Loyalty, courage, female resilience

IT’S difficult not to use glowing adjectives when writing about this book, as it is so evocatively rendered and exquisitely described that even without visiting Tehran, one can almost smell and touch the sights and sounds of this once bustling metropolis.

- ORIELLE BERRY

The emotions of the primary characters are palpable.

Tehran serves as the backdrop for Marjan Kamali’s poignant narrative, chronicling the enduring friendship between two girls, Homa and Elaheh.

Their bond, forged at a school in the city’s suburbs, is profound and stands the test of time despite their starkly different backgrounds. Elaheh, or Ellie, is the daughter of a mother obsessed with appearances.

After her mother is widowed, she marries her late husband’s brother, Uncle Massoud, and they move to a more affluent area. In contrast, Homa comes from a modest background, her carefree spirit reflected in her curly hair and mismatched clothes, which starkly contrast Ellie’s carefully curated appearance.