You're Out of Luck Alina Butt

Seventh-Grader Alina Butt has a challenging time navigating new friendship equations after the summer holidays. On top of it, it doesn’t help at all that her last name can be made fun of so easily. But a class trip to France is round the corner and Alina is finally able to convince her parents on why she should go. She also leads a fundraiser at school to raise money for her friends who otherwise would have been short of funds for the trip.

But as luck would have it, a delay in receiving her passport from the embassy causes Alina to miss the much awaited class trip. To make things better for Alina, her parents take her and her siblings to Pakistan instead! Read and find out what happens next…

I love that the story is fast paced and event packed. The tension that the family goes through because of visa issues is so relatable – it is the unfortunate reality that many immigrant families are faced with all over the world. Once the story moves to Pakistan, it was refreshing to see a country that is so different from the one that is usually portrayed by news media – again underscoring the importance of lived experience in stories.

Loved loved loved the second book in the Alina Butt series! A highly recommended addition to your middle-grade collection.

I interviewed Ambreen (in Mr John Schu's style!) The words in red are mine and the ones in blue are from Ambreen.

Congratulations Ambreen on the release of the second book in the series!

You're Out of Luck Alina Butt was heavily influenced by my childhood and particularly my summers in Pakistan spent making beautiful memories with my family. I wrote this book to show readers a glimpse of Pakistan but most of all to urge them to see the bright side of things when they're feeling down and develop a positive way of thinking. I hope readers think about the small and big things they are grateful for as they read this book.

Alina Butt is a relatable, sweet, funny, nerdy, weird, cool (in my opinion!) twelve year old girl, that I think ANYONE would love to have as a friend!

Mitra, I wish you had asked me what's in the works. Because I am currently working on the third book in the Alina Butt series!

Thank you Ambreen for your response! Here's to many more books from you!