in her memories when she was only in the fictional world for what, two or three days? By slowing down the story, the readers could have spent more time with Sabrena's current relationships and comparing them with the new ones in the opposing world. Really, I felt the opening sequence was so much stronger introducing the setting and the main conflict... I lost interest quickly after Sabrena entered 1001 Arabian Nights.
Regardless, I feel Sabrena Swept Away will be important for the right person, and I hope they are able to find it when they need it. My eyes still welled up with tears at the concluding chapter, but I can't help wishing for a more lasting memory to carry away from this story.
I went into Sabrena Swept Away knowing it was a middlegrade fantasy but I seem to have skipped over the part where it is a partial retelling of some of the stories in 1001 Arabian Nights. Partial. After having finished the book, I would have actually liked to see this become a more full retelling of at least one story from the original, rather than three spliced parts in one story. This is a little critical as this is a middle grade book, but due to the many directions Karuna Riazi decided to take in the novel, I feel it lessened the impact of the story.
Don't get me wrong, Sabrena Swept Away had an important message, as it revolved around Sabrena's grandmother who is afflicted with dementia and going downhill fast. The primary focus of Sabrena's story is her relationship with her grandmother and the stories they tell to grow a connection between one another. However, I feel Riazi did not push more into the family dynamics of a Muslim/Bangladeshi family. Throughout the story I was never able to pinpoint Sabrena's exact age and therefore had trouble discerning what exactly is her role in the family outside of essentially grounding grandma as no one else was able to do it the way she could. The family culture was stripped down to the bare bones in order to shift the perspective onto the grandparent-grandchild relationship, which honestly isn't a aspect that is written about extensively.
Furthermore, when Sabrena is finally "swept away", her connection to her family is tenuous and comes for fleeting moments. Instead, she is focused on the survival of the here and now. As one does when your situation drastically changes. But then the pacing seemed to get out of whack as Sabrena continued to go on adventure after adventure, and making shallow relationships that helped her develop. Personally, I rarely find other fleeting people in my life to leave a lasting impression, so I don't understand how Sabrena will continue to keep them in her memories when she was only in the fictional world for what, two or three days? By slowing down the story, the readers could have spent more time with Sabrena's current relationships and comparing them with the new ones in the opposing world. Really, I felt the opening sequence was so much stronger introducing the setting and the main conflict... I lost interest quickly after Sabrena entered 1001 Arabian Nights.
Regardless, I feel Sabrena Swept Away will be important for the right person, and I hope they are able to find it when they need it. My eyes still welled up with tears at the concluding chapter, but I can't help wishing for a more lasting memory to carry away from this story.
December 17, 2024
Children's books and middle grade are not normally my bailiwick, but I was hooked by the absolutely stunning cover illustration, and the concept seemed neat, once I read the blurb. I guess we'll see how I do, reviewing a category I have not read in a very long time.
And the book itself in fact proved a fun one, quick-paced and warmhearted right down at its core. Sabrena was a good character, easy to relate to, but not without her flaws or depth. For a bit there, I was worried that she'd turn out to be a bit of a pinball, as others around her inevitably helped her and came to her rescue, but by the time the climax came around, she grew, and boy did she step up!
I enjoyed reading about the Bangladeshi-American Muslim culture Sabrena grew up steeped in, which, of course, tied into growing up on the stories of 1001 Nights. Or at least a kid-friendly version of same. Fun fact: my own family owned the 16-volume unsanitized version, and it was the only book my mom ever forbade me from reading, as an overly precocious tot. Which, of course, made it all the more enticing, but whoooo boy, mom was right, that was NOT for seven year olds! Obviously, this would be way outside the scope of a real-life children's book, but a part of me really wants to read Sabrena's father's perspective on how he might balance nurturing his daughter's love for the stories he's studying, potentially exploring some of their darker elements as part of critical reading, all while being careful not to traumatize her or give her access to something REALLY age-inappropriate.
Going back to the cultural aspect, I think seeing Sabrena and her family in a book like this would be really valuable for either a Muslim kid looking for a character whose life reflects theirs, or a curious young reader from outside the culture. The portrayal is immersive, straightforward without being overly simplistic, and clearly written by someone with personal experience.
But the element of this book I really could not have anticipated when I began was Sabrena's relationship with her grandmother. The empathy and verisimilitude with which it was written was something truly special. The portrayal of an elder with dementia was top-notch, incredibly believable, never sugar-coated, but also never once stripping the character of her humanity, spark, or bond with her family. I was not surprised to read, in the afterword, that Riazi put a lot of her own love for her own grandparents into her writing.
This is a book about stories, but it's also, at its core, a book about families. I was glad to see the warmth of Riazi's familial portrayal extend beyond the nuclear family, to grandparents, adopted families, good stepparents, and former strangers willing to open their homes and hearts to a lost child.
I may not have been this book's target audience, but I still think there's a lot to like here, whether for me, or an actual middle grade reader.
Thank you NetGalley and Greenwillow Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.
And the book itself in fact proved a fun one, quick-paced and warmhearted right down at its core. Sabrena was a good character, easy to relate to, but not without her flaws or depth. For a bit there, I was worried that she'd turn out to be a bit of a pinball, as others around her inevitably helped her and came to her rescue, but by the time the climax came around, she grew, and boy did she step up!
I enjoyed reading about the Bangladeshi-American Muslim culture Sabrena grew up steeped in, which, of course, tied into growing up on the stories of 1001 Nights. Or at least a kid-friendly version of same. Fun fact: my own family owned the 16-volume unsanitized version, and it was the only book my mom ever forbade me from reading, as an overly precocious tot. Which, of course, made it all the more enticing, but whoooo boy, mom was right, that was NOT for seven year olds! Obviously, this would be way outside the scope of a real-life children's book, but a part of me really wants to read Sabrena's father's perspective on how he might balance nurturing his daughter's love for the stories he's studying, potentially exploring some of their darker elements as part of critical reading, all while being careful not to traumatize her or give her access to something REALLY age-inappropriate.
Going back to the cultural aspect, I think seeing Sabrena and her family in a book like this would be really valuable for either a Muslim kid looking for a character whose life reflects theirs, or a curious young reader from outside the culture. The portrayal is immersive, straightforward without being overly simplistic, and clearly written by someone with personal experience.
But the element of this book I really could not have anticipated when I began was Sabrena's relationship with her grandmother. The empathy and verisimilitude with which it was written was something truly special. The portrayal of an elder with dementia was top-notch, incredibly believable, never sugar-coated, but also never once stripping the character of her humanity, spark, or bond with her family. I was not surprised to read, in the afterword, that Riazi put a lot of her own love for her own grandparents into her writing.
This is a book about stories, but it's also, at its core, a book about families. I was glad to see the warmth of Riazi's familial portrayal extend beyond the nuclear family, to grandparents, adopted families, good stepparents, and former strangers willing to open their homes and hearts to a lost child.
I may not have been this book's target audience, but I still think there's a lot to like here, whether for me, or an actual middle grade reader.
Thank you NetGalley and Greenwillow Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.
July 17, 2025
The gorgeous cover of this 205 page middle grade fantasy is a great motivation for kids to pick up the book and dive into a story filled with characters from the One Thousand and One Nights. Descendant from Sinbad, Sabrena's ailing grandma is sometimes present, and sometimes suffering from dementia, but her stories have power, they always have. As Sabrena battles her own self doubt at her new Islamic school, her ability to find her voice and speak up, and her desire to protect her grandma from being taken from her home, she will be swept off to a world far away, where she must be the hero of her own story to help her new friends and find her way back. I was nervous to embark on an Alice in Wonderland world building framed story, but the short book, the enjoyable characters, and the consistent presence of Islamic representation actually made me forget that I don't like that style, until the text itself drew the correlation. In many ways the story and the predictability should also have been a turn off for me, but I absolutely loved the writing of the prologue and the first two chapters, and then I switched to the audio book, and the story just pulled me in and flew by. The characters pray, call out to Allah swt when scared, greet one another with salaam, discuss qadr, encounter jinn and ifrits, the women wear hijab, there are mentions of Bangladeshi foods and clothes, but the book is for everyone, it isn't preachy, it is just who Sabrena is, and in the quick paced fairytale like adventure, you will be glad you spent time with her on her adventure in both worlds.
SYNOPSIS:
The Bhuiyan family loves stories, Sabrena's grandma spins them, and her father studies and teaches them. Sabrena feels connected to them, but when water keeps appearing, calling out to her, and showing her visions of palaces and gates, she starts to wonder what is truth and what is just family lore about Sinbad the Sailor. As grandma's memory slips, Sabrena and her parents move to be closer, the new Islamic school is nice, but Sabrena seems to get tongue tied when her kind classmates try and include her. When her mom and aunt fight about what to do about grandma, she hides away dreading their arguments. When the sea sweeps Sabrena to a new world though, she finds herself "so alone" and forced to step up. With new friends, a longing to return to her family, and her growing confidence, Sabrena is swept away, but determined to find her voice, save the day, and find her way home.
WHY I LIKE IT:
There weren't really any twists or surprises for me, other than the beautiful Islamic rep inclusion and the cleanliness of the book. I think I've become so cynical that the bar has dropped, and it was nice to read a tale that was decently written, with characters owning their Islam in way that made them just part of who they are and how they view the world. Sabrena doesn't have an identity crisis, or internalized Islamophobia, everyone is just Muslim doing their things and living their lives. I also felt the voice and tone of the grandmother dealing with her dementia was accurate. Having my father-in-law in our home battling memory issues, I often find rep in children's books to be performative and saccharine, this felt grounded and used to serve an important plot point in the text, which I appreciated.
The adventure was ok, honestly nothing super memorable, but I really enjoyed the voice actor on the audio book, and was not worried if the holes were big, or adequately overcome, or probable. I was just enjoying being in the story.
FLAGS:
Mention of music, there is magic, jinn, ifrit, a talking head, some trickery and deceit, and it uses the word harem a few time without going into detail. Disclaimer with audio books I may have missed something, but I think for the genre there is nothing too ,red flag, it is a fantasy adventure.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I think discussion and maybe reading of the original One Thousand and One Nights, and then talking reading, and discussing some of the retellings, and character inspirations of Aladdin, Ali Baba, Scheherazade, Sinbad, Marjana, Duban, etc would be a delightful class or book club plan. This book is solid middle grade, but depending on the framing, could be used for discussion in broader conversations and enjoyed by readers of all ages.
SYNOPSIS:
The Bhuiyan family loves stories, Sabrena's grandma spins them, and her father studies and teaches them. Sabrena feels connected to them, but when water keeps appearing, calling out to her, and showing her visions of palaces and gates, she starts to wonder what is truth and what is just family lore about Sinbad the Sailor. As grandma's memory slips, Sabrena and her parents move to be closer, the new Islamic school is nice, but Sabrena seems to get tongue tied when her kind classmates try and include her. When her mom and aunt fight about what to do about grandma, she hides away dreading their arguments. When the sea sweeps Sabrena to a new world though, she finds herself "so alone" and forced to step up. With new friends, a longing to return to her family, and her growing confidence, Sabrena is swept away, but determined to find her voice, save the day, and find her way home.
WHY I LIKE IT:
There weren't really any twists or surprises for me, other than the beautiful Islamic rep inclusion and the cleanliness of the book. I think I've become so cynical that the bar has dropped, and it was nice to read a tale that was decently written, with characters owning their Islam in way that made them just part of who they are and how they view the world. Sabrena doesn't have an identity crisis, or internalized Islamophobia, everyone is just Muslim doing their things and living their lives. I also felt the voice and tone of the grandmother dealing with her dementia was accurate. Having my father-in-law in our home battling memory issues, I often find rep in children's books to be performative and saccharine, this felt grounded and used to serve an important plot point in the text, which I appreciated.
The adventure was ok, honestly nothing super memorable, but I really enjoyed the voice actor on the audio book, and was not worried if the holes were big, or adequately overcome, or probable. I was just enjoying being in the story.
FLAGS:
Mention of music, there is magic, jinn, ifrit, a talking head, some trickery and deceit, and it uses the word harem a few time without going into detail. Disclaimer with audio books I may have missed something, but I think for the genre there is nothing too ,red flag, it is a fantasy adventure.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
I think discussion and maybe reading of the original One Thousand and One Nights, and then talking reading, and discussing some of the retellings, and character inspirations of Aladdin, Ali Baba, Scheherazade, Sinbad, Marjana, Duban, etc would be a delightful class or book club plan. This book is solid middle grade, but depending on the framing, could be used for discussion in broader conversations and enjoyed by readers of all ages.
March 29, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Sabrena (called Bree) has moved with her mother and father from Brooklyn to live with her grandmother who is descending into dementia in Richmond, Virginia. Her father has taken a job at her private Al-Muhaymin school, teaching while working on his PhD thesis about Sinbad. After several water leaks cause problems at her grandmother's house, Bree's mother and aunt Keisha want to move the grandmother into an assisted living facility, which Bree thinks is horrible. When there is a water leak in the school auditorium right before her father is set to speak to the school, Bree finds herself dragged into a fantasy world where her grandmother and father's insistence that the family is descended from Sinbad seems to be true, and she must work with Ali Baba, Marjana, and the prince of the Black Isle, Idris, to make her way back home.
Like Riazi's The Gauntlet, this is an interesting twist on the Arabian Nights tales and a good choice for readers who enjoy books like Abu-Jaber's Silverworld or Bowman's Where the Lost Ones Go. I'm never a fan of tweens who fight against their grandparents going into senior facilities. Sometimes it's the only way to keep older people safe, and it feels like an unfair judgement against people who DO put their elderly loved ones into such facilities. Had my mother stayed home with my father, who was not good about watching out from her, she would have probably suffered from the effects of worsening Parkinson's even more than she did.
Sabrena (called Bree) has moved with her mother and father from Brooklyn to live with her grandmother who is descending into dementia in Richmond, Virginia. Her father has taken a job at her private Al-Muhaymin school, teaching while working on his PhD thesis about Sinbad. After several water leaks cause problems at her grandmother's house, Bree's mother and aunt Keisha want to move the grandmother into an assisted living facility, which Bree thinks is horrible. When there is a water leak in the school auditorium right before her father is set to speak to the school, Bree finds herself dragged into a fantasy world where her grandmother and father's insistence that the family is descended from Sinbad seems to be true, and she must work with Ali Baba, Marjana, and the prince of the Black Isle, Idris, to make her way back home.
Like Riazi's The Gauntlet, this is an interesting twist on the Arabian Nights tales and a good choice for readers who enjoy books like Abu-Jaber's Silverworld or Bowman's Where the Lost Ones Go. I'm never a fan of tweens who fight against their grandparents going into senior facilities. Sometimes it's the only way to keep older people safe, and it feels like an unfair judgement against people who DO put their elderly loved ones into such facilities. Had my mother stayed home with my father, who was not good about watching out from her, she would have probably suffered from the effects of worsening Parkinson's even more than she did.
January 9, 2026
In this whimsical and heartwarming new reimagining of One Thousand and One Nights from Karuna Riazi, readers follow Sabrena, a descendant of Sinbad struggling with her family’s move, being the new girl at school, and her grandmother’s health. When mysterious things start to happen to her when she is around water, Sabrena has no idea what to do. Swept into a strange but familiar ocean and arriving in a land terrorized by a frightening jinn and ruled by Queen Scherherazade, Sabrena must help the people she meets fight the jinn before she can return home to her family in this sweeping fantasy novel. The worldbuilding is absolutely fantastic and draws on a fascinating story from One Thousand and One Nights, while Sabrena’s teenage struggles will be incredibly relatable to readers. The fantastical elements add some exciting depth to the story and will draw readers into the story, while the high stakes add necessary intensity to the story. The detailed and well-written characters, especially Sabrena, are the stars of the story and have complex personalities and struggles that readers will sympathize with. Entertaining, well-written, and packed with details, the story is brilliantly written and deeply enjoyable, and Sabrena’s epic journey is fascinating to follow.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Greenwillow Books for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Greenwillow Books for the advance copy.
August 1, 2025
👧🏻 review: We have a deal this summer and per book we read, we get an hour of digital game of our choice. We’re really not that young anymore but a deal is a deal. This book was picked out because I was looking for a quick and easy read and guess what this is not so bad after all. This middle grade fantastical read is actually an interesting folktale book that I might have read quite similar to this one. I like this coming of age, self-realization and self-identification when Sabrena found her purpose in life.
September 4, 2025
Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books -- Greenwillow Books for allowing me to read and review Sabrena Swept Away on NetGalley.
Published: 07/08/25
Stars: 3
Not for me. I had a difficult time following along. Early on I felt as if I was playing catch up and several times wondered if I missed some pages. In all fairness, fantasy rarely sits with me. I thought a middle grade fantasy may awaken my imagination.
The cover is beautiful and the synopsis is intriguing. I hope this works for you.
#shortyseptember
#Tangible Reads
#Toomanyheathers
#fiberartsyreads
Published: 07/08/25
Stars: 3
Not for me. I had a difficult time following along. Early on I felt as if I was playing catch up and several times wondered if I missed some pages. In all fairness, fantasy rarely sits with me. I thought a middle grade fantasy may awaken my imagination.
The cover is beautiful and the synopsis is intriguing. I hope this works for you.
#shortyseptember
#Tangible Reads
#Toomanyheathers
#fiberartsyreads
July 13, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story had a great message, but I got a bit confused with the fantasy world--turns out it's a partial retelling of One Thousand and One Nights. For someone not familiar with it, the story did a good job of explaining most of it. I felt that the ending was a bit abrupt but it was still sweet and wholesome.
The story had a great message, but I got a bit confused with the fantasy world--turns out it's a partial retelling of One Thousand and One Nights. For someone not familiar with it, the story did a good job of explaining most of it. I felt that the ending was a bit abrupt but it was still sweet and wholesome.
July 6, 2025
A tale worthy of 1,001 Nights. I definitely heard Robin Williams’s Peddler narrating the prologue…hurts, but gosh it’s magic already.
A great fairytale where the tales blend and there’s a breathe of Beauty and the Beast and then click your slippers because there’s definitely a theme of there’s no place like home Glinda…I mean sultana…
A great fairytale where the tales blend and there’s a breathe of Beauty and the Beast and then click your slippers because there’s definitely a theme of there’s no place like home Glinda…I mean sultana…
July 17, 2025
What a delightful fantasy! When Sabrena, who is going through a lot both at school and home, finds herself the central character in a story world she’s heard about her entire life, she must dig deep to change the narrative, and hopefully, become a storyteller as well. Beautifully written, full of colourful characters and adventure, this book is sure to be a hit with its readers!!!! Bravo!
August 16, 2025
I love the cover, the culture, the representation -- Bangledeshi/Muslim/Black -- the Sinbad heritage is interesting, the magic is original, and I like that this isn't a direct retelling. I'm not the intended audience, so I don't know that it matters much that this didn't draw me in as much as I'd hoped it would. It's solid, and the right reader will get a lot out of it.
December 17, 2025
It was okay I guess. the overall idea of the world was good but it was really short. and obviously I'm a little too old to read this so I guess I thought it wasn't very exciting and there was like no violence or blood. At all.
August 12, 2025
Retelling of Sinbad
July 24, 2025
My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer to allow for some more character development (especially for the side characters that made up Sabrena's band). Otherwise, this was a beautifully written novel that made me smile.
December 20, 2025
Sabrena is the descendant of the legendary sailor Sinbad—or so claims her grandmother. Sabrena has bigger things to think about right now: fitting in at a new school, the landlord’s refusal to fix their house, and her grandma’s increasing decline to Alzheimer’s Disease. But when magic literally sweeps her away to another realm, Sabrena must learn to harness her inner power if she ever wants to return home.
A portal fantasy in the tradition of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Sabrena Swept Away takes a struggling child and puts them in a fantastical world where they can learn the lessons they need for their own reality.
It’s a delight to have a brown, Muslim girl as the heroine in a portal fantasy novel! I appreciated that most of the relationships Sabrena has throughout the novel are with other women: her grandmother, her mother, her aunt, a girl at school, and so on. Likewise, I was relieved that by the end of the book, Sabrena’s grandmother is not magically cured, and that Sabrena must ultimately come to terms with the grandmother entering assisted living.
Sabrena Swept Away argues that storytelling and personal choice are (literalized) forms of magic—a message that resonated with this reader. The book has lovely prose as well.
Unfortunately, the fantasy world Sabrena visits does not match the level of Riazi’s prose; it never feels fully developed, nor do the characters she meets there. In fact, the only characters in the book who are truly dimensional are Sabrena herself and her mother. Sabrena’s father, aunt, and fellow students receive little development throughout the narrative, and while her beloved grandmother is a colorful character, she lacks depth.
That said, this lack of dimensionality is unlikely to hinder a middle grade reader’s enjoyment of the story. I can think of many middle grade titles from my own childhood that I loved which are equally underdeveloped.
Recommended as an optional purchase for ages 8-10.
[Diversity note: Sabrena has Bangladeshi heritage and is a Muslim, as are all the other characters in the book. In the cover art, she is wearing a hijab and has brown skin.]
A portal fantasy in the tradition of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Sabrena Swept Away takes a struggling child and puts them in a fantastical world where they can learn the lessons they need for their own reality.
It’s a delight to have a brown, Muslim girl as the heroine in a portal fantasy novel! I appreciated that most of the relationships Sabrena has throughout the novel are with other women: her grandmother, her mother, her aunt, a girl at school, and so on. Likewise, I was relieved that by the end of the book, Sabrena’s grandmother is not magically cured, and that Sabrena must ultimately come to terms with the grandmother entering assisted living.
Sabrena Swept Away argues that storytelling and personal choice are (literalized) forms of magic—a message that resonated with this reader. The book has lovely prose as well.
Unfortunately, the fantasy world Sabrena visits does not match the level of Riazi’s prose; it never feels fully developed, nor do the characters she meets there. In fact, the only characters in the book who are truly dimensional are Sabrena herself and her mother. Sabrena’s father, aunt, and fellow students receive little development throughout the narrative, and while her beloved grandmother is a colorful character, she lacks depth.
That said, this lack of dimensionality is unlikely to hinder a middle grade reader’s enjoyment of the story. I can think of many middle grade titles from my own childhood that I loved which are equally underdeveloped.
Recommended as an optional purchase for ages 8-10.
[Diversity note: Sabrena has Bangladeshi heritage and is a Muslim, as are all the other characters in the book. In the cover art, she is wearing a hijab and has brown skin.]
June 14, 2025
This middle grade book is about Sabrena, who is still getting used to her family's recent move and her new responsibilities of grandma-sitting. Sabrena's father and grandmother are storytellers and spend time weaving stories about The 40 Thieves and Sinbad to Sabrena, linking her to part of her heritage.
While a little slow in the beginning, it really picks up as Sabrena and her friends Marjana and Idris undergo a fantastical adventure befitting Middle Eastern folklore.
On her adventure, Sabrena, who is often overlooked in her family's new life, is able to rise to the occasion, show that she can stand up for herself, be a leader amongst her friends, and be as good a storyteller as her father.
I would like to thank NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own. I gave this 4 stars because it found its groove and kept me interested once her adventure started. Also, the cover is delicate and beautiful.
While a little slow in the beginning, it really picks up as Sabrena and her friends Marjana and Idris undergo a fantastical adventure befitting Middle Eastern folklore.
On her adventure, Sabrena, who is often overlooked in her family's new life, is able to rise to the occasion, show that she can stand up for herself, be a leader amongst her friends, and be as good a storyteller as her father.
I would like to thank NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own. I gave this 4 stars because it found its groove and kept me interested once her adventure started. Also, the cover is delicate and beautiful.
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