In this post, we feature author Aisha Bushby, whose previous titles have been nominated for numerous awards in England, where she lives. You can hear her speak about the new U.S. edition of her novel, A Pocketful of Stars, and try her “invitation to imagine” activity. You’ll also find other resources to explore. Thanks for joining us, and let us know what you think in the comments below!
A Pocketful of Stars
- Written by Aisha Bushby
- Published by Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group
- Release date: September 25, 2023
Safiya and her mother have never seen eye to eye. Her mother doesn’t understand Safiya’s love of gaming, and shy Safiya doesn’t think she has anything in common with her vibrant, sometimes volatile mother. But when her mother falls into a coma, Safiya’s whole world shifts. She finds herself dreaming about an unfamiliar setting and a rebellious girl who’s distinctly familiar. Gradually she realizes that she’s experiencing her mother’s memories of her childhood in Kuwait. As Safiya unlocks these memories the way she would unlock levels in a game, she finds a path to accepting loss and embracing who she is—someone not so different from her mother after all. Informed by the author’s own childhood experiences in Kuwait and infused with magic, this story explores themes of friendship, family expectations, bullying, and the courage it takes to discover and celebrate one’s true self.
From A Pocketful of Stars, by Aisha Bushby
“Mum always turns everything into a game.”
Click here to view a longer preview of A Pocketful of Stars, by Aisha Bushby.
Explore A Pocketful of Stars
Listen to Aisha Bushby talking with TeachingBooks about creating A Pocketful of Stars. You can click the player below or experience the recording on TeachingBooks, where you can read along as you listen, and also translate the text to another language.
- Listen to Aisha Bushby pronounce her name.
- Sample the ebook of A Pocketful of Stars on OverDrive.com.
- Explore TeachingBooks’ collection of activities and resources for A Pocketful of Stars.
Invitation to Imagine
TeachingBooks asks each author or illustrator on our Virtual Book Tour to share a writing prompt, a drawing exercise, or just an interesting question to spark curiosity and creativity. Enjoy the following activity contributed by Aisha Bushby.
Imagination Activity with Aisha Bushby
At home, find something—or somewhere—that has a significant smell. This might be your soap dispenser, spice cupboard, or the flowers or grass just outside. If you stop for a few moments and really take in the scent, does it bring up any memories for you? If it does, write (or draw) them and think about how that memory might turn into a story.
Finish This Sentence . . . with Aisha Bushby
As part of our Virtual Book Tour, TeachingBooks asks authors and illustrators to complete short sentence prompts. Enjoy Aisha Bushby’s response.
“My protagonist can’t live without…”
My protagonist can’t live without video games! Safiya is a huge fan of video games and she especially enjoys playing with her friends. Games help her manage her emotions and transport her to fun new worlds.
“You may not know that I can…”
You may not know that I can crochet! I love crocheting while watching TV or listening to audiobooks. Currently, I’m making myself a cat-themed cushion.
Thank you!
To wrap up this Virtual Book Tour, we thank Aisha Bushby for signing a book for all of us.
More Connections to Aisha Bushby and A Pocketful of Stars
- Discover books like A Pocketful of Stars on TeachingBooks.
- Lerner’s page about A Pocketful of Stars, written by Aisha Bushby.
- Buy A Pocketful of Stars, written by Aisha Bushby.
All text and images are courtesy of Aisha Bushby and Lerner Publishing Group. and may not be used without expressed written consent.
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