Craving action? Mystery? An international jewel heist across multiple countries?
Look no further than the newly-released Zeyna Lost and Found, the debut middle grade novel by Shafaq Khan. Twelve-year old Zeyna is itching for a real case, worthy of her detective skills. So far, the most exciting mystery of 1970 is where her mother misplaced their London Tube tickets.
But when Zeyna notices an angry man in a dark jacket and hat, maybe it isn’t a coincidence that he gets off at the same stop. Maybe she’s being followed! As the coincidences start to pile up, Zeyna becomes convinced that this is more than an over-active imagination: this is real. But before she can connect the dots, she and her younger brother Mahir are swept off to Pakistan for a family wedding.
It’s only when her parents disappear—accused of an international jewel heist—that Zeyna realizes her detective skills may be the only way to find the jewel and prove her parents’ innocence.
Interview with middle grade author Shafaq Khan
Katie: Shafaq, thank you so much for chatting with us about your debut book, Zeyna Lost and Found. Congrats on it being named a Junior Library Guild Selection and an Indies Introduce pick!
First question, if you were stuck on the Tube with a student who loves mysteries and adventures, what would be your quick elevator pitch for why they should read Zeyna’s story?
Shafaq: Thanks for having me! If you want to read a story about a spunky twelve-year-old that is always looking for a mystery even when there isn’t one, asking questions no one wants to answer, being stonewalled by adults but then embarking on a quest to save an international jewel and her family, then Zeyna is your girl. Zeyna Lost and Found will scratch your itch if you love mysteries, traveling, or jokes, and bonus points if you like all three!
Katie: Zeyna is such a fun and relatable character. Sure, she’s impulsive and a bit paranoid, but it all comes from such a deep and sincere place. Does Zeyna have much in common with you as a kid? If not, where did you find inspiration for her personality?
Shafaq: I share more in common with Zeyna than I will ever admit (except now, of course) because we both have a pathological need to figure things out, love and are loyal to our family, and make ill-timed jokes. Zeyna may have started off as a character that struggled with finding a balance between the Self and the World around her, just like I did and do, but she soon took on a life of her own. I really sat with her as a character to fully understand her. I wanted someone who did unimaginably daring things so I let my mind wander to scenarios and situations I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole myself. I also did an exercise that NYT Bestselling author Sabaa Tahir recommended, which is to ask your character questions and role play their answers. It was critical in helping me flesh out who Zeyna exactly is.
Katie: I love that you created a Zeyna playlist on Spotify. Can you tell us a little bit about your process for choosing songs?
Shafaq: These songs are some of my favorite songs and I urge readers to take a listen while reading and after as well! Each one reminds me of Zeyna for different reasons. The Beatles songs are quintessential London living – the things that she loves about her city and her family. Some of the other songs evoke travel and mysticism that reminded me of some of the places that Zeyna visits (like the Badshaahi masjid and the song Doobne De), one song, Rozi, is about a girl forging her own path, and a few songs are about her hijinks and friendship with her brother and cousin (think: Kids, Dosti).
Katie: Teachers often tell students to “Write what you know.” How have you been able to use “what you know” to write historical fiction involving so many different cities and countries?
Shafaq: Having studied some of the countries featured and traveled through others, I relied on what I knew or understood for some of the details but the real process was actually unlearning what I thought I knew. Relying on secondary sources but then following up on primary sources like photos and journal entries and other accounts, helped me flesh out the details, all while trying to be mindful of my own biases or preconceived notions. For example, with Iran, there is quite a bit of attention on the aesthetic of the seventies, but perhaps less of a discussion on the economic unrest or political prisoners that made the on-the-ground reality more complicated. Also, some of us (Pakistanis) may think about places like Lahore or Bahawalpur as quintessentially Pakistani, but they aren’t. They became Pakistani after an arbitrary line was drawn and so the book touches on this idea of shared culture and shared values amongst people despite the modern concept of a nation-state. What binds us together rather than what differentiates us.
Map of the Hippie Trail at the time of Zeyna Lost and Found
Katie: That is such an important point for kids to think about, thank you.
Since this is your first middle grade novel, can you tell us a little about your path to publication? What led you to write for kids?
Shafaq: I knew I wanted to write a story I would have wanted to read, featuring a flawed, funny, brave Pakistani girl. I knew I wanted to feature her family in an unapologetic way that leaned into culture and tradition without orientalizing it. I wanted a fast-paced story that engaged me and uplifted me. When I pitched this idea to an agent, who I met through a completely random introduction, it probably sounded like it was doing too much but I’m grateful for being given the chance to do it. Once my agent started pitching it to publishers, I was stressed and anxious about it being out in the world and then absolutely over the moon excited when Lerner Publishing Group/Carolrhoda Books/Lab bought the book! I really felt the book had found its home in a publishing house that valued and understood the story.
Katie: What advice would you give to fledgling MG authors?
Shafaq: Just start writing. It doesn’t have to be perfect but get it all out there and then relentlessly edit those pages. Think about the plot but take care of your characters so you give readers a chance to imagine and feel their story. Seek out feedback and really consider it but be ok with rejecting it. You have to know where you are going but you need a lot of help getting there so the more eyes you can get on it, the better. Also, never stop reading other books and keeping your eyes/ears open to the stories around you. I ended up adding terms or conversation exchanges based on what I was observing/reading/consuming in my life. Be obsessed with your story so it becomes the lens through which you see the world around you.
Katie: What are some of your favorite middle grade books or series?
Shafaq: I love Sayantani Dasgupta’s Kiranmala series and the City Spies series by James Ponti, but perhaps, that will come as no surprise! Sayantani’s use of cultural storytelling/tropes and humor is truly a work of art and City Spies does a fantastic job with integrating clues with the physical surroundings so you feel immersed in the location.
Katie: Is there anything else that you would like readers to know about Zeyna or about your upcoming projects?
Shafaq: I’m working on a few things so be ready for some more characters poking around where they shouldn’t and please follow me on my Instagram Shafaq_khan_author or Tiktok at shafaqjk for updates!
No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round so …
Lightning Round!
Chai, Nescafe, or Turkish coffee? A foamy, sugary Nescafe any day! And a Turkish coffee if I really need a jolt.
Sightseeing by taxi or by bus? Since I like people watching, I love being on a bus so you have a chance to observe the people inside and outside. I also like how bus sounds lull me to sleep.
Favorite kebab? This is a tough one because, like Zeyna, I will always opt for the kebab option. If I had to choose one, I would go with adana (sorry, Mama).
Dream job when you were a kid? I always wanted to be a lawyer. Advocating for people and issues to ensure fairness and justice, is the most fundamental part of who I am and how I approach work, relationships, and the world.
Superpower? Relentless and unapologetic prioritizing. Life is busy and complicated and one of my greatest fears is feeling like you are getting lost in the day to day. It’s good and ok and healthy to say no, to opt out of activities and take a beat so that you have room to think about and explore your passion and interests.
Connect with Shafaq!
Finally, where can readers find you if they want to reach out?
Check out my Instagram Shafaq_khan_author and my Tiktok at shafaqjk or my website shafaqkhan.com.
Katie: Thanks so much, Shafaq! Zeyna Lost and Found was published this week, and you can find it at a library, bookstore, or indie near you. You won’t want to delay, or the Fifteen might get their hands on your copy first!
Biography of Shafaq Khan
Shafaq is a mom and a lawyer. Born to Pakistani parents, Shafaq grew up in a small port city along the Persian Gulf called Jubail Industrial City. It doesn’t make it on most maps but it shaped her worldview and cemented her identity as a third-culture kid.
Shafaq attended college in NYC and then went to law school. After graduating, Shafaq worked at NYC nonprofits in Manhattan and Brooklyn for nearly a decade as a legal services attorney, representing low-income people with disabilities facing eviction and benefits issues. As part of her representation, Shafaq met clients in their homes to understand their lives, and learned to hold their truths with compassion while being a passionate advocate on their behalf in court. Through this experience, Shafaq became acquainted with people’s stories – the ones we tell and the ones we don’t – and learned to listen to the stories beneath the surface.
Shafaq lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
