Naheed Hasnat Senzai

Voracious Reader. Stalwart Writer. Intrepid Traveller. Eater of Good Things.

About the  Author

I navigated dual cultures, enjoying tandoori chicken and hot dogs from an early age. Born in Chicago, I’ve been a lifelong traveler, experiencing San Francisco, Saudi Arabia, and London for boarding school. Voted

“most likely to lead a literary revolution”

In London for reading comics in class, my diverse journey includes hiking the Alps, road-tripping Mexico, swimming with barracudas, crossing the Soviet Union by train, floating down the Nile, relishing gumbo in New Orleans, and contemplating at the Taj Mahal.

Naheed
Hasnat Senzai

Welcome!

Welcome to the literary realm of Naheed Hasnat Senzai, where stories unfold, and imagination knows no bounds.

“People with a taste for adventure will love the suspenseful and unpredictable plot of this book. It’s a truly inspiring read about courage and family values.”

- Time For Kids

“This lively mystery provides an unusual glimpse into a large, caring Afghan family that is working hard to establish a successful business. The story’s backdrop encompasses local elections and the striking diversity of their community.”

- The Florida Times Union

Shooting Kabul  Play

If you are interested in Shooting Kabul the play

Book  Reviews

“People with a taste for adventure will love the suspenseful and unpredictable plot of this book. It’s a truly inspiring read about courage and family values.”

- Time For Kids

“This lively mystery provides an unusual glimpse into a large, caring Afghan family that is working hard to establish a successful business. The story’s backdrop encompasses local elections and the striking diversity of their community.”

- The Florida Times Union

“A very good book that is well worth reading.”

- Teen Reads

"The representation of a young protagonist from Syria makes this a solid purchase for middle grade collections."

- School Library Journal

“A book that claims to be full of hope and joy perhaps has never been more accurate as both emotions seem to spill straight off the pages in this absolute triumph of a celebratory anthology. . . any student should be able to pick up this book and learn a great deal about these important cultural festivities.

- School Library Connection

“Senzai’s story has myriad twists and turns, teaching the reader Indian and Pakistani history en route and exposing the devastating dilemma of the street children who are forced to commit crimes to survive. It’s high adventure and an exposure to a world mostly unfamiliar to many young readers.”

- San Jose Mercury

“One-part travel tale and one-part historical reflection, Ticket to India is a fantastic new find for anyone looking to incorporate diverse books into their reading.”

- Reading Nook Reviews

"Senzai (Ticket to India) crafts a harrowing novel about a 14-year-old girl’s flight from war-torn Syria in 2013 that captures the reality of the conflict while illuminating the culture and history of the country. . . . [T]he novel’s taut pacing and memorable heroine result in a gripping and intense story of the traumas inflicted on Syria’s citizens."

- Publishers Weekly

“In a companion to 2010’s Shooting Kabul that stands solidly on its own, Senzai explores the lives of Afghan immigrants in California. Eleven-year-old Ariana’s family runs Kabul Corner, an Afghan grocery store in Freemont; the arrival of another Afghan grocery to their strip mall threatens their livelihood. Believably chaotic family dynamics heighten the tension in a crowded home filled with cousins and grandparents. Ariana is strong-willed and loyal, and her longings for a new home and a room of her own, along with her jealousy of her cousin Laila (newly arrived from Afghanistan), are relatable. As the rivalry between the stores escalates (with dangerous consequences), Ariana and her friends involve a classmate from the other store’s family to investigate the mystery. Readers who wondered what happened to Mariam, who was separated from her family in Afghanistan in Shooting Kabul, will be gratified to learn the answer in this empowering mystery. Senzai skillfully contextualizes the details of Afghan American life and the violence in Afghanistan that hangs over everyone.”

- Publishers Weekly

Latest  Media and Events

Source: Independent |

May 20, 2024

‘Shooting Kabul,’ by N.H. Senzai, San Francisco Chronicle, July 1, 2010

Source: Independent |

May 20, 2024

Children of War, India Currents, July 7, 2010

Source: Independent |

May 20, 2024

Hall Passages: C.S. Porter spins many projects from single novel, November 7, 2011

Source: Independent |

May 20, 2024

February Book Picks: ‘Shooting Kabul’ And ‘The Hundred Dresses’, NPR, January 26, 2012

Source: Independent |

May 20, 2024

Shooting Kabul: seeing the Afghan war through a child’s lens, KALW, March 7, 2014

Source: Independent |

May 20, 2024

Shooting Kabul Take a Hankie, Twin Cities Family Fun, March 2015