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    You Only Live Twice

    Author Autumn Allen
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    On sale Jul 28, 2026 | 8 Hours and 0 Minutes | 9798217342174
    Grade 9 & Up
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    An unforgettable, heartwarming, hilarious coming-of-age story about faith, family, all kinds of love, and a Black Muslim teen pursuing an ordinary goal in an extraordinary time.

    Barely one week into senior year of high school, Boston native Zakiyyah is making her 2012-2013 Get Free Plan.

    Step one: quit high school. (PSA: There are other ways to get to college!)

    Step two: live like it’s Ramadan year-round.

    As she gets deeper into her Plan, she starts to wonder if there’s someone out there who would be a good companion. To everyone’s surprise, Zakiyyah decides she wants to get married. But there are some complications.

    Problem one: she’s never met a guy she liked. Zakiyyah’s family (reluctantly) and friends (eagerly) agree to support the search.

    Problem two: what’s the secret to choosing a good life partner?

    Enter Musa, by way of mutual friends. With marriage in mind, Zakiyyah and Musa get to know each other, progressing from email to instant messaging to phone calls. Things are going well… thrillingly well… until tragedy strikes Boston. In a moment of heightened emotion and stress, Zakiyyah and Musa have their first major disagreement.

    Zakiyyah can call the whole thing off. But with or without Musa, what does it mean to live on her own terms?
    © Jannah Graves
    Autumn Allen is the author of the young adult novel All You Have to Do and forthcoming picture books including Step on Board: Sculpting a Memorial to Harriet Tubman, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, and Answered Prayers. She is a senior editor at Barefoot Books, an educator, and a children’s literature specialist. She holds master’s degrees in education, children’s literature, and writing for children from Harvard University and Simmons University. Autumn grew up in Boston and lives in Massachusetts with her family. Visit her online at AutumnAllenBooks.com. View titles by Autumn Allen
    Praise for You Only Live Twice by Autumn Allen:

    A Junior Library Guild Selection

    ★ “A powerful, affirming novel about faith, agency, and the courage to build the life you want.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

    ★ “An insightful narrative helmed by a charismatic, self-assured protagonist. It’s an earnest examination of religious beliefs and impending adulthood.” —Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

    “Allen’s sophomore YA novel is a love letter to Muslim girls.” —School Library Journal

    About

    An unforgettable, heartwarming, hilarious coming-of-age story about faith, family, all kinds of love, and a Black Muslim teen pursuing an ordinary goal in an extraordinary time.

    Barely one week into senior year of high school, Boston native Zakiyyah is making her 2012-2013 Get Free Plan.

    Step one: quit high school. (PSA: There are other ways to get to college!)

    Step two: live like it’s Ramadan year-round.

    As she gets deeper into her Plan, she starts to wonder if there’s someone out there who would be a good companion. To everyone’s surprise, Zakiyyah decides she wants to get married. But there are some complications.

    Problem one: she’s never met a guy she liked. Zakiyyah’s family (reluctantly) and friends (eagerly) agree to support the search.

    Problem two: what’s the secret to choosing a good life partner?

    Enter Musa, by way of mutual friends. With marriage in mind, Zakiyyah and Musa get to know each other, progressing from email to instant messaging to phone calls. Things are going well… thrillingly well… until tragedy strikes Boston. In a moment of heightened emotion and stress, Zakiyyah and Musa have their first major disagreement.

    Zakiyyah can call the whole thing off. But with or without Musa, what does it mean to live on her own terms?

    Author

    © Jannah Graves
    Autumn Allen is the author of the young adult novel All You Have to Do and forthcoming picture books including Step on Board: Sculpting a Memorial to Harriet Tubman, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, and Answered Prayers. She is a senior editor at Barefoot Books, an educator, and a children’s literature specialist. She holds master’s degrees in education, children’s literature, and writing for children from Harvard University and Simmons University. Autumn grew up in Boston and lives in Massachusetts with her family. Visit her online at AutumnAllenBooks.com. View titles by Autumn Allen

    Praise

    Praise for You Only Live Twice by Autumn Allen:

    A Junior Library Guild Selection

    ★ “A powerful, affirming novel about faith, agency, and the courage to build the life you want.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

    ★ “An insightful narrative helmed by a charismatic, self-assured protagonist. It’s an earnest examination of religious beliefs and impending adulthood.” —Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

    “Allen’s sophomore YA novel is a love letter to Muslim girls.” —School Library Journal

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