Everything changes for thirteen-year-old Aster the night her brother dies. Suddenly she's the only hope of the family, and instead of an early marriage to a boy from her small village in Pakistan, her parents decide to send her to the government high school in her brother's place. Aster is excited about this unexpected opportunity for a career, but, as a Christian, she is unprepared her for the difficulties of attending a Muslim school: her fellow students are far from welcoming and one of her teachers takes an instant dislike to her. One day, she is accused of intentionally making a spelling mistake to insult the holy prophet. Her teacher is incensed and accuses her of blasphemy. A violent crowd forms outside the school and Aster is taken to jail to be tried at a later date.A young social justice lawyer takes up her case, and Aster's Australian cousin, Maryam, starts an online campaign to free Aster. But will it be enough to save her?
- ISBN10 1743367635
- ISBN13 9781743367636
- Publish Date 7 January 2016 (first published 26 August 2015)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 26 January 2021
- Publish Country AU
- Publisher Allen & Unwin
- Imprint A&U Children
- Format Paperback
- Pages 288
- Language English