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Zara's Rules #2
Zara's Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure
From the beloved author of Amina’s Voice comes the second book in the delightful Zara’s Rules middle grade series following Zara as she starts her own business!
Zara lives for bike rides with her friends—so when her shiny, brand-new bike goes missing from the park one day, she’s crushed. After her parents insist she earn the money for another one herself, Zara’s determined to start a business. But what kind? A lemonade stand? Not profitable enough. Selling painted rocks? Not enough customers.
Zara’s starting to get discouraged when she and her friend Naomi finally come up with the perfect idea: The Treasure Wagon, a roving garage sale that unloads knickknacks from the Saleem family basement and makes money all at once! But when a mix-up gets Zara in hot water again, will she have to give up everything she’s earned toward her new bike?
Zara lives for bike rides with her friends—so when her shiny, brand-new bike goes missing from the park one day, she’s crushed. After her parents insist she earn the money for another one herself, Zara’s determined to start a business. But what kind? A lemonade stand? Not profitable enough. Selling painted rocks? Not enough customers.
Zara’s starting to get discouraged when she and her friend Naomi finally come up with the perfect idea: The Treasure Wagon, a roving garage sale that unloads knickknacks from the Saleem family basement and makes money all at once! But when a mix-up gets Zara in hot water again, will she have to give up everything she’s earned toward her new bike?
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2022
3 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Hena Khan
54 books528 followersHena Khan writes books in a multitude of formats, including picture books, middle grade fiction, pick-your-path adventures, and graphic novels. Her stories are often centered around community, friendship, and family, and draw from her own experiences and culture. Hena’s novels include AMINA'S VOICE, MORE TO THE STORY, and DRAWING DEENA. She is the author of the Zayd Saleem Chasing the Dream, Zara’s Rules, and Super You! series. Hena’s picture books include GOLDEN DOMES AND SILVER LANTERNS, UNDER MY HIJAB, and IT'S RAMADAN, CURIOUS GEORGE, among others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 7, 2023
Excellent read and audiobook! A great story with many lessons for young readers. One lesson was to remember to lock up your bike otherwise you could lose it. Another lesson was that it's okay to let go of favorite things and just keep the happy memories without the physical products. I enjoyed the narrator telling this story a lot. This story followed Zara. She was riding her new bike to the park with her friends. At the park, she played and had a lot of fun with them. Then they get ready to go home and that's when Zara discovered that her bike was gone. Someone must have stolen it because she didn't think to lock up her bike since she was used to not locking up her old beat up bike. Besides a lecture from her parents, she learned a big lesson from the experience. She tried different ways to get her lost bike back. When some plans looks like it was not going well, Zara and her friends thought of new ideas. Zara's family are from Pakistan so there are some foods and spoken sentences are Pakistan inspired. An enjoyable read and audiobook and I recommend everyone to read it!
Thank you SimonKids for the opportunity to read and review!
Thank you SimonKids for the opportunity to read and review!
December 21, 2022
One of the best well written middle grade books ever!
And the illustrations are soooo good!!!!
I love how strong the voice is about the characters that are portrayed so well according to their ages. With a little bit of strictness of the adult characters and a little bit of learning life lessons and a lot of Marie Condo unhauling plot it’s the best shortest middle grade book I read this week!
And the illustrations are soooo good!!!!
I love how strong the voice is about the characters that are portrayed so well according to their ages. With a little bit of strictness of the adult characters and a little bit of learning life lessons and a lot of Marie Condo unhauling plot it’s the best shortest middle grade book I read this week!
January 4, 2023
zara forgot to lock her bike and now .. it's gone! to teach her a lesson her parents tell her she has to earn it to have another bike. so, zara tries to earn the money for a new bike by trying her hand at business. garage sales work wonders! .. until she realizes amongst the knick-knacks she sold very personal treasure from her family !!
i sincerely loved this book!
zara and naomie are now best friends and do everything together, like losing a bike. but with her selling her mom's precious albums and objects she'll learn the meaning and importance of personal treasures. so she goes on a quest to retrieve them!
this book felt more personal with all the memories, which got me to feel closer to her family because i simply could relate to and imagine many of the memories.
i sincerely loved this book!
zara and naomie are now best friends and do everything together, like losing a bike. but with her selling her mom's precious albums and objects she'll learn the meaning and importance of personal treasures. so she goes on a quest to retrieve them!
this book felt more personal with all the memories, which got me to feel closer to her family because i simply could relate to and imagine many of the memories.
October 19, 2022
Zara's Rules for Finding Hidden Treasures by Hena Khan is the second book in the Zara's Rules series. It's a story about Zara Saleem, a 10 year-old Pakistani American girl, and how she decides to start a business with her best friend to earn money for a new bike. Along the way she learns about the keepsakes we hold onto, what really sparks joy and the most important treasures in our lives.
Let me just start off by saying Zara, Nana Abu and I are Gulab Jamun Enthusiasts (sweet fried dough balls) and I will not be hearing any criticism for that - thank you.
I adore Zara and her entire Pakistani American family. The entire time I was reading I felt like I was seeing my own family members in the place of Zara's mom, dad, uncle and grandparents. If you're thinking 'ah this is a kid's book - I'm not a kid' mhm mhm *and what about it???* .
It's heartfelt and humorous with complex relationships being written in a way that's just so fun and engaging. I wasn't bored a second of this book and that too in my 'old age'. It's really interesting to see these dynamics and characters through the eyes of a child and Zara is so quick-witted and funny that I imagined this is how my inner monologue must have sounded when I was ten.
I can tell how close these characters and this story must be to the author's heart - it's ingrained in every page, every dialogue. It's a beautiful recall to childhood for me and I think it will resonate with so many of us who are still holding onto that kid we used to be.
And even if this isn't your vibe, I can guarantee that a young person in your family or community will absolutely love it. It's got a leading heroine, a gang of besties, family shenanigans, thrilling bike stealing mystery, and authenticity of a young kid's perspective in every sentence. I for one will absolutely be getting more.
ALSO THE COVER - look at those sparkles! Look at the details! The illustrations inside are my absolute favourite too. Really tapped into nostalgia with this one.
Let me just start off by saying Zara, Nana Abu and I are Gulab Jamun Enthusiasts (sweet fried dough balls) and I will not be hearing any criticism for that - thank you.
I adore Zara and her entire Pakistani American family. The entire time I was reading I felt like I was seeing my own family members in the place of Zara's mom, dad, uncle and grandparents. If you're thinking 'ah this is a kid's book - I'm not a kid' mhm mhm *and what about it???* .
It's heartfelt and humorous with complex relationships being written in a way that's just so fun and engaging. I wasn't bored a second of this book and that too in my 'old age'. It's really interesting to see these dynamics and characters through the eyes of a child and Zara is so quick-witted and funny that I imagined this is how my inner monologue must have sounded when I was ten.
I can tell how close these characters and this story must be to the author's heart - it's ingrained in every page, every dialogue. It's a beautiful recall to childhood for me and I think it will resonate with so many of us who are still holding onto that kid we used to be.
And even if this isn't your vibe, I can guarantee that a young person in your family or community will absolutely love it. It's got a leading heroine, a gang of besties, family shenanigans, thrilling bike stealing mystery, and authenticity of a young kid's perspective in every sentence. I for one will absolutely be getting more.
ALSO THE COVER - look at those sparkles! Look at the details! The illustrations inside are my absolute favourite too. Really tapped into nostalgia with this one.
October 20, 2022
10/16/2022 Read this quickly ahead of going to Hena Khan's book signing soon! Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
10/20/2022 with delightful illustrations by Wastana Haikal.
I'm a huge fan of the first book in this series, Zara's Rules For Record-Breaking Fun, and finally, finally got my 11 year-old to start reading it when I asked him if he'd like to go to Hena Khan's book signing with me. He was enthused, but I warned him that he'd have to have read at least book one first. The gratification I felt when he called out to me his excitement that the book was set in Maryland was extremely vindicating (even if his favorite character so far is Zayd, whom I'm hoping to gently point out to him is a lot more like his younger brother Joseph than he is, and so maybe he should be nicer to Joseph then?)
Zara's Rules For Finding Hidden Treasure picks up from where the first one left off, with Zara getting a snazzy new bike for her birthday, then promptly having it stolen when she forgets to lock it at the park. Granted, she never had to lock her old beater bike, so it's just a really unfortunate, if decidedly crappy, occurrence. Her parents, understandably, don't want to just go out to buy a replacement for her. So with the help of her best friend Naomi and the other kids on her street, she starts brainstorming ways to raise money to buy a new bike.
After a few false starts, a travelling garage sale seems to be the best bet, with discarded items from both her household and Naomi's. But when Zara discovers she's made an awful mistake, will her dream of quickly getting a replacement bike disappear as swiftly as her last bike did?
This was another very cute middle-grade novel of Zara and her friends learning valuable lessons about growing up. There was a slightly larger emphasis on her Pakistani American family, as they planned a sweet anniversary celebration for her grandparents, partially inspired by Naomi's older brother's bar mitzvah -- tho Zara is understandably disappointed that her family decides to forgo the cool disco ball for their own party. The multicultural gatherings and the neighborhood kids' diversity make for constantly rewarding reading as they work and play and celebrate together. There's also a cool subplot about multigenerational hoarding, with a humorous bit about Marie Kondo.
The book signing was rad*, by the way, and despite my kid's fidgeting and his springing of a new nickname for himself on me (a nickname that had me, the signing admin lady and Ms Khan herself visibly pausing despite our many combined years of dealing with kids. It's not a rude name, just very gamer,) he said had a really good time, too. We picked up a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure type book from the merch stand outside afterwards, and look forward to getting it signed at her next event!
*Book signing photos at TheFrumiousConsortium.net and tk on my Instagram!
Zara's Rules For Finding Hidden Treasure by Hena Khan was published October 18 2022 by Salaam Reads and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
10/20/2022 with delightful illustrations by Wastana Haikal.
I'm a huge fan of the first book in this series, Zara's Rules For Record-Breaking Fun, and finally, finally got my 11 year-old to start reading it when I asked him if he'd like to go to Hena Khan's book signing with me. He was enthused, but I warned him that he'd have to have read at least book one first. The gratification I felt when he called out to me his excitement that the book was set in Maryland was extremely vindicating (even if his favorite character so far is Zayd, whom I'm hoping to gently point out to him is a lot more like his younger brother Joseph than he is, and so maybe he should be nicer to Joseph then?)
Zara's Rules For Finding Hidden Treasure picks up from where the first one left off, with Zara getting a snazzy new bike for her birthday, then promptly having it stolen when she forgets to lock it at the park. Granted, she never had to lock her old beater bike, so it's just a really unfortunate, if decidedly crappy, occurrence. Her parents, understandably, don't want to just go out to buy a replacement for her. So with the help of her best friend Naomi and the other kids on her street, she starts brainstorming ways to raise money to buy a new bike.
After a few false starts, a travelling garage sale seems to be the best bet, with discarded items from both her household and Naomi's. But when Zara discovers she's made an awful mistake, will her dream of quickly getting a replacement bike disappear as swiftly as her last bike did?
This was another very cute middle-grade novel of Zara and her friends learning valuable lessons about growing up. There was a slightly larger emphasis on her Pakistani American family, as they planned a sweet anniversary celebration for her grandparents, partially inspired by Naomi's older brother's bar mitzvah -- tho Zara is understandably disappointed that her family decides to forgo the cool disco ball for their own party. The multicultural gatherings and the neighborhood kids' diversity make for constantly rewarding reading as they work and play and celebrate together. There's also a cool subplot about multigenerational hoarding, with a humorous bit about Marie Kondo.
The book signing was rad*, by the way, and despite my kid's fidgeting and his springing of a new nickname for himself on me (a nickname that had me, the signing admin lady and Ms Khan herself visibly pausing despite our many combined years of dealing with kids. It's not a rude name, just very gamer,) he said had a really good time, too. We picked up a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure type book from the merch stand outside afterwards, and look forward to getting it signed at her next event!
*Book signing photos at TheFrumiousConsortium.net and tk on my Instagram!
Zara's Rules For Finding Hidden Treasure by Hena Khan was published October 18 2022 by Salaam Reads and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
October 8, 2022
A fun and kind hearted story with a lovely message and featuring a well developed and lovable cast of characters. Hena Khan’s storied are a gift to the middle grade sphere.
October 15, 2022
Zara and her friends are enjoying their summer riding their bikes to the new park in their neighborhood. Zara's brand new bike makes the outings, all the better. That is of course until she forgets to lock her bike up and it gets stolen. With a neighborhood full of friends and a family full of love, the cast from the first book is back to add comedy, context, relatability, and support to help Zara find a way to earn enough money to buy a replacement. Add in a bar mitzva, her grandparents 40th wedding anniversary, and a few mishaps, mistakes, twists, and growth, and you have a fun early middle grade 144 page book.
I particularly love how Islam and Pakistani culture is sprinkled in. Zara and her family don't other themselves, nor do those around them. They just live their lives and as a result they eat gulab jamun, mention Eid, Ameen celebrations when finishing the Quran, wearing shalwar kameez, and occasionally say salam and mashaAllah. This book adds a bit more Islam at the end when donations are made to a thrift store tied to the masjid with a hijabi working there.
The book is not moral in a preachy way nor does it contain religious overtones. The characters are fleshed out and their situations relatable, without being predictable. The subtle themes present focus around taking care of your things, earning and valuing money, owning your mistakes, empathy for other people and their attachments, celebrating those you love, and helping each other. Most kids might not take any lessons from the book, and just think it is fun.
I hope there are a lot more books in the series. I think Muslim kids will see themselves in the pages, non Muslim kids with Muslim friends will see themselves as well, and those that don't know many Muslims will see an accurate portrayal of kids of all backgrounds coming together to do something relatable in an engaging story, that normalizes faith and culture in a respectful rich way.
I particularly love how Islam and Pakistani culture is sprinkled in. Zara and her family don't other themselves, nor do those around them. They just live their lives and as a result they eat gulab jamun, mention Eid, Ameen celebrations when finishing the Quran, wearing shalwar kameez, and occasionally say salam and mashaAllah. This book adds a bit more Islam at the end when donations are made to a thrift store tied to the masjid with a hijabi working there.
The book is not moral in a preachy way nor does it contain religious overtones. The characters are fleshed out and their situations relatable, without being predictable. The subtle themes present focus around taking care of your things, earning and valuing money, owning your mistakes, empathy for other people and their attachments, celebrating those you love, and helping each other. Most kids might not take any lessons from the book, and just think it is fun.
I hope there are a lot more books in the series. I think Muslim kids will see themselves in the pages, non Muslim kids with Muslim friends will see themselves as well, and those that don't know many Muslims will see an accurate portrayal of kids of all backgrounds coming together to do something relatable in an engaging story, that normalizes faith and culture in a respectful rich way.
September 26, 2022
I received an electronic ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
This sequel keeps the energy level high and continues Zara's story. Sadly, it opens with someone stealing Zara's new bike and her learning a valuable lesson about making sure bikes are locked. Her family makes it clear she will need to earn the money for a new one. She and her friends think about and try various ways to earn the money but nothing works out. However, they do weed out a lot of stuff from their homes. She even helps her Naano clear out portions of her basement.
Khan emphasizes family and friendship in this series. Readers see friends of different faiths share themselves and their cultures. They blend and maintain their own identities as they play and work together. The writing level is perfect for mid to upper elementary level. I appreciate that readers will see themselves somewhere in these characters. Looking forward to where Zara heads next.
This sequel keeps the energy level high and continues Zara's story. Sadly, it opens with someone stealing Zara's new bike and her learning a valuable lesson about making sure bikes are locked. Her family makes it clear she will need to earn the money for a new one. She and her friends think about and try various ways to earn the money but nothing works out. However, they do weed out a lot of stuff from their homes. She even helps her Naano clear out portions of her basement.
Khan emphasizes family and friendship in this series. Readers see friends of different faiths share themselves and their cultures. They blend and maintain their own identities as they play and work together. The writing level is perfect for mid to upper elementary level. I appreciate that readers will see themselves somewhere in these characters. Looking forward to where Zara heads next.
November 12, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Zara and her new friend Naomi, who moved into the neighborhood in Zara's Rules for Record Breaking Fun have ridden their bikes to the park, and while they are playing, someone steals Zara's brand new bike. Because she forgot to lock it up (she never locked up her old bike, but then no one wanted to steal it), her parents decide that she's going to have to earn the money to buy the replacement. She and Naomi rule out a lemonade stand, but when Zara's mother discovers that Zara's grandmother and grandfather have let their basement fill up with lots of junk, Zara has the idea to do a rolling garage sale in her neighborhood. Unfortunately, she mixes up the boxes her mother says she can sell, and dips into "keepsakes" along with "knick knacks". Naomi tries to get Zara to clean out her room as well, but as Zara reflects on why she is keeping things she no longer uses, she understands why her grandmother doesn't want to get rid of things. This becomes clear to Zara's mother as well when she realizes that Zara has sold some of her treasured possessions. The grandparents are celebrating their 40th anniversary, and after attending Naomi's brother Michael's bar mitzvah, Zara gets some good ideas for the party and works with her friends to use some of the pictures she finds in the basement to put together some keepsakes. Her grandmother does clean out her basement and has a garage sale, which gives Zara just enough money to get a gently used bike as a charity shop run by her mosque.
Strengths: Zara's neighborhood is a great one, and I love that Zara and Naomi are still allowed to ride their bikes around and go to the park alone. The lesson about letting other people find value in their "junk" is an important one, but I appreciated that the grandmother still cleaned out things like an old toaster oven. There are fun illustrations accompanying this, and it's a perfect purchase for elementary schools where books like Nina Soni and Cleo Edison Oliver are popular. As adults, it's hard to remember how impossible it seems to make money of one's own as a child. I remember searching couch cushions for coins with my cousin; now, no one has coins in their pockets, cutting off an important source of childhood income!
Weaknesses: The grandparents are in their mid sixties and are not fit enough to go up and down stairs? I'm seeing more and more of this, and it's hitting too close to home. Excuse me a minute while I do sevearl laps down to my basement and back, just to prove a point!
What I really think: I really wish that Khan hadn't gone back in time to when Zayd was younger; I wish she had written stories about an older Zara, because those would be great for my library. Maybe next time!
Zara and her new friend Naomi, who moved into the neighborhood in Zara's Rules for Record Breaking Fun have ridden their bikes to the park, and while they are playing, someone steals Zara's brand new bike. Because she forgot to lock it up (she never locked up her old bike, but then no one wanted to steal it), her parents decide that she's going to have to earn the money to buy the replacement. She and Naomi rule out a lemonade stand, but when Zara's mother discovers that Zara's grandmother and grandfather have let their basement fill up with lots of junk, Zara has the idea to do a rolling garage sale in her neighborhood. Unfortunately, she mixes up the boxes her mother says she can sell, and dips into "keepsakes" along with "knick knacks". Naomi tries to get Zara to clean out her room as well, but as Zara reflects on why she is keeping things she no longer uses, she understands why her grandmother doesn't want to get rid of things. This becomes clear to Zara's mother as well when she realizes that Zara has sold some of her treasured possessions. The grandparents are celebrating their 40th anniversary, and after attending Naomi's brother Michael's bar mitzvah, Zara gets some good ideas for the party and works with her friends to use some of the pictures she finds in the basement to put together some keepsakes. Her grandmother does clean out her basement and has a garage sale, which gives Zara just enough money to get a gently used bike as a charity shop run by her mosque.
Strengths: Zara's neighborhood is a great one, and I love that Zara and Naomi are still allowed to ride their bikes around and go to the park alone. The lesson about letting other people find value in their "junk" is an important one, but I appreciated that the grandmother still cleaned out things like an old toaster oven. There are fun illustrations accompanying this, and it's a perfect purchase for elementary schools where books like Nina Soni and Cleo Edison Oliver are popular. As adults, it's hard to remember how impossible it seems to make money of one's own as a child. I remember searching couch cushions for coins with my cousin; now, no one has coins in their pockets, cutting off an important source of childhood income!
Weaknesses: The grandparents are in their mid sixties and are not fit enough to go up and down stairs? I'm seeing more and more of this, and it's hitting too close to home. Excuse me a minute while I do sevearl laps down to my basement and back, just to prove a point!
What I really think: I really wish that Khan hadn't gone back in time to when Zayd was younger; I wish she had written stories about an older Zara, because those would be great for my library. Maybe next time!
April 26, 2022
Book 2 of this amazing series by @henakhanauthor and I just absolutely LOVED it!!!
Genre: Chapter Book
Ages: 6-9
Available: amazon (preorder before Oct)
Zara is backkkk with more fun! This book, Zara’s new shiny bike disappears and she has to figure out how to save money for a new one. So she recycles “trash” or knicknacks no one in her family wants for “treasure” that she sells to other people. But when she accidentally sells things that her mother wants, she has to go and get them back and give most of the money back. Zara has to come up with a new way to make the money and she learns an appreciation for things that aren’t exactly new!
I just am obsessed with this book!!! I love how Zara is a proud Muslim girl who just lives her life and is proud of her identity and is confident in who she is. I love how Islam was mentioned a lot, with the mosque mentioned and Imam, Eid mentioned, inshaAllahs and asalamu Alaikums, and so much more!! It was absolutely delightful to see how Islam was seamlessly woven into the story and a part of her life but not an identity issue/crisis at all!
I also love the interfaith and diverse nature of this book, and how Zara‘s best friend is a young Jewish girl who we get to learn more about and see practice her own faith of Orthodox Judaism. I love learning about what a bar/bat mitzvah is and I love seeing how Zara participates in supporting her Jewish friend. Seeing the diverse community in the neighborhood was just so delightful to read!!
I also really like the idea of recycling and upcycling “old” things to make new uses for them and how the theme in the book was finding treasures in what you already have! It was not done in a preachy way, but was absolutely done in a teachable way for young children and is a much needed topic, because children these days have a lot of material possessions and it is wonderful for them to learn to appreciate what they have and not always seek the newest most shiny thing! The concept of charity was also wonderful to see and it was done at a mosque which was amazing!
I love the family connections and the funny wit of the writing (the book made me laugh out loud)!
Def a must have❤️
Genre: Chapter Book
Ages: 6-9
Available: amazon (preorder before Oct)
Zara is backkkk with more fun! This book, Zara’s new shiny bike disappears and she has to figure out how to save money for a new one. So she recycles “trash” or knicknacks no one in her family wants for “treasure” that she sells to other people. But when she accidentally sells things that her mother wants, she has to go and get them back and give most of the money back. Zara has to come up with a new way to make the money and she learns an appreciation for things that aren’t exactly new!
I just am obsessed with this book!!! I love how Zara is a proud Muslim girl who just lives her life and is proud of her identity and is confident in who she is. I love how Islam was mentioned a lot, with the mosque mentioned and Imam, Eid mentioned, inshaAllahs and asalamu Alaikums, and so much more!! It was absolutely delightful to see how Islam was seamlessly woven into the story and a part of her life but not an identity issue/crisis at all!
I also love the interfaith and diverse nature of this book, and how Zara‘s best friend is a young Jewish girl who we get to learn more about and see practice her own faith of Orthodox Judaism. I love learning about what a bar/bat mitzvah is and I love seeing how Zara participates in supporting her Jewish friend. Seeing the diverse community in the neighborhood was just so delightful to read!!
I also really like the idea of recycling and upcycling “old” things to make new uses for them and how the theme in the book was finding treasures in what you already have! It was not done in a preachy way, but was absolutely done in a teachable way for young children and is a much needed topic, because children these days have a lot of material possessions and it is wonderful for them to learn to appreciate what they have and not always seek the newest most shiny thing! The concept of charity was also wonderful to see and it was done at a mosque which was amazing!
I love the family connections and the funny wit of the writing (the book made me laugh out loud)!
Def a must have❤️
October 10, 2022
I did not read the first book introducing Zara and her friends and now that I have read the second I am sorry I missed it. My granddaughter and I read this together ( maybe that wasn't allowed, being it was an ARC?), I wanted an opinion from a real-life middle-grader. After all that is the target audience for the Zara books, is it not? Result of the reading: We both loved it!
Zara has a new bike and her and her friends ride all over the pace, only Zara fails to lock her new bike and it is stolen. Zara's parents decide to teach her a lesson in responsibility and taking care of one's belongings, they tell Zara she must earn the money for a new bike herself! But Zara is only a kid, how is she ever going to ern that much money? After Zara and her friend Naomi try and reject several schemes, they come up with a moving garage sale, where they take unwanted stuff from her family's basement, wheel it around and sell things from their wagon. Unfortunately Zara sells some things that aren't for sale and now she has the additional problem of tracking those things down and getting them back!
We loved Zara and her enterprising ways. This book is cleverly written, incorporating the right blend of cultures, morals, and lessons to learn with family and friendship as it's themes. I feel that everyone regardless of their religion and cultural background will find something of themselves in this well written book. I commend Hena Khan on creating a well developed interesting character that kids today can relate to no matter what background they come from. My granddaughter, Shilee has asked me to get her the first book and is waiting impatiently for the next one already. Now it is off to the bookstore for us!
5 stars for Zara and highly recommend!
Thank you to @Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and @Net Galley. for the free ARC and to @jamierockstarbooktours for including me on this fantastic tour for Zara and my first book tour ever! Thank You!!!
Zara has a new bike and her and her friends ride all over the pace, only Zara fails to lock her new bike and it is stolen. Zara's parents decide to teach her a lesson in responsibility and taking care of one's belongings, they tell Zara she must earn the money for a new bike herself! But Zara is only a kid, how is she ever going to ern that much money? After Zara and her friend Naomi try and reject several schemes, they come up with a moving garage sale, where they take unwanted stuff from her family's basement, wheel it around and sell things from their wagon. Unfortunately Zara sells some things that aren't for sale and now she has the additional problem of tracking those things down and getting them back!
We loved Zara and her enterprising ways. This book is cleverly written, incorporating the right blend of cultures, morals, and lessons to learn with family and friendship as it's themes. I feel that everyone regardless of their religion and cultural background will find something of themselves in this well written book. I commend Hena Khan on creating a well developed interesting character that kids today can relate to no matter what background they come from. My granddaughter, Shilee has asked me to get her the first book and is waiting impatiently for the next one already. Now it is off to the bookstore for us!
5 stars for Zara and highly recommend!
Thank you to @Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and @Net Galley. for the free ARC and to @jamierockstarbooktours for including me on this fantastic tour for Zara and my first book tour ever! Thank You!!!
October 10, 2022
I did not read the first book introducing Zara and her friends and now that I have read the second I am sorry I missed it. My granddaughter and I read this together ( maybe that wasn't allowed, being it was an ARC?), I wanted an opinion from a real-life middle-grader. After all that is the target audience for the Zara books, is it not? Result of the reading: We both loved it!
Zara has a new bike and her and her friends ride all over the pace, only Zara fails to lock her new bike and it is stolen. Zara's parents decide to teach her a lesson in responsibility and taking care of one's belongings, they tell Zara she must earn the money for a new bike herself! But Zara is only a kid, how is she ever going to ern that much money? After Zara and her friend Naomi try and reject several schemes, they come up with a moving garage sale, where they take unwanted stuff from her family's basement, wheel it around and sell things from their wagon. Unfortunately Zara sells some things that aren't for sale and now she has the additional problem of tracking those things down and getting them back!
We loved Zara and her enterprising ways. This book is cleverly written, incorporating the right blend of cultures, morals, and lessons to learn with family and friendship as it's themes. I feel that everyone regardless of their religion and cultural background will find something of themselves in this well written book. I commend Hena Khan on creating a well developed interesting character that kids today can relate to no matter what background they come from. My granddaughter, Shilee has asked me to get her the first book and is waiting impatiently for the next one already. Now it is off to the bookstore for us!
5 stars for Zara and highly recommend!
Thank you to @Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and @Net Galley. for the free ARC and to @jamierockstarbooktours for including me on this fantastic tour for Zara and my first book tour ever! Thank You!!!
Zara has a new bike and her and her friends ride all over the pace, only Zara fails to lock her new bike and it is stolen. Zara's parents decide to teach her a lesson in responsibility and taking care of one's belongings, they tell Zara she must earn the money for a new bike herself! But Zara is only a kid, how is she ever going to ern that much money? After Zara and her friend Naomi try and reject several schemes, they come up with a moving garage sale, where they take unwanted stuff from her family's basement, wheel it around and sell things from their wagon. Unfortunately Zara sells some things that aren't for sale and now she has the additional problem of tracking those things down and getting them back!
We loved Zara and her enterprising ways. This book is cleverly written, incorporating the right blend of cultures, morals, and lessons to learn with family and friendship as it's themes. I feel that everyone regardless of their religion and cultural background will find something of themselves in this well written book. I commend Hena Khan on creating a well developed interesting character that kids today can relate to no matter what background they come from. My granddaughter, Shilee has asked me to get her the first book and is waiting impatiently for the next one already. Now it is off to the bookstore for us!
5 stars for Zara and highly recommend!
Thank you to @Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and @Net Galley. for the free ARC and to @jamierockstarbooktours for including me on this fantastic tour for Zara and my first book tour ever! Thank You!!!
October 18, 2022
Just like its predecessor, Zara’s Rules For Finding Hidden Treasure is perfect for strong 2nd grade readers through grade 5 and is a celebration of friends, family, food and fun. In this second of the series, Zara learns a lesson in responsibility after her unlocked bike is stolen and she must find a way to earn enough money to replace it if she wants to hang out with friends Naomi, Jade, and Gloria this summer. Zara’s Pakistani family is close knit with grandparents and uncle living close to her family of four and their culture is present in food, language and dress but not in such a way that those unfamiliar with it will feel lost. Naomi and her brother Michael are continuing characters and represent Jewish heritage and in “Hidden Treasure,” Michael’s bar mitzvah fits into the plot nicely. Gloria and her older sister Jade are Black but their race is less significant than their crafting abilities and solid friendship. Libraries needing a quick, easy to read, realistic story with just a bit of moral lesson would do well to purchase both Zara books (which can easily stand alone) and make plans to purchase the 3rd in March of 2023. No profanity, violence, or sexual content.
Thanks for sharing a print arc with arc-sharing group BookAllies, Hena Khan!
Thanks for sharing a print arc with arc-sharing group BookAllies, Hena Khan!
November 13, 2022
In this sequel to Zara's Rules for Record Breaking Fun, Zara has another adventure with her neighborhood friends except this time her bike gets stolen because it is not locked up and Zara has to find ways to make money to buy herself a new one.
This book was super relatable for our family with wanting to save up for something that you really want and unfortunately not locking a bike up and it getting stolen. And, we loved the cross cultural aspects of learning about Zara's families' Indian culture as well as Naomi's families Jewish cultural. Having been raised in a Jewish family and gone to many Bar and Bat Mitzvah's the part when they attend Michael's Bar Mitzvah brought me back to my middle school days. I loved being able to share this with my son. One night when we were reading before bed, he said, "More, more, please read more." I think it is a good chant that describes how it's a hard book to put down.
I, also, think my 5th grade students would enjoy this book as it reminds me of a modern Ramona Quimby! It's a fun read and it's not too long so it builds their reading stamina and confidence.
This book was super relatable for our family with wanting to save up for something that you really want and unfortunately not locking a bike up and it getting stolen. And, we loved the cross cultural aspects of learning about Zara's families' Indian culture as well as Naomi's families Jewish cultural. Having been raised in a Jewish family and gone to many Bar and Bat Mitzvah's the part when they attend Michael's Bar Mitzvah brought me back to my middle school days. I loved being able to share this with my son. One night when we were reading before bed, he said, "More, more, please read more." I think it is a good chant that describes how it's a hard book to put down.
I, also, think my 5th grade students would enjoy this book as it reminds me of a modern Ramona Quimby! It's a fun read and it's not too long so it builds their reading stamina and confidence.
October 12, 2022
Zara loves taking bike rides with her friends. She is so excited to ride her new bike but, she is devastated when it is stolen from the park. Her parents refuse to get her a new bike unless she earns the money herself to buy it. Zara decides to start a business with her friends to sell unwanted knickknacks from their basements. Zara is excited when her business is a hit with the neighbors but, after a mistake she ends up having to shutter her budding business.
I thought the book was a good read and had a few enjoyable moments. It was fun to watch Zara learn from her mistakes and grow. The book had themes of religion, working together, being fair, being persistent, and taking personal responsibility. It was also interesting to read how Zara helped the people around her grow from her mistake. The book is a delightful read for children of all ages with an important message of accountability while learning about different faiths.
I thought the book was a good read and had a few enjoyable moments. It was fun to watch Zara learn from her mistakes and grow. The book had themes of religion, working together, being fair, being persistent, and taking personal responsibility. It was also interesting to read how Zara helped the people around her grow from her mistake. The book is a delightful read for children of all ages with an important message of accountability while learning about different faiths.
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October 13, 2022
After Zara's brand new bike goes missing she and her friends come up with a plan to earn money to replace it. Along the way Zara tackles several business opportunities including turning her wagon into a mobile garage sale. While looking for things to sell she comes across keepsakes from her parents past and a huge room full of stuff in her grandparents house.
First things first, I love the emphasis on family and responsibility. I also enjoyed that the story featured Pakistani immigrants because the book exposes young readers to different language, customs and norms.
Overall this is a great, wholesome book with a great theme and important lessons! Thank you to StoryGram Kids Tours and Salaam Reads / Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy to review. These thoughts are my own.
First things first, I love the emphasis on family and responsibility. I also enjoyed that the story featured Pakistani immigrants because the book exposes young readers to different language, customs and norms.
Overall this is a great, wholesome book with a great theme and important lessons! Thank you to StoryGram Kids Tours and Salaam Reads / Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy to review. These thoughts are my own.
October 4, 2023
Well, this sentence reminds me of my conversation with my Ammi and Abbu every time I offered them "help" with decluttering.
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"Zara's rules for finding hidden treasure" in the 2nd book in the series of Zara's rules
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Zara is Pakistani American child, having Jewish friend Naomi, lost her bike in the park. Well, actually she forgot to lock it and someone stole it. Yikes! Brand new as well. Now you can imagine, Desi girl being in trouble, too much.
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While Zara was trying to figure out ways to find her lost bike, she ended up finding some hidden treasures.
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"One man's trash is other man's treasure" Well, said,
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I'm so glad to see the ending of this book, which is totally unexpected. Twisted end.
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Lots of Islamic references including Hijab, JazakAllah Khair etc made me smile and make this among my favorite series. Now waiting impatiently for 3rd book to see what is Zara upto.
.
"Zara's rules for finding hidden treasure" in the 2nd book in the series of Zara's rules
.
Zara is Pakistani American child, having Jewish friend Naomi, lost her bike in the park. Well, actually she forgot to lock it and someone stole it. Yikes! Brand new as well. Now you can imagine, Desi girl being in trouble, too much.
.
While Zara was trying to figure out ways to find her lost bike, she ended up finding some hidden treasures.
.
"One man's trash is other man's treasure" Well, said,
.
I'm so glad to see the ending of this book, which is totally unexpected. Twisted end.
.
Lots of Islamic references including Hijab, JazakAllah Khair etc made me smile and make this among my favorite series. Now waiting impatiently for 3rd book to see what is Zara upto.
October 28, 2022
ZARA'S RULES FOR FINDING HIDDEN TREASURE by Hena Khan is relatable, warm, humorous, and full of character!
I love the characters in the Zayd and Zara series so any book with these characters feels like a treat for me!🥰 The Naano, Mamu, and parents feel like my family and I always get so excited to be back in their world. And of course the skinny little brother lol.
I found the story so relatable, doesn't every family hold on to things that are borderline junk like a toaster that doesn't work properly but not quite bad enough to chuck? 🍞
I think readers of all ages will love this 2nd book and look forward to more Zara!🤩
Also cover for this is so fun and sparkly by Wastana Haikal !
I love the characters in the Zayd and Zara series so any book with these characters feels like a treat for me!🥰 The Naano, Mamu, and parents feel like my family and I always get so excited to be back in their world. And of course the skinny little brother lol.
I found the story so relatable, doesn't every family hold on to things that are borderline junk like a toaster that doesn't work properly but not quite bad enough to chuck? 🍞
I think readers of all ages will love this 2nd book and look forward to more Zara!🤩
Also cover for this is so fun and sparkly by Wastana Haikal !
May 7, 2023
I'm not usually a middle grade reader, but I really liked this book. Zara's family is originally from Pakistan and they are Muslim, and it was wonderful to see the diversity - children should be able to see themselves in the books they read, and they should also have the opportunity to learn about other cultures. I also liked the overall theme of acceptance and understanding, how the adults could admit that they'd made mistakes and apologise, and the lovely relationship the family all had with each other.
Although I am not the target audience, I thought it was a really good book and one I would happily give my children to read when they are a bit older.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All opinions are my own and freely given.
Although I am not the target audience, I thought it was a really good book and one I would happily give my children to read when they are a bit older.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All opinions are my own and freely given.
May 10, 2023
Books 2 & 3 in the Zara’s Rules MG series.
🏴☠️
Book 2: Zara just got a brand new bike only to have it stolen from the park! Now she’s on a mission to earn enough money on her own to replace it, but working extra jobs is harder than she thought.
Book 3: Happy Spring Break! Zara is thrilled to be off for a week, but her spirits plummet when she realizes her BFF Naomi is headed to camp while Zara and her brother have to stay with their grandparents helping them with chores. When Zara creates her own camp with fun activities with help from her brother and some senior citizens, it turns around her entire Spring Break.
🥳
I adored the first Zara book and am so glad I got to catch up on the next two. Fans of Renee Watson’s Riley Hart series will love these beginning chapter books too.
🏴☠️
Book 2: Zara just got a brand new bike only to have it stolen from the park! Now she’s on a mission to earn enough money on her own to replace it, but working extra jobs is harder than she thought.
Book 3: Happy Spring Break! Zara is thrilled to be off for a week, but her spirits plummet when she realizes her BFF Naomi is headed to camp while Zara and her brother have to stay with their grandparents helping them with chores. When Zara creates her own camp with fun activities with help from her brother and some senior citizens, it turns around her entire Spring Break.
🥳
I adored the first Zara book and am so glad I got to catch up on the next two. Fans of Renee Watson’s Riley Hart series will love these beginning chapter books too.
November 15, 2025
I liked this one a little bit less than the first for a few reasons. This book follows Zara and her friend crew as they try to earn money. Zara lost her bike so her parents are telling her she's going to have to replace it with her own money. She decides to create a traveling garage sale with stuff she finds in her parent's basement. Of course, the stuff is not hers so it creates problems. I think I just don't like Zara. I also really hate how much commentary there is on her brother's skinny body. It was in both books, but in this one theres a longer scene talking about his body and I just don't love it.
October 18, 2022
Zara’s Rules for Finding Hidden Treasures is a heartwarming tale celebrating family and friendship. Readers are going to wish they were part of Zara’s family (even if just to try Naano’s cooking!). In this addition to Zara’s story, Zara learns the consequences of being irresponsible with her new bike. She’s forced to earn money for a new one and learns a lot about herself and family along the way. A great book which well allow Muslim and non-Muslim children alike to see themselves in the characters.
June 19, 2022
Thank you Edelweiss for an advanced copy. This second book in a series is a good, quick read for younger children. You don't need to read the first book to understand the characters here. The themes of family, friendship, and memories can all be discussed. I enjoyed the Pakistani culture and interfaith friendship of all the people in the neighborhood. I'll purchase a copy for my classroom, and you should, too!
October 22, 2022
What a sweet little book! Loved this story of Zara and her quest for a new bike. A great story of friends, family, and community. Also loved how it incorporated several cultural traditions from different backgrounds to help teach kids.
November 26, 2022
Zara is such a relatable character and I love how her character is portrayed and developed as being able to learn from her obstacles. The plotline of this book is so well executed and I learn more about all of the characters.
Thank you Salaam Reads for sending me a copy of this book!
Thank you Salaam Reads for sending me a copy of this book!
October 30, 2022
I appreciated the lessons in the book such as; the value of money, taking care of your possessions, taking responsibility for your actions, and helping others.
December 25, 2023
3.5/5🌟
May 27, 2024
Well written story with a great lesson on responsibility, family, and friendship.
June 25, 2024
3.25 stars🌟
Good & adorbs.
Good & adorbs.
April 29, 2025
I read this with my 10 year old and it is the second book in the series. There are such good characters in these books.
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