I loved this lively book about a girl, supported by her family, who found a way to be active in a society that discouraged it. The story tells the inspiring true story of how a Pakistani family supported their daughter in masquerading as a boy so that she could have an active childhood.

Eventually, she gravitates toward playing squash. Even when her secret comes out, she persists in her commitment to practicing her craft.

It’s tricky to explain unfamiliar cultural mores to young readers, but Michelle Lord does a great job creating a scaffolding of explanation to support the story. I also loved the language she uses to describe how Maria is drawn to the action, speed, and fun of squash: “Swinging her racquet, she served. WA-POW. WHOOSH. WHACK.”

I loved the art and page design in the book, too. The text is placed on the page like a standard picture book, but the art uses graphic novel conventions–multiple panels per page, for example, and close-ups of eyes or other details. It gives each page an energetic and modern look.

The pages are also designed to showcase quotations from Maria that comment on the main text. It’s a great way to incorporate quotes without having to wrest the text to make them fit.

An inspiring book!

A Girl Called Genghis Khan: How Maria Toorpakai Wazir Pretended to be a Boy, Defied the Taliban, and Became a World Famous Squash Player, by Michelle Lord, illustrated by Shehzil Malik. (Sterling: 2019).