Sunburnt Veils

Sunburnt Veils is a smart, funny, character-based exploration of Islamophobia through a heroine who's the kind of girl who reads at parties, but pushes herself to take a visible stand after a fellow student calls in a bomb threat on her first day of university, after she leaves a bag in a lecture theatre to take a phone call.

Girl meets boy, ghosts his text messages, then convinces him to help her run for the student union. Just your typical love story with a hijabi twist.

Tara wears hijab even though her parents hate it, and in a swipe right world she's looking for the 'will go to the ends of the earth for you' type of love. Or, she would be, if she hadn't sworn off boys to focus on getting into med. Besides, what's wrong with just crushing on the assassins, mages and thieves in the fantasy books she reads?

When a bomb threat on her first day of university throws her together with totally annoying party king and oh-so-entitled politician's son Alex, things get complicated. Tara needs to decide if she's happy reading about heroes, or if she's ready to step up and be one herself.

Praise for Sunburnt Veils

'Sunburnt Veils is an insightful and powerful exploration of what it's like growing up in a minority group and being constantly pigeonholed as something you're not. It is also about finding power in what makes you feel scared or angry and using your voice to create change.' - Mischa Parkee, Books & Publishing

'Sunburnt Veils captures with care and clarity a sample of the politics that weaves itself into the lives of young Australians. With well-constructed characters, wit and engaging imagery, it confirms that, despite the xenophobia and racism that may colour culturally and linguistically diverse Australians as villains, we can be heroic.' - Monica Eliah, Saturday Paper

'This debut novel by Sara Haghdoosti set in the heady and confusing days of first year uni contains a pitch-perfect combination of politics, romance, drama and humour. I loved Tara's fight to define herself on her own terms, and really appreciated the cast of well-drawn characters in her life.' - Leanne Hall

'Sunburnt Veils is a quick read with an important message about standing up for what's right. It inspires readers to take action when the opportunity arises, whether they're experiencing discrimination themselves or witnessing it happening to others. Through a marvellous cast and a well-planned plot, Haghdoosti manages to dismantle old stereotypes and get the readers to see people as people.' - Vanessa Elle, Glam Adelaide

'This text will be fantastic for YA readers who are confident and looking to extend themselves beyond their own sphere, or students who need to see themselves reflected within the pages of a text. It would also work well in Bildungsroman units, with similarities to Looking For Alibrandi easily identified. I was able to hand this text on to a Year 10 student, who thoroughly enjoyed reading about a female protagonist who also enjoyed fantasy novels. A good inclusion for your classroom library, or select chapters in your coming-of-age units of study.' - Mel Burnett, EduTATE

'Sunburnt Veils is also a critique of our "natural" ways of seeing the IDEA of others - what we IMAGINE they represent - rather than who they really are. Thanks to debut author Sara Haghdoosti, we get to better understand the true nature and significance of diversity as much more than a politically correct word. Highly recommended.' - Christine Yunn-Yu Sun, Voices under the Sun

'Despite the serious subject matter (or perhaps because of it), this wonderful little gem of a book is a fun, compulsively readable journey into bravery and self-actualisation filled with vibrant characters and achingly realistic romance.' - Clodagh Robinson-Watts, Judges Comments for the Readings Prize: Young Adult Shortlist

Sara Haghdoosti was born in Iran, grew up in Sydney and now lives in Chicago. Like her protagonist, she has been politically active from a young age. Sara got her start in organising at the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and then went on to work at GetUp, Change.org, the Mozilla Foundation and founded Berim ('Let's go' in Farsi) - a non-profit that worked to support change makers in Iran. She's currently the Deputy Director at Win Without War. Her writing has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Drum and she's been a panelist on ABC TV's Q&A. Sunburnt Veils is her first novel.

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