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When She Went Away
‘Leaving you and the kids. Khudahafiz.'
Said the post-it stuck on the fridge.
Since then, the sole focus of Maria's life has been to find her mother and bring her home, so that life could go back to normal. But as Maria grapples with a house in shambles, an angry father, a sullen brother, life lived on takeaways, and her growing attraction for the class hero, the Basketball Guy, she slowly uncovers clues about Ammi's disappearance.
An insightful and funny tale of growing up with a single parent from Andaleeb Wajid, the acclaimed author of several novels including More Than Just Biryani.
Said the post-it stuck on the fridge.
Since then, the sole focus of Maria's life has been to find her mother and bring her home, so that life could go back to normal. But as Maria grapples with a house in shambles, an angry father, a sullen brother, life lived on takeaways, and her growing attraction for the class hero, the Basketball Guy, she slowly uncovers clues about Ammi's disappearance.
An insightful and funny tale of growing up with a single parent from Andaleeb Wajid, the acclaimed author of several novels including More Than Just Biryani.
- GenresYoung AdultTeen
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Andaleeb Wajid
77 books205 followersAndaleeb Wajid is the author of more than 35 novels. She writes romance, young adult, horror and speculative fiction.
For more details, check her website.
For more details, check her website.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 4, 2015
Really enjoyed it. Hoping there's a sequel, for I want to know more!
August 4, 2023
There's a certain gentle flow to this book like a lapping brook. Nothing's forced, nothing's unbelievable. Maria could well be the girl who lives next door, and the scandal of a mother leaving her kids - the one that sets your neighbourhood's gossip circuit buzzing.
Andaleeb's strength is in her effortless prose, so very easily readable; and in her characters who are ordinary people who live past the challenges in their ordinary lives. Take for example, one of the strongest characters - Maria's father - who changed his shades of grey (which will unfortunately for all literature, never mean the same again) from the cuckolded husband to the taciturn father to the uncertain prospective groom, all along living in a state of disbelief that the departure of his wife has left him in. He has neither the experience of a hands-on father, nor the temperament to become one. What of Maria's young brother and what of young Maria herself, who is expected to step into the role of the nurturing woman of the house, never mind that her own hormones are raging on quite another level?
Such an interesting setup here of possibilities, such very ordinary people with dilemnas that any of us could face, or perhaps already have - or are they? Andaleeb sets up a cast of characters which helps us see what CS Lewis so famously said, 'We meet no ordinary people in our lives.'
Andaleeb's strength is in her effortless prose, so very easily readable; and in her characters who are ordinary people who live past the challenges in their ordinary lives. Take for example, one of the strongest characters - Maria's father - who changed his shades of grey (which will unfortunately for all literature, never mean the same again) from the cuckolded husband to the taciturn father to the uncertain prospective groom, all along living in a state of disbelief that the departure of his wife has left him in. He has neither the experience of a hands-on father, nor the temperament to become one. What of Maria's young brother and what of young Maria herself, who is expected to step into the role of the nurturing woman of the house, never mind that her own hormones are raging on quite another level?
Such an interesting setup here of possibilities, such very ordinary people with dilemnas that any of us could face, or perhaps already have - or are they? Andaleeb sets up a cast of characters which helps us see what CS Lewis so famously said, 'We meet no ordinary people in our lives.'
January 23, 2016
This book had in tears ever since the first few pages. Maria is my age and it's so sad that she had to deal with her mother leaving. When she finds out that her mother has cancer... That was incredibly sad. In a way, though, I feel sorry for her mother. The decision to leave her kids was probably quite hard and it must've required a lot of courage. Maria is such a strong girl for being able to deal with something like that.
Overall, the plot was good, and the main character was awesome. I had a few questions about the ending but when you know the author, you can always put forth the questions to her :)
Overall, the plot was good, and the main character was awesome. I had a few questions about the ending but when you know the author, you can always put forth the questions to her :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2015
A page turner. So many things to say. The first book I've read of Andaleeb's and it's not a decision I regret.
January 23, 2016
I think I am beginning to like YA's. Was that a confession? ;) Some thoughts on the book here: http://worncorners.com/2016/01/23/whe...
March 6, 2018
The Writer has created her characters so true to life that it is hard not to empathize with each one of them. The situations and struggles are so raw and real, they are very much like the people around us face and triumph over, everyday. Nothing’s forced, nothing unbelievable.
Though the plot is heavily driven by emotions, the writer has managed to add some lightness by bringing in the K angle. Maria’s relationship with Kabir works as a distraction for her and for us after all she is still a school girl who wants to hold on to her innocence, for that one moment and experience the young love blossom like others of her age.
This book does not romanticize the ideal mother or father who must take on responsibility instead points out the complexity of relationships and that not all happy outcomes look alike.
Though the plot is heavily driven by emotions, the writer has managed to add some lightness by bringing in the K angle. Maria’s relationship with Kabir works as a distraction for her and for us after all she is still a school girl who wants to hold on to her innocence, for that one moment and experience the young love blossom like others of her age.
This book does not romanticize the ideal mother or father who must take on responsibility instead points out the complexity of relationships and that not all happy outcomes look alike.
January 13, 2019
Week 2 Book 3
When she went away, by Andaleeb Wajid
Rating 2/5
After struggling to read this new year I finally found a book I finished in a jiffy.
When she went away revolves around a young girl called Maria who is grappling with a mother who abandoned her family one fine day without explanation, a grieving father, a distant brother, a bad time at school, and boy problems.
The story started out ok but then it started going downhill for me. The characters, the situations.. stopped making sense.
The good thing was that the book is a smooth and breezy read, and despite its flaws, I was hooked on enough to want to know what happens next. The ending did leave me unsatisfied though.
A book for palette cleansing, a quick timepass read between serious tomes.
When she went away, by Andaleeb Wajid
Rating 2/5
After struggling to read this new year I finally found a book I finished in a jiffy.
When she went away revolves around a young girl called Maria who is grappling with a mother who abandoned her family one fine day without explanation, a grieving father, a distant brother, a bad time at school, and boy problems.
The story started out ok but then it started going downhill for me. The characters, the situations.. stopped making sense.
The good thing was that the book is a smooth and breezy read, and despite its flaws, I was hooked on enough to want to know what happens next. The ending did leave me unsatisfied though.
A book for palette cleansing, a quick timepass read between serious tomes.
September 1, 2025
My daughter read 3-4 books of this author recently, & she liked this one least, & I would agree.
She was confused by the plot & found it less enjoyable.
For me it was the confused tone while dealing with the reason of the going away.
Of course, a mother leaving the family is a very complex & "sensitive" topic, & the book is bold just in existing. However, while giving the message "individuals have their own reasons, & let's not judge them & life has to go on" - which is a valid & important message - the whiney reason/ excuse/ explanation which was then provided diluted the message & did nothing for the plot.
3.5
She was confused by the plot & found it less enjoyable.
For me it was the confused tone while dealing with the reason of the going away.
Of course, a mother leaving the family is a very complex & "sensitive" topic, & the book is bold just in existing. However, while giving the message "individuals have their own reasons, & let's not judge them & life has to go on" - which is a valid & important message - the whiney reason/ excuse/ explanation which was then provided diluted the message & did nothing for the plot.
3.5
September 25, 2019
Review
I liked the book but she left it hanging, I wasn't happy or sad or content at end of the book. I was just incomplete, I would love if she had a sequel for this!
I liked the book but she left it hanging, I wasn't happy or sad or content at end of the book. I was just incomplete, I would love if she had a sequel for this!
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July 22, 2016For YoungAdults
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews