Alina in Her Roots - Softcover

Nanji, Shenaaz G.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1772604712 ISBN 13: 9781772604719

Publisher: Second Story Pr, 2026

Synopsis

Book 3 of The Alina Books, a fun series for ages 6-8! Following Alina in a Pinch and Alina in the Deep. "Young chapter-book readers will relate to Alina’s many feelings and be invested in her summer exploits.”—Booklist.

Alina has grown up on the stories her family tells of Nairobi, Kenya, and now she’s going to see it all for herself! The street markets, the yummy food, and best of all, she gets to visit her cousin Safi. This summer, instead of the bulls at the Calgary Stampede, Alina is going to get up close and personal with a giraffe!

When Alina arrives in Nairobi, she finds it busy and loud. It’s not how she imagined, and she feels out of place. Will her adventures with Safi help her connect to her Kenyan roots? One thing is certain—Alina and Safi will make their own stories along the way!

Key Selling Points:

• The third book in the well reviewed Alina series of chapter books: "Alina’s problems are our problems, and solutions are universal."—School Library Journal
• The books detail Alina's adventures as she negotiates her life in Calgary, her Indo-African heritage, and her family relationships with her Nani and cousin Safi. Book 3 tackles what it means when going "home" means traveling to a place you've never been before.
• The first book, Alina in a Pinch, centres on Alina being the new girl in school and dealing with a class bully. Book two, Alina in the Deep, has Alina feeling a mix of excitement, jealousy, and trepidation at the visit of her cousin Safi, only to realize they have more in common than she thought. In book three, Alina in Her Roots, Alina is excited to be flying by herself for the first time to visit her cousin Safi and her family in Nairobi, Kenya. But Alina is surprised by how overwhelming it is, and how homesick she feels. When some of her plans for the trip are upended, she has to learn to adjust.
• This award-nominated series has been praised for its approachableness for young readers. Alina in a Pinch was a finalist for two readers' choice awards: the Forest of Reading's Silver Birch Express Award and the Hackmatack Award. Book two, Alina in the Deep, received rave reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus, Booklist, and more.
• Author Shenaaz Nanji makes sure that the Alina series is full of relatable details for readers who share her South Asian heritage, and anyone trying to get to know extended family for the first time. With Alina visiting her relatives in Kenya, young readers can learn some history about the significant migration of communities from India to Kenya.
• The series reflects contemporary issues in an accessible way, as Alina and Safi continue to negotiate their differences in order to understand each other. The latest book shows Alina's desire to connect with her parents’ roots in Kenya, and how difficult and rewarding this can feel.
• The entire series features fun black and white spot illustrations from artist Beena Mistry that punctuate the major plot points. Beena Mistry also illustrated The Journal of Anxious Izzy Parker written by Alma Fullerton.

Edition details

• Publisher: Second Story Pr
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1772604712
• ISBN 13: 9781772604719
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Mistry Beena
• Number of pages: 120