Bookzilla Book of the Month: The Hidden Story of Estie Noor
We have five copies of The Hidden Story of Estie Noor by Nadine Aisha Jassat to be won, thanks to our friends at Hachette! All you need to do is answer the question at the bottom of the page. Entries close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 31 July.
All entrants must reside in the UK and full terms and conditions apply. You can check out our competitions page for other giveaways. To find more great reads for children and young adults, download the Bookzilla book finder app.
About The Hidden Story of Estie Noor
When 12-year-old Estie Noor is expelled from school and sent to stay with her aunt in Scotland, she arrives carrying shame and silence that should not belong to her. Nobody listened to her side of what happened, and now Estie isn't sure that she can trust anyone to believe the truth. But in the warmth of her aunt's rose and elachi hot chocolate and the joy of new-found friendships, Estie's newly hardened edges can begin to soften. When she discovers a secret note hidden inside a folded paper castle, written by someone else who needed their story to be heard, a treasure hunt begins. As she and her new best friend, Idris, edge closer to solving the mystery of the paper sculptures hidden around town, can Estie find the courage to tell her own story and stand up for what's right?
The Hidden Story of Estie Noor is a truly gorgeous verse novel. Warmth and soul beam through Nadine Aisha Jassat's skillful verse, in a way that's impossible not to be taken in by. This is a book that invites readers to place sincerity, compassion and community at the centre of whatever they do. With a diverse cast of rich and compelling characters, a fun mystery to solve, and a heartwarming message at its core, this is an unmissable read.
Q&A with Nadine Aisha Jassat
Much of Estie's journey is about finding her voice. What helped you to find your voice?
This question – what helped me find my voice – was very much at the heart of my considerations when it came to planning The Hidden Story of Estie Noor. Throughout the novel, Estie and Idris come upon letters from an anonymous storyteller, and I wanted each one of these to include a message that might help someone who is struggling to understand how to connect to their voice, and tell their story. I truly wanted the book to be a gift, as I say in the dedication, to ‘every Estie’, and hoped that it would help people on the journey to finding their own voices and telling and understanding their own stories – through the journey of all the characters, but especially Estie, and the storyteller. So, I guess I could say, the answer to this question lies in reading the book!
You have such a knack for creating rich characters. Do you have a process for character development, or certain things you map out for everyone you write?
It’s something I always want to shine in my books, because it’s something that I value so much as a reader: when I read books where the characters feel real, and rich. If my characters feel real in my mind as I’m writing the story, then my hope is that they feel real on the page. For me, a key part of the process is being immersed in the story – I very much like to work on a book by having it as my main focus so that I’m submerged in the world, and will write a book over a block period where I work on it every day. In Estie Noor, I put a lot of my journey into the story, and a lot of love into the characters. I imagined characters I needed as a reader and human, characters who felt fun and comforting to write: in my imagination I could get a hug from Aunt Ru, a best friend like Idris, and a bit of Estie’s snark and spark, and I think that love for the characters, and the emotional connection with them as if they were real, is what helps spark them to feel real for readers, too.
Do you have any tips for young writers on how to capture emotion in their writing?
I think whatever you’re feeling as you write, I wouldn’t be surprised if you find that on the page! So, if you’re absolutely racing along writing the adventure of the story, don’t be surprised if your readers are then in turn racing along as they read it. Similarly, if there’s a moment that brings you to tears when you’re writing it, don’t be surprised if readers say they’re reaching for the tissues. When you come to crafting your characters and their journeys, I think it can be really helpful to consider how they would emotionally respond vs how you might emotionally respond, too. I found it really liberating being able to consider what Estie’s emotional responses might be in the moment – often anger and defiance - and get to embrace them while writing.
What has been your favourite thing about watching The Hidden Story of Estie Noor come to life?
It’s been seeing the book have a life of its own - watching reviews pop up, with readers loving the book, hearing people discover it and share their thoughts. I worked incredibly hard on this book, and in turn I feel the book saw me through many challenges by providing an anchor I could always return to in writing it, and immersing myself in its warm and wonderful world. So, I truly am so excited for readers to discover it, and I hope they love it. I also think Sandhya Prabhat’s cover is 100/10 – I absolutely love it.