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Zeyna Lost and Found
In 1970, twelve-year-old Zeyna has grown up in London but has never quite felt like she fits in.
Her monotonous life is suddenly interrupted when Zeyna's parents decide to visit their native Pakistan—where Zeyna feels she doesn't fit in either. But then her parents disappear, leaving behind a string of clues that connect them to an international jewel heist. Along with her annoying little brother and her clever Pakistani cousin, Zeyna sets out to find her parents and clear their names. Along the way, she discovers that being shaped by two cultures doesn't have to mean she's always an outsider.
Her monotonous life is suddenly interrupted when Zeyna's parents decide to visit their native Pakistan—where Zeyna feels she doesn't fit in either. But then her parents disappear, leaving behind a string of clues that connect them to an international jewel heist. Along with her annoying little brother and her clever Pakistani cousin, Zeyna sets out to find her parents and clear their names. Along the way, she discovers that being shaped by two cultures doesn't have to mean she's always an outsider.
- GenresMiddle Grade
336 pages, Hardcover
Published September 9, 2025
1 person is currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 14, 2025
I think I needed this 336 page middle grade book that gets parents out of the way and lets a trio of kids hop from country to country to solve a mystery, track down the bad guys and save the day. Set in the 1970s in the UK and on the Hippie Trail between Lahore, Pakistan and Istanbul, Turkey, the book is a fast paced read with humor, heart, and adventure. I absolutely love Zeyna's snark and voice, and her relationship with her brother and cousin, ground the story and make you cheer for them even when their antics are incredibly dangerous and improbable. As an Islamic school librarian, my one critique with the book is that I wish there was more/any Islam. I, at one point considered that they are not Muslim, and I'm not sure what the author identifies as, but she does thank "Al-Barr, for all that is good" in the acknowledgements, and Zeyna does mention an Eid party in passing, so while I'm still on the fence, I'm going to assume they are all Muslim. Major beats in the plot are meeting at both the Badshahi and Blue Mosque, but none of the characters ever pray, or mention the names of prayers when the athan is heard. When they see women in burkas and chadors, Zeyna stares, not connecting the clothing to hijab, that one would hope she would know. There is only one salaam in the whole book, and the story is predominately set in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey. Granted I am sensitive, but it almost feels like a deliberate exclusion to the point of going out of the way to not let those details be present. There are plenty of Urdu and Punjabi words and titles and cultural commentary, so it doesn't seem that the author was concerned about watering down authenticity, a theme of the book infact is finding your place and accepting yourself. All that aside I really enjoyed pickpocketing, imaginative, determined, sarcastic, loyal detective Zeyna, and I think kids will join me in hoping this is the first in a series.
SYNOPSIS:
Zeyna is 12, and likes to imagine she is a detective on a case, sneaking and snooping, and roping her inventing younger brother Mahir to be her Watson. The city is on edge with the theft of the Shirin Jewel, a large Persian ruby, a case involving the 15, that Zeyna would love to solve. When she sees a man with knife in London, who later seems to be following her and her mum, and then drops a paper with their street name on it, Zeyna is convinced this her chance to prove her self. A sudden trip to Pakistan though dampens her mood as the clues to the case will be left in the UK. She doesn't stay down long though, as her parents start acting peculiar in Lahore, meeting with strange people, lying about why they suddenly made the trip at all, and when the police show up at the familial home to arrest her parents, they all discover that her parents have vanished. Zeyna realizes her parents and the events in London are tied to the missing ruby, and with the help of Mahir and their cousin Amina they set off to solve the case and find her parents.
WHY I LIKE IT:
It's hard to review a book like this without giving the twists and climax and resolution away, but more than once I gasped in delight when something happened on the page, and it crystalized where the book was going in my head. Sure there were some particularly outlandish connections and a few plot holes, I even Googled when fax machines were invented, but I had a blast reading the book. I loved the historical backmatter discussing the events in post partition Pakistan, a year before Bangladesh was independent, Soviet Union and UK competing over influence in Afghanistan, the discontent voices in Iran toward the shah, and the role of the Pudding House for messages in Turkey. There are also discussion questions, a glossary, acknowledgements, and about the author at the end.
One tiny concern was the assumption that money could be stolen because the people around them are poor, it is just one paragraph, it isn't a constant in the book, but it struck me as odd and stereotypical, and really not needed.
FLAGS:
Lying, stealing, deception, pretending to be someone you are not, breaking and entering, eavesdropping, snooping, its a heist book!
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
This would be an awesome book club book or novel study read, I can't wait for it to be released in a few weeks so that I can have my kids read it.
SYNOPSIS:
Zeyna is 12, and likes to imagine she is a detective on a case, sneaking and snooping, and roping her inventing younger brother Mahir to be her Watson. The city is on edge with the theft of the Shirin Jewel, a large Persian ruby, a case involving the 15, that Zeyna would love to solve. When she sees a man with knife in London, who later seems to be following her and her mum, and then drops a paper with their street name on it, Zeyna is convinced this her chance to prove her self. A sudden trip to Pakistan though dampens her mood as the clues to the case will be left in the UK. She doesn't stay down long though, as her parents start acting peculiar in Lahore, meeting with strange people, lying about why they suddenly made the trip at all, and when the police show up at the familial home to arrest her parents, they all discover that her parents have vanished. Zeyna realizes her parents and the events in London are tied to the missing ruby, and with the help of Mahir and their cousin Amina they set off to solve the case and find her parents.
WHY I LIKE IT:
It's hard to review a book like this without giving the twists and climax and resolution away, but more than once I gasped in delight when something happened on the page, and it crystalized where the book was going in my head. Sure there were some particularly outlandish connections and a few plot holes, I even Googled when fax machines were invented, but I had a blast reading the book. I loved the historical backmatter discussing the events in post partition Pakistan, a year before Bangladesh was independent, Soviet Union and UK competing over influence in Afghanistan, the discontent voices in Iran toward the shah, and the role of the Pudding House for messages in Turkey. There are also discussion questions, a glossary, acknowledgements, and about the author at the end.
One tiny concern was the assumption that money could be stolen because the people around them are poor, it is just one paragraph, it isn't a constant in the book, but it struck me as odd and stereotypical, and really not needed.
FLAGS:
Lying, stealing, deception, pretending to be someone you are not, breaking and entering, eavesdropping, snooping, its a heist book!
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
This would be an awesome book club book or novel study read, I can't wait for it to be released in a few weeks so that I can have my kids read it.
May 4, 2025
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Zeyna's parents have come from Pakistan and are living in London in the 1970s. She loves taking judo lessons and secret horseback riding ones (she cleans the stables in exchange for the lessons, since her mother thinks they are too dangerous), and likes hanging out with her friends Mark and Robbie. When the news that the British Museum is negotiating to return the Shirin Jewel, a Ruby, to Iran, Zeyna starts to notice strange things in her neighborhood. She sees a man with a knife who drops a piece of paper with her street on it, and later someone breaks into the family's shed. Her parents are acting odd, as well, and suddenly decide to go to Bahawalpur for a cousin's wedding. When they arrive, Zeyna sees a man give her father a matchbox, and later finds a ruby in her mother's luggage. She and her sister Amina take it to a jeweler, where they find it is fake, but when detectives come looking for her parents, she and Amina must figure out what their connection to the jewel is, leading to exciting and dangerous adventures.
Strengths: This starts with a map of the Hippie Trail, which Zeyna and Amina follow during their adventures. I'm enthralled, and rather want to take a deep dive into so many aspects of the trail! There should be more historical fiction set in the 1970s. This had the feel of an international Harriet the Spy in some ways, and was a good adventure with a side of exploration of culture and belonging.
Weaknesses: Zeyna seemed rather young to successfully have as many adventures as she did. Something about the tone of this made me think that she was only imagining that her parents were involved.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like adventures to retrieve missing loved ones like Dasgupta's The Serpent's Secret or Eagle's equally British The Pear Affair.
Zeyna's parents have come from Pakistan and are living in London in the 1970s. She loves taking judo lessons and secret horseback riding ones (she cleans the stables in exchange for the lessons, since her mother thinks they are too dangerous), and likes hanging out with her friends Mark and Robbie. When the news that the British Museum is negotiating to return the Shirin Jewel, a Ruby, to Iran, Zeyna starts to notice strange things in her neighborhood. She sees a man with a knife who drops a piece of paper with her street on it, and later someone breaks into the family's shed. Her parents are acting odd, as well, and suddenly decide to go to Bahawalpur for a cousin's wedding. When they arrive, Zeyna sees a man give her father a matchbox, and later finds a ruby in her mother's luggage. She and her sister Amina take it to a jeweler, where they find it is fake, but when detectives come looking for her parents, she and Amina must figure out what their connection to the jewel is, leading to exciting and dangerous adventures.
Strengths: This starts with a map of the Hippie Trail, which Zeyna and Amina follow during their adventures. I'm enthralled, and rather want to take a deep dive into so many aspects of the trail! There should be more historical fiction set in the 1970s. This had the feel of an international Harriet the Spy in some ways, and was a good adventure with a side of exploration of culture and belonging.
Weaknesses: Zeyna seemed rather young to successfully have as many adventures as she did. Something about the tone of this made me think that she was only imagining that her parents were involved.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like adventures to retrieve missing loved ones like Dasgupta's The Serpent's Secret or Eagle's equally British The Pear Affair.
August 9, 2025
Twelve-year-old Zeyna, daughter of Pakistani immigrants to London in 1970, always feels a bit out of place even though she was born there. Maybe that's why she overcompensates by detecting. One day while shopping with her mother, Zeyna spots a man with a knife following them. She can't convince her mother of the danger, even when someone breaks into their shed that night and leaves clues that point to an international gang of thieves. Soon after, the family is on their way to Pakistan to attend a family wedding they had not planned to attend. Zeyna's parents appear to have landed right in the middle of the theft of a famous Iranian ruby and flee, leaving Zeyna, her younger brother Mahir, and their cousin Amina to follow clues along the Hippie Trail to Turkey in order to foil the thieves and clear their parents, and causing Zeyna to yearn for the boring old days in London. Along the way, Zeyna gains confidence in her identity as a Pakistani, a Londoner, and, of course, as a detective. The 70s setting is perfect for this story with its emphasis on phone calls, faxes, letter writing, tape recorders and Polaroid cameras. The story has the feel of an old school spy novel and the fast pace of a thriller, but with smart, yet flawed, kids who can accomplish amazing things. The intricacies of the larger-than-life plot and the pacing reminded me a bit of Alistair MacLean. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.
August 25, 2025
Zeyna Lost and Found by Shafaq Khan
1970, London-to-Pakistan. Zeyna feels stuck between two worlds until her parents vanish, leaving clues tied to a jewel heist. Mystery, family secrets, and a journey to find where she belongs!
1970, London-to-Pakistan. Zeyna feels stuck between two worlds until her parents vanish, leaving clues tied to a jewel heist. Mystery, family secrets, and a journey to find where she belongs!
December 11, 2025
Fall in love with Zeyna as she proves she is a detective, unraveling family secrets and the mystery of a lost jewel. What would you do if your parents went missing? Teachers and librarians take note of this page turner from debut author Shafaq Khan.
September 3, 2025
Zeyna Lost and found
📚In 1970, twelve-year-old Zeyna. Her life turn upside down when her parents, who are visiting Pakistan, disappear after being linked to the theft of a valuable jewels. Zeyna, along with her younger brother and clever cousin, embarks on an adventure across continents to uncover the truth behind the jewel heist and clear their parents' names.
💭I love Historical fiction, so I fun in love with this book. Without spoilers to much I love Zeyna and her family. I can’t to reread this one again.
Zeyna lost and found feels like it’s going to be a series. I hope it’s going to be series. I just want to see Zeyna next adventure.
4 ⭐️
Release day :September 9
📚In 1970, twelve-year-old Zeyna. Her life turn upside down when her parents, who are visiting Pakistan, disappear after being linked to the theft of a valuable jewels. Zeyna, along with her younger brother and clever cousin, embarks on an adventure across continents to uncover the truth behind the jewel heist and clear their parents' names.
💭I love Historical fiction, so I fun in love with this book. Without spoilers to much I love Zeyna and her family. I can’t to reread this one again.
Zeyna lost and found feels like it’s going to be a series. I hope it’s going to be series. I just want to see Zeyna next adventure.
4 ⭐️
Release day :September 9
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews