In a Perfect World

April 3, 2017
Instead of enjoying her senior year of high school in Ohio, Caroline Kelly unexpectedly moves to Cairo, “where the government is not super-stable and the fear of terrorism is real,” so her mother can fulfill a dream of opening an eye clinic in “Garbage City,” home to Cairo’s most impoverished inhabitants. A practicing Catholic, Caroline is eager to learn about Islam and Egyptian culture, but she struggles to adjust to the crowded urban environment, the mosque’s predawn calls to prayer, the fact that she needs a driver to take her around the city, and frequent sexual harassment. A growing friendship with her driver’s teenage children, Adam and Aya, helps her acclimate, and things look up when she discovers that her crush on Adam is mutual. With humor, sensitivity, and empathy, Doller (The Devil You Know) conveys the complexities of an interfaith, intercultural romance: the blatant disapproval from Adam’s family and friends, her parents’ worry (“The kind thing to do would be to leave him alone”), and Adam’s own doubts. It’s a tender story that’s both realistic and hopeful. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kate Schafer Testerman, KT Literary.

April 1, 2017
A white Catholic teen from Ohio spends her months in Cairo getting to know her gorgeous Egyptian driver while learning about social justice and international fellowship. When her mother gets the chance of a lifetime to open up a Doctors Without Borders-style eye clinic in Egypt, Caroline's both nervous and excited. She ignores dire warnings from her beloved-but-"racist" grandmother, who's convinced terrorists lurk around every corner. Cairo gains appeal when Caroline meets her driver, Adam, an aspiring chef who shows her a Cairo beyond stereotypes: not just pyramids, but churches, jerk chicken, and Egyptian reggae. At every opportunity Caroline muses on how Egypt resembles home: the call to prayer like church bells, Islam's attitude about dating resembling her grandmother's, the unmet promises of the Arab Spring compared to Ferguson. Adam and Caroline have much in common (they've both been sorted into Hufflepuff, for instance), but religion, class, and culture demand they stay apart. Caroline's awareness of the imperialist undertones of her relationship with Adam doesn't make her stop loving him, and they both struggle to do what's right. There's a place for unsubtle messaging about white Americans learning to see humanity in the Muslim world, and Caroline--with her likable tattooed father and her mouthwatering descriptions of food--is a pleasant vehicle for the lesson. Pair with Aisha Saeed's Written in the Stars (2013) for an insider point of view of Islam. (Fiction. 12-16)

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April 1, 2017
Gr 8 Up-A romance meets travel novel in this work that takes readers from the suburbs of Ohio to the bustling streets of Cairo. Caroline's summer plans get an unexpected detour when her mother is hired to open an eye clinic in Egypt. Caroline and her family uproot and move across the globe. Teens will be able to taste the koshary and feel the tension as Caroline navigates the streets of Cairo as a young blonde woman, subjected to, at times, street harassment and angry remarks. The teen meets Adam, the handsome son of the family driver, and he quickly helps her adjust to Egyptian and Muslim customs. The story isn't devoid of the Westerners as saviors trope, but the author attempts to portray the Muslim characters in a sympathetic and evenhanded way. When Caroline is accosted in the street by a catcaller, she explains the situation to Adam, who offers a compassionate response. His family is presented with tenderness. Doller describes Caroline's relatives who -watch Fox News- as having rigid views of Muslims, and the protagonist makes comparisons between the Muslim and Christian faiths. The plot moves along, pushing Adam and Caroline together, and a union is foreshadowed fairly early on. The story is light yet touches on timely topics without feeling bogged down or too didactic. The narrative is told through Caroline's point of view, and the language and style feel authentic. Readers will connect with Caroline's experiences in a distinct and fascinating place, and the heated romance simmers. Fans of romance set in far-off places will not be disappointed. VERDICT A great addition to any library collection, especially where Gayle Forman's Just One Day is popular.-Christina Vortia, Wesley Chapel, FL

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2017
Seventeen-year-old Caroline Kelly and her parents have uprooted their lives back in Sandusky, Ohio, to spend a year in Cairo, Egypt, while Caroline's mom establishes an eye clinic there. With her parents busy working, Caroline winds up exploring the city with her driver Mr. Elhadad's teenage son, Adam, a fellow Liverpool soccer fan and aspiring chef who becomes her unofficial summer tour guide. He introduces her to Arabic words and phrases and authentic contemporary Egyptian culture. Romance blossoms, but any relationship between them is considered haram since he is a devout Muslim and she is a Catholic foreigner. Yet their feelings do not dissipate, even when family disapproval and, later, distance separate them. The realistic development of Caroline's relationship with Adam plays a large part in her believable transformation from reluctant tourist to Egyptophile. Doller doesn't gloss over Caroline's own misconceptions about Egypt or the dangers she faces abroad, instead taking these moments to incorporate insightful (if often rather didactic) discussion. Through Caroline's journey, Doller has crafted a respectful guide for anyone interested in understanding a different culture, with a healthy dose of romance and family drama mixed in for good measure. cynthia k. ritter

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)