What This Book Is About
Twelve-year-old Rumi Vafaie and his Iranian-Australian family run the gift shop at the tiny, eccentric Kendall Museum of Natural History and Curiosities. The museum is barely surviving—visitors are dwindling, the roof leaks, and a corporate developer wants to buy the building and turn it into luxury apartments. When the museum's board announces it will close at the end of summer, Rumi hatches a desperate plan to save it involving a mysterious artifact, an elaborate treasure hunt, and the help of his misfit museum friends.
But as the plan unfolds, Rumi has bigger problems than real estate developers. His parents' marriage is fracturing. His beloved grandmother, Bibi, is losing her memory to dementia. And Rumi himself is caught between two cultures—Australian on the outside, Iranian at home—never quite feeling like he belongs fully in either world. Maryam Master's debut is warm, funny, and deeply compassionate, a story about what happens when the places and people you love start slipping away, and the courage it takes to hold on.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why UWC Chose This Book
This book mirrors the experience of many UWC students who navigate multiple cultural identities every day. Rumi's story of being "between cultures" resonates deeply in Singapore's international school community, where children routinely code-switch between the language and customs of home and the English-speaking world of school.
The novel also celebrates how diverse family stories and cultural heritage can be a source of strength rather than confusion. For students who have experienced relocation, family upheaval, or the slow loss of a grandparent to illness, Rumi's journey offers both recognition and comfort. It is one of UWC's newer additions to the Grade 7 list, reflecting the school's commitment to contemporary, diverse voices.
Reading Level Guide
Accessible at strong A2. The warm, straightforward prose is welcoming for developing readers.
Perfect difficulty. Rich enough to grow, accessible enough to enjoy every page.
A comfortable, enjoyable read at B2. Consider Refugee or The Giver for more complexity.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free 30-minute English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.