Eleven-year-old Aliya Shah lives a double life in Islamabad, Pakistan-at home with her Pakistani father and Dutch mother, and at the American School, where Aliya tries to downplay that she is a "half-and-half." But when a hit-and-run driver kills the son of the family's servant, Sadiq, who is also Aliya's dear friend, her world is turned upside down. After she discovers the truth behind the tragedy, a terrible secret that burdens her heart, her conflicted loyalties are tested as never before.
Exploring the themes of loss, identity, and cultural heritage, the memoir takes readers through Sorayya Khan's journey across seven cities and three continents following her mother's death. It reflects on her Pakistani-Dutch upbringing, from her childhood in Lahore to her experiences in post-9/11 America, and the complexities of raising her sons while grappling with her family's history. Through personal anecdotes and broader geopolitical insights, Khan reveals how cities shape our identities and the enduring power of love amidst change.