Azar on Fire

(Hardback)

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Description

Finding her voice takes on a whole new meaning when fourteen-year-old Azar Rossi sets out to win her local Battle of the Bands contest in this heartfelt and hilarious contemporary YA. Fourteen-year-old Azar Rossi's first year of high school has mostly been silent, and intentionally so. After a bad case of colic as a baby, Azar's vocal folds are shredded-full of nodules that give her a rasp the envy of a chain-smoking bullfrog. Her classmates might just think she's quiet, but Azar is saving her voice for when it really counts and talking to her classmates is not medically advisable or even high on her list. When she hears about a local Battle of the Bands contest, it's something she can't resist. Azar loves music, loves songwriting, but with her vocal folds the way they are, there's no way she can sing her songs on stage. Then she hears lacrosse hottie, Ebenezer Lloyd Hollins the Fifth, aka Eben, singing from the locker room. She's transfixed. He's just the person she needs. His voice + her lyrics = Battle of the Bands magic. But getting a band together means Azar has a lot of talking to do and new friends to make. For the chance to stand on stage with Eben it might all just be worth it.

Reviews

Praise for Azar on Fire:

[A] positive story, with distinctive and hilarious first-person narration, of literally finding ones voice. . . A poignant, engaging, and affirming novel. Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Perfectly Parvin:
A 2023 Sequoyah Book Award Nominee (OK)
A 2022 Golden Kite Honor Award Winner
A 20222023 Georgia Peach Book Award Nominee
A 2022 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
A 2022 ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List Pick
A 2021 New York Public Library Best Book Pick
A 2021 Chicago Public Library Best Book Pick
A 2021 BuzzFeed Best Young Adult Pick
A Book Riot Must Read YA Romance Pick

Abtahi writesa touching contemporarythat'shilariously heartfeltabout one girl's journey to self-discovery.BuzzFeed

Abtahi deftly navigates Parvin's transitional life phase, equipping her with enoughhumor and moxieto see her through even the toughest challenges . . .A joyful celebration of the right to take up space in the world. Booklist,starred review

Abtahischarming debut will have readers cheering for Parvin. . . anincredibly charming, funny, and lovableprotagonist who greets life with unbridled enthusiasm . . . as she navigates her two cultures with vim. . . Atruly delightfulstory about a charming and engaging teen navigating freshman year. School Library Journal,starred review

Parvins narratorial voicesparkles with wit and pathos, and her journey toward self-acceptanceseamlesslyincorporates political and emotional realities. . .A diverse, fast-paced, feminist romance. Kirkus Reviews

Thefast-paced writing,wonderfully diversecast, and very realistic and age-appropriate thoughts, choices, and realizations make this a solid read.Smart, funny, and full of heart. Teen Librarian Toolbox

Authentic andorganically hilarious. . .A fresh, charming standout.YALSA

At its heart, this breezy YA title is about trying to find love by pretending to be someone else whenbeing yourself is all that matters. Brightly

Theebullient, eponymous heroine of Olivia Abtahis novelPerfectly Parvina prankster with a rambunctious wit . . . determines to remake herself as a demure, seen-but-not-heard young lady. The effort is doomedif oftenhilariousand has her trying but failing to tamp herself down through a friends quinceaera party and Farsi classes, through online makeup consults with her Iranian aunt and a tragic band audition. The Globe and Mail

Author Bio

Olivia Abtahi is a writer and filmmaker born in Washington, DC. When she isn't drafting novels about awkward teens, you can find her working on documentaries about social justice and climate equity. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and her daughter.