When We Were Sisters

LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD ΓÇó An orphan grapples with gender,siblinghoodfamilyand coming-of-age as a Muslim in America in this lyrical debut novel that ΓÇ£shimmers with loveΓÇ¥ (Los Angeles Times)from the acclaimed author of If They Come For Us ΓÇ£Haunting . . . a knife-sharp story of self-discovery.ΓÇ¥ΓÇöPeople In this heartrendinglyrical debut work of fictionFatimah Asghar traces the intense bond of three orphaned siblings whoafter their parents dieare left to raise one another. The youngestKausargrapples with the incomprehensible loss of their parents as she also charts out her own understanding of gender; Aishathe middle sisterspars with her ΓÇ£crybabyΓÇ¥ younger sibling as she desperately tries to hold on to her sense of family in an impossible situation; and Noreenthe eldestdoes her best in the role of sister-mother while also trying to create a life for herselfon her own terms. As Kausar grows upshe must contend with the collision of her private and public worldsand choose whether to remain in the life of lovesorrowand codependency that sheΓÇÖs known or carve out a new path for herself. When We Were Sisters tenderly examines the bonds and fractures of sisterhoodnames the perils of being three Muslim American girls alone against the worldand ultimately illustrates how those whoΓÇÖve lost everything might still make homes in one another. LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE