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Daughters of the Lamp by Nedda Lewers

Daughters of the Lamp

Nedda Lewers

Penguin Young Readers Group · Paperback · April 8, 2025

Percy Jackson meets Arabian fairy tales in this stunning middle grade fantasy debut about a girl who becomes the guardian of Ali Baba’s legendary treasure.

Magic & FantasyCountry & Ethnic FolktalesMiddle Eastern & Arab American Storiesmythology
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Who it’s for
A science-minded heroine’s summer plans collide with family mystery and Arabian fairy-tale magic.
Themes
Magic and the unknown, Family legacy, Protecting power from evil
Genres
Magic & Fantasy, Country & Ethnic Folktales, Middle Eastern & Arab American Stories

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About this book

Percy Jackson meets Arabian fairy tales in this stunning middle grade fantasy debut about a girl who becomes the guardian of Ali Baba’s legendary treasure. Now in paperback! Believe in fairy tales. Sahara Rashad lives by logic. Loves science. And always has a plan. Except her dad just whisked her away to her uncle’s wedding in Egypt, upending every single plan she had for the summer. In Cairo, Sahara’s days are filled with family—and mystery.

Continue reading

First, Sahara’s cousins claim the pretentious bride-to-be is actually a witch. Then her late mother’s necklace starts glowing—and disappears. Sahara’s attempts to recover the necklace lead her to the greatest mystery yet. Deep in an underground chamber lies Ali Baba’s magical treasure. Hidden from a line of sorcerers who threatened to use its powers for evil, the treasure was given to Sahara’s ancestor Morgana for safekeeping and passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Now only Sahara stands in the sorcerers’ way. Can the girl who’s never believed in magic trust the unknown and claim her legacy as the treasure’s keeper?

Logic Meets Legend

A science-minded heroine’s summer plans collide with family mystery and Arabian fairy-tale magic.

Come here for

  • A lively blend of family complications and legendary treasure
  • A heroine learning to reckon with the inexplicable

Expect

  • Cairo, cousins, and a glowing necklace
  • A shift from careful plans toward magical uncertainty

Where it sits

Middle Eastern & Arab American Stories60%
Magic & Fantasy50%
Country & Ethnic Folktales46%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Country & Ethnic Folktales
  • Middle Eastern & Arab American Stories
  • Magic & Fantasy
Authors
Nedda Lewers
Publisher
Penguin Young Readers Group
Published
April 8, 2025
Format
Paperback
Theme
Magic and the unknown · Family legacy · Protecting power from evil
Reading lane
Country & Ethnic Folktales