The War to Save the Worlds Read online

The Adventures of Amir Hamza. Translated by Musharraf Ali Farooqi. Modern Library, 2012.

  Google Arts & Culture. “The Hamzanama.” https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/rwKSxX7YjiTZJg.

  The Kidnapping of Amir Hamza (illustrated). Retold by Mamta Dalal Mangaldas and Saker Mistri. Mapin Publishing, 2010.

  Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar. Robert Lebling. Counterpoint Publishing, 2011.

  Victoria & Albert Museum. “Hamzanama.” http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/hamzanama.

  Acknowledgments

  The story of Amira and Hamza has taken me on a wondrous adventure into storytelling. And that was possible because of you, my wonderful readers. Thank you for being a part of this journey.

  Middle-grade fantasy is a new age group and genre category for me, and there were moments I wasn’t sure I knew what I was doing. But the amazing thing about being an author is that even though writing often feels like a solitary venture, when you look up from your keyboard, you see all the magical helpers who are ready to cheer you on and lift you up along the way.

  Love and eternal gratitude to my magical agent, Joanna Volpe, whose enthusiasm for the tale of these two goofy, determined siblings helped this story take flight. Appreciation and virtual hugs to the entire team at New Leaf Literary & Media, especially to Kate Sullivan for her eagle eyes and insight, and to Jordan Hill, Abbie Donoghue, and Jenniea Carter for their patience, support, and good humor in keeping me together. Thanks to Veronica Grijalva for all things foreign rights and to Pouya Shahbazian for shepherding this story beyond the bookshelves.

  When I first got into publishing, I had a list of dream editors and imprints, and at the top of that list was Alvina Ling and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. See why I believe dreams can come true? I’m grateful to Alvina for her brilliant editorial vision and for pushing me to tell the best story I could. My deep appreciation to the incredible team at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers who helped usher this story into the world, including Ruqayyah Daud, Emilie Polster, Bill Grace, Mara Brashem, Siena Koncsol, Victoria Stapleton, Christie Michel, Jen Graham, Nyamekye Waliyaya, Shawn Foster, and Danielle Cantarella. A million thank-yous to Karina Granda, whose cover design absolutely blew me away, and Kim Ekdahl, whose illustrations brought Amira and Hamza to life. Jackie Engel and Megan Tingley, I am so honored to have another book with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Thank you all for believing in my stories and in my ability to tell them.

  I am grateful beyond words for friends and family, early readers and delightful cheerleaders. Shukria and merci beaucoup to Pierre and Marie France Jonas, Sayantani DasGupta, Patrice Caldwell, Dhonielle Clayton, Sona Charaipotra, Amy Adams, Rena Barron, Ronni Davis, Gloria Chao, Lizzie Cooke, Kat Cho, Anna Waggener, Sara Claus Ahmed, Nathan Small Claus, Asra Ahmed, Alia Thomas, Zayn Thomas. To the twelve-plus cousins and all my aunties—the family jinn tales are with me forever. And thanks to Ali A. Olomi and Rabia Chaudry for your fantastic Twitter threads and podcast episodes on jinn and other wondrous and terrifying creatures.

  Heartfelt thanks to my parents, Hamid and Mazher Ahmed, for their eternal support and encouragement.

  Thank you to all the elders whose stories sailed across time and oceans to find a place with me, in a language they never spoke, in a world they couldn’t have imagined.

  To Thomas, every one of my books exists because after hearing me talk endlessly about a story idea, you once said, “Why not write it down?” My story intertwines with yours, forever, my love.

  And to Lena and Noah, your brilliance, curiosity, laughter, and hugs are all the reasons, the inspiration, the everything. This story is yours.