Paperback
The Family Tree
By Sairish Hussain
SHORTLISTED FOR THE PORTICO PRIZE
SHORTLISTED FOR THE DIVERSE BOOK AWARDS
LONGLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS’ CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD
SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD
WINNER OF CALIBRE AUDIO’S ‘HIDDEN GEM’ AWARD
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‘Poignantly paints the extraordinary in ordinary lives’ THE SUNDAY POST
‘An engrossing and moving story’ CLARE CHAMBERS, author of Small Pleasures
‘An evocative portrayal of love and family’ AYISHA MALIK
‘Invites you in, not as a stranger but as a family friend’ KATIE FFORDE
‘A masterclass in representation and brilliant writing’ ZEBA TALKHANI, author of My Past is a Foreign Country
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Your roots can always lead you home…
Amjad cradles his baby daughter in the middle of the night. He has no time to mourn his wife’s death. Saahil and Zahra, his two small children, are relying on him. Amjad vows to love and protect them always.
Years later, Saahil and his best friend, Ehsan, have finished university and are celebrating with friends. But when the night turns dangerous, its devastating effects will ripple through the years to come.
Zahra is now her father’s only source of comfort. Life has taken her small family in different directions – will they ever find their way back to each other?
The Family Tree is the moving story of a British Muslim family full of love, laughter and resilience as well as all the faults, mistakes and stubborn loyalties which make us human.
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‘A profound, beautifully observed portrait of a British-Muslim family rocked by tragedy. So endearing are the characters, I grieved as they grieved, cheered as they healed and clung to them for days after the final page’ Kia Abdullah
‘A multi-generational story crafted with warmth… An engaging debut’ Vaseem Khan
‘Both unflinching and full of hope; the writing is compassionate and true’ Stephanie Butland
‘I sped through The Family Tree, because I was so invested in the characters and eager to know their fate. The book was much darker and more tragic than I had been expecting - and all the better for it. An engrossing and moving story.' Clare Chambers, author of Small Pleasures -
”'A brilliant read. This book is everything it promises to be and more. I was totally engrossed and invested in Amjad, Saahil and Zahra’s lives. A masterclass in representation and brilliant writing.” - Zeba Talkhani, author of My Past is a Foreign Country
”'Hussain weaves a tale of fragility and resilience, of the extraordinary in ordinary lives and of love and complexity in family. A wonderful debut.” - Catherine Mayer
”'A multi-generational story crafted with warmth and an insider’s understanding of its environment. Hussain evokes the trials and tribulations of life in an Asian family growing up in a changing and sometimes hostile Britain with a surefooted ease and a keen sense of dramatic tension. An engaging debut.” - Vaseem Khan
”'Provides a much needed voice for characters who have been drastically affected by the headlines throughout an emotionally wrought narrative.” - Magic Radio
”'Such an emotional, heart-warming and unforgettable experience… I cared desperately about the characters and was often in tears as I read - the story is so moving and Sairish Hussain is a VERY talented writer” - Aliya Ali-Afzal, author of Would I Lie to You?
”'Pulsating with dramatic tension, Hussain poignantly paints the extraordinary in ordinary lives. A moving story of love, laughs and loyalty makes for a brilliant first book from Hussain.” - Sunday Post