I adored this cover so just had to pick it up and it did not disappoint!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Having been lucky enough to work with Nadine and her poetry prior to this, it is wonderful to see a talent as vibrant as hers weaving stories for a younger audience. Love this book.

This is a lovely story about family, memories and compassion. This a verse narrative that is engaging and can be perfectly used in the classroom. Explore how relationships can grow and change at different stages of our life. Beautifully written it will certain shake your emotions.

Wow. I gave this book four out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such an incredibly, heartwarming and beautifully poetic book. This book deals with lots of different topics; bullying, racism, death, relationships, Alzheimer’s, friendships and that’s just to name a few. I thought, going into this book, I would find it hard to follow as it’s written in a poetic verse but I was surprised to really enjoy the style.

A very moving story which I think children and adults would benefit from reading.

A fantastically written book! Written in a mixture of prose and verse, Nyla’s story transfers beautifully with the different styles of writing. Definitely a book that all school libraries should own as has a very powerful message behind it!

"The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them)" by Nadine Aisha Jassat is a remarkable collection of poems and stories that delve into the author's personal history, heritage, and identity. Jassat weaves a narrative that is both deeply intimate and universally relatable, exploring the bonds between generations and the importance of preserving familial narratives.

The author's storytelling is vivid and evocative, offering a rich tapestry of emotions, from sorrow to resilience. Jassat's prose and poetry are beautiful and thought-provoking, each piece a reflection of her experiences and an homage to her family's past. Through her words, she reconnects with her roots, rediscovering her grandmother's stories, which had faded over time.

Jassat masterfully navigates themes of loss, love, and cultural identity, forging a connection between her own experiences and the wider narrative of immigrant families. Her writing is both powerful and poignant, making this collection a compelling and moving read.

"The Stories Grandma Forgot" is a testament to the importance of acknowledging our history, sharing our stories, and finding strength in our roots. It's a celebration of the endurance of heritage and the enduring impact of the past on the present. Nadine Aisha Jassat's exploration of identity and connection in this collection is a heartfelt reminder of the stories that make us who we are. This book is a profound and lyrical journey of self-discovery that resonates with readers, inspiring them to seek out their own forgotten tales and cherished memories.

Nyla’s dad died years ago but her grandma thinks she saw him recently in the supermarket. Nyla knows that this is probably just her grandma ‘time-travelling’ again, which is what happens when Grandma forgets things. However, Grandma is determined for Nyla to find her dad and bring him home and Nyla becomes determined to do exactly that, uncovering secrets along the way. The Stories Grandma Forgot is an emotional tale about dementia and the tragedy it can bring to a whole family. There is a really heartwarming ending that celebrates found families and the unearthing of forgotten love. It also highlights the role that libraries and the stories within them can play in a young child’s life and the importance of keeping them alive. It also touches on the evil of racism and digs into how it affects victims of racial prejudice. There is so much in this powerful, poetic little story that I think everyone will get something a little different out of it.

The verse novel format suits this story just perfectly. Filled with compassion, heart and warmth, Nyla's story is one that stayed with me long after I finished the last page.

Nylas dad died when she was four, well that’s what she’s been told. But when Grandma Farida says she’s seen her dad in the supermarket she wonders whether she’s been time travelling again. Her grandma asks her to promise to bring her dad home, she must uncover the past to find out the mystery of her family.

This was a great little middle grade read, I loved how it spoke about the subject of memory loss and Alzheimer’s. I loved Nyla as a character she is a great character to have at the front of the story. It touches on some really big topics and faces some strong emotions but was done in such a beautiful way. The mystery element of the story kept me interested and I loved the ending.

This is in some ways a book for 11 - 13 year olds, it is an “issues” book which does provide some solutions by the end. Nyla has a mother and a grandmother. The grandmother is showing signs of dementia. Her father died when she was young. This is a story about how Nyla finds herself and friends in a world that is not kind to her. The “issues” do not overwhelm the book and the positive end does mitigate the emotion, the ups and downs of the plot. It is a book written in blank verse. Does this help the plot? Yes.

Some of the best books I have read this year have been in verse and this is no exception. Oozing with nostalgia and love, this story focuses on intergenerational relationships and the emotional bonds we form with our loved ones. There's a mystery element to the story as Nyla pieces together clues to find her father and a beautifully, empathetic account of caring for someone with Alzheimer's. The gorgeous language wraps around you like a warm hug and is full of compassion, leaving you with mixed emotions of both happiness and sadness - all of which comes with family life.
This is a wonderful story, relatable to anyone who has a close relationship with a grandparent, who is struggling to discover who they are and those who just want to escape into something beautiful.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

This book follows the trials and tribulations of dementia and the effect this can have on the person and those they live with. Family life, it's challenges as a teenager, and friendship is carefully explored within the text. It was a great story that I think will be good to share in the classroom to aid discussion around this sometimes difficult topic. I will be recommending to our school librarian.

This was a lovely story surrounding a small family that had been torn apart by grief and how they managed to find each other again. The way we learn all the new information through Nyla and her childlike way of jumping to conclusions was very interesting to read as we are so sure one thing is happening only to be faced with a different truth. Family was a huge part of this book and the way both biological and chosen family was explored was very lovely.

I throughly enjoyed reading these and found many of the phrases in the poetry (it’s a verse novel) to be poignant and moving. The storytelling was excellent and the characters were well-rounded. I really enjoyed that this was more than a dementia-based novel where the protagonist got to have her own adventure that led her along a path of self-discovery. I did wonder why so many of the adults seemed reluctant to talk about her dad (she’s searching for what happened to him) and it didn’t feel all the plausible that ‘grief’ meant everyone - and I mean everyone - refused to talk to her about him. However, if you make that leap of faith, you’re rewarded with a beautiful story about finding out who you are, about heritage, about memory, a little bit about racism, about family, found-family and friendship.

4.5 Stars
One liner: Heartwarming!

Nyla Elachi, a twelve-year-old girl, loves her Grandma Farida the most. Her father passed away when she was four, or so she’s been told. Grandma Farida has Alzheimer’s, and Nyla takes care of her during the evenings while her mom works back-to-back shifts to keep the family going.
One day, Grandma Farida tells Nyla that she saw her son in the supermarket. Nyla is not sure, but she loves her grandma the most. When the lady asks Nyla to bring her son home, Nyle decides it’s time to turn a detective and trace her history.
Can the grandmother and granddaughter find what they are looking for?
The story comes in poetic verse from Nyla’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
This is a beautiful and heartwarming book! I love the characterization, be it Grandma Farida, Nyla, Ruth (Nyla’s mom), Jess, or Ray.
The book is written in poetic verse, which was a little hard to read until I remembered my friend’s advice (Rosh, thank you) to read such books the same way I’d read prose. So I stopped bothering about the rhythm and paid more attention to the plot. It really helped.
The story deals with different issues like racism, bullying, parental loss, family and relationships, friendships, Alzheimer’s, etc. None of it goes overboard or preachy (kids might feel a little overwhelmed when Nyla is bullied). This isn’t a book about stories but about people.
The plot is well done (though it needs suspended belief in some places). I guessed half of it right and was surprised by the rest. A majority of it is realistic enough, though as MG fiction, the book does simplify a few issues towards the end.
Nyla does take a few risks but doesn’t come across as reckless. In fact, her vulnerability is highlighted, showing that what she did wasn’t exactly a smart thing. However, kids should realize that such acts of bravery are risky and can lead to scary situations.
The presentation is quite intriguing. I like the use of concrete poetic styles to emphasize emotions. However, I’m not sure how it’ll work on Kindle or smartphone. I found it easier to read the book on my desktop.
There are no illustrations in the ARC. I expected at least a couple of them, so that’s one major disappointment. With a cover like that, I hope the final copy has a few illustrations to enhance the story.
The book has happy and sad moments. Jess is a delightful character, and her dialogues are too good. She’s far from perfect, which makes her even more endearing.
I love the use of Elachi (cardamom) and Haldi (turmeric) as last names. Such a wonderful idea!
The aspects of being a mixed-race child, the sense of uncertainty stemming from the lack of belongingness, etc., are effectively portrayed.

To summarize, The Stories Grandma Forgot is a heartwarming book for kiddos and adults. It’s not without a few flaws but will leave you with a sense of satisfaction and peace.
Thank you, NetGalley, Hachette Children's Group, and Orion Children's Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I love reading (and writing) stories from a child's point of view - for a variety of reasons, not least because children often have a clarity of perception that adults have lost somewhere along the way.

Today is publishing day for Nadine Aisha Jassat's book The Stories that Grandma Forgot (And How I Found Them). This is such a beautiful story.

Nyla, age 12, lives with her English Mum, and her father's mother, Grandma Farida, from Zimbabwe. She adores her grandma, who has Alzheimer's, and increasingly slips into what Nyla refers to as "time travelling".

Her father died when she was 4 years old, or so Nyla thought until recently. Now she doesn't know what to think! Because Grandma insists that she spotted Nyla's father Basim at the supermarket the other day... Is this just part of her illness, or is there more to Nyla's father's death than she's been told?

Nyla finds it suspicious that her mother has always refused to discuss her father's death. Her friend Jess is supportive and helps her to investigate. But Nyla also receives unexpected help from a boy that she meets at the library. Yet even that friendship turns out to be more complicated than she expected.

What Nyla discovers in the course of her investigation is more than she bargained for, but real life is complex sometimes.

The book explores sensitive themes like racism, identity, friendship, love, duty, aging, and found family with a deft touch. There are unbelievably poignant moments, and it is difficult to remember that Nyla, Jess, Grandma Farida and the other characters in this story aren't real people. I cannot recommend this lyrical story enough. Please read it - and share it with the children in your life!

In a Nutshell: A novel-in-verse. More of a mystery than what I had expected from the title. Nevertheless, a solid read for middle graders, with a strong theme of self-identity, racism, bullying, friendship and family.

Story Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Nyla, a mixed race child, lives a life focussed on those around her. Her loving but busy single mom—who works double shifts to support their family, her beloved grandmother—who has Alzheimer’s, and her best friend Jess—who has acting ambitions, are the key people in her life.
Nyla has always been told that her father passed away when she was four. But when her grandma insists that she saw him in the local supermarket, Nyla wonders if Grandma was right or was it her disease creating trouble again.
As Nyla decides to investigate her grandma’s claim, she also hopes to discover more about her mixed identity and where she fits in this world with its preset notions about race.
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Nyla.


First things first. I am not a poetry person, and thus, I read this novel-in-verse as if it were prose than poetry. I am sure poetry lovers will enjoy the rhythmic approach more, but for those who are like me, reading the book as simple prose doesn’t affect the understanding or enjoyment in any way.

Bookish Yays:
✔ A fast-paced plot, courtesy the story that comes only through free verse. (At least, I think it is free verse. I am not a reliable judge of contemporary poetry patterns.) The poetic elements will work well even if children read the book as a regular story. The vocabulary level is also perfect for middle graders.

✔ A courageous lead character in Nyla, who takes time to come into her own, but does so with aplomb.

✔ Many wonderful secondary characters, especially Jess who is a one-of-a-kind girl with her ambitions and her loyalty, and Ms. Haldi the librarian who is exactly as librarians ought to be.

✔ The love between Nyla and her grandmother. It pained me to see a little girl as her ailing grandmother’s caretaker but the whole depiction was so realistic that they both won me over.

✔ The bittersweet depiction of Alzheimer’s without going over the top. I loved the equivalence of Alzheimer’s with time travel. It’s a great way of making kids understand the disease without feeling overwhelmed.

✔ Racism and how it affects children, especially those from mixed races who are neither here nor there.

✔ Many pages use special formatting effects on some part of the verses, thereby enhancing their impact. (This of course is best experienced in the physical copy.)


Bookish Nays:
⚠ The title made me assume that the focus would be more on storytelling interactions between the grandmother and her granddaughter. But the focus of the plot was more on the mystery of whether and whom Grandma saw in the supermarket, and on Nyla’s attempts to figure out a secret from her past. The role of storytelling isn’t the highlight, unlike what was promised.

⚠ In the course of her quest, Nyla takes some questionable decisions. I am not too fond of middle-grade books that encourage reckless behaviour without any reprimand or guilt forthcoming in later chapters.

⚠ The reason why so many adults kept so many secrets from Nyla wasn’t convincing to me. The mysterious parts appear forced because of this odd tendency of not revealing even relatively minor facts. The revelations hence didn’t appeal much to me.


All in all, I expected a more nostalgic kind of a plot with storytelling strengthening the bond between an ailing grandmother and her grandchild. But the book ended up more like a mystery-adventure. That said, the book also serves partially as a coming-of-age work, with Nyla learning how to stand up for herself in the face of bullying and racism.

Recommended to middle-grade readers, though the content will also work for older readers because of the themes. At the same time, the story covers some tough topics such as parental death, racist behaviour, bullying, and Alzheimer’s; do keep these in mind if picking it up for a sensitive child.

3.75 stars.


My thanks to Hachette Children's Group and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them)”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This book for children has been beautifully written in verse and was a joy to read.

The main character, Nyla, is portrayed extremely well. She assists in caring for her grandmother who has Altzheimers and is a loving and dependable girl.

The book was very moving and there were several times when I wanted to give Nyla a hug and tell her it was all going to be okay. Thankfully, the author provides some strong role models in whom Nyla can ultimately find emotional safety.

It is a perfect addition to children's book shelves, and I highly recommend it.

The Stories Grandma Forgot And How I Found Them by Nadine Aisha Jassat is a charming contemporary novel that is perfect for ages ten years and over. I am considerably older than the target market but I loved it.
The novel is about family, roots, love and grief. A twelve year old searches for her father whom she was told had died, but she is not convinced. With a new found friendship, she pieces together the clues of his life.
Children can be cruel. We witness the antics of Harry who bullies the lead character. She shows a maturity beyond her years in her approach to him.
Grief can last a lifetime. We witness a mother who is carrying on life for the sake of her daughter, after her husband died. The family unit is still made up of three members as they now look after the grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. “Alzheimer’s … it feels like… the person is slowly walking away.” The twelve year old has the ability to care for her grandmother and draw her out of herself as we glimpse who she once was. “It’s like having her fully back. Like she’s left Alzheimer’s in another time.” Grandmother and granddaughter are united by a secret.
All the characters were wonderfully drawn, likable and realistic. Nadine Aisha Jassat has constructed a beautiful novel that spoke to my heart. I hope to read much more by her.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.