Books

Nadia Islam, on the Record

A heartwarming, must-read story that celebrates family, faith and community

Adiba Jaigirdar, Author

Paperback

Imprint: Hodder Children's Books

Publication date: January 15, 2026

Category: Family & home stories (Children's / Teenage)

ISBN: 9781444973471

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A heartwarming and authentic story that explores family, religion and fighting for what’s right, from award-winning author Adiba Jaigirdar.

Aspiring journalist Nadia Islam hates that she’s missing out on spending Ramadan with her best friend to go to Bangladesh. But the trip unexpectedly puts her reporting skills to the test.

Her journalist aunt – Nadia’s khalamoni – is in Bangladesh too, but not just for Ramadan or Eid, like Nadia. She’s there to write a story on the increasing climate change problem in Bangladesh and how people are being affected by it. The more Nadia learns from her khalamoni, the more eager she is to help.

Her brother and cousins try to distract her with a Ramadan competition. She wants to beat them all – of course! – but her aunt needs her too.

Can Nadia put aside her competitiveness to beat her brother and cousins to figure out what Ramadan is really all about?

Reviews

An immersive story about climate disasters and how faith, family, and community can bring about change

Kirkus Reviews

Jaigirdar's middle grade debut, with lovely interior artwork by Avani Dwivedi, celebrates family, faith, and community, and will inspire young readers looking to make their own difference in the world.

Library Aware

Jaigirdar's middle-grade debut provides readers the chance to learn all about Bengali culture, climate change, and Ramadan right alongside Nadia

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Jaigirdar's first foray into middle-grade writing tackles big topics like fasting for Ramadan, family rivalries, and how the climate crisis disproportionately affects the people of Bangladesh, resulting in an informed and thoughtful story that seeks to empower its young readers.

Irish Examiner

A charming novel about connection, friends, family and faith

Connaught Telegraph

Warm and authentic

The Bookseller

Through Nadia's burgeoning understanding of the spiritual aspects of Ramadan, Jaigirdar deftly conveys one child's determination to be taken seriously.

Publishers Weekly

Jaigirdar tells an inspiring and nuanced story through Nadia. Avani Dwivadi's illustrations are interspersed throughout the story and help bring Bangladeshi culture and landscape to life. Featuring powerful role models, this is a perfect choice for aspiring journalists and children with a passion for the environment.

BookTrust

Adiba Jaigirdar

Adiba Jaigirdar is the award-winning, critically-acclaimed and bestselling author of The Henna Wars, Hani & Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, and A Million to One. A Bangladeshi/Irish writer and former teacher, she has an MA in Postcolonial Studies from the University of Kent, England and a BA in English and History from UCD, Ireland.

She is the winner of the YA book prize 2022, the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2021, and was a finalist for the 2022 Lambda Literary awards. All of her writing is aided by tea, and a healthy dose of Janelle Monáe and Hayley Kiyoko.

When not writing, she is probably ranting about the ills of colonialism, playing video games, or expanding her overflowing lipstick collection.

She can be found at adibajaigirdar.com or @adiba_j on Twitter and @dibs_j on Instagram.