Book Review: The Attic of Sand and Secrets by Medeia Sharif

The Attic of Sand and Secrets, by Medeia Sharif
2014, 138p, Middle Grade Mystery/Fantasy
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the author for an honest review



Lily, a learning disabled girl, attempts to unravel the mystery of her abducted mother using supernatural clues from an ancient stranger, even when it means posing a danger to herself. Learning-disabled Lily desires to prove herself, although her mind freezes when presented with big problems - such as her mother's abduction. With a French father and Egyptian mother, Lily worries that her mother hid her ethnicity from her French in-laws. However, there's something deeper going on. Lily finds a way into an attic that's normally locked and encounters a mysterious, moonlit Egyptian night world. There she finds Khadijah, an ancient stranger who guides her to finding clues about her mother's whereabouts. Lily becomes a sleuth in both the real world and magical desert, endangering herself as she gets closer to the kidnapper.

Lily is a learning disabled girl who struggles in school and has a tutor to help her out. At the beginning, we learn that her mother is missing and the police are looking for her since they aren't sure whether she just left or was kidnapped. Her parents are wealthy so an abduction is certainly possible. She feels lost and isn't sure how to help until she stumbles across a mysterious Egyptian world where a stranger helps her figure out what's going on. Her own life is in danger, though, as she starts putting the pieces together.

I enjoyed this book! Lily is easy to like. There are some girls that are mean to her and don't feel that she's worthy to be the daughter of parents that are so wealthy. She's lonely and wants to feel useful and that she can make a difference. Her confidence grew as she was able to figure out the clues and learn what really happened to her mother.

This is a short, quick read. I enjoyed the pacing. It was easy to get caught up in Lily's story and continue reading. I liked the way the story unfolded. The ending was satisfying and didn't leave any questions. This is a fun read for middle graders who enjoy a great mystery!

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Medeia Sharif was born in New York City and presently calls Miami her home. She received her master's degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. Published through various presses, she writes middle grade and young adult short stories and novels. In addition to being a writer, she's a public school teacher.

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