Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf, Can be read in a few days depending on your speed, Young Adult
Let’s go way back to one of my March reads with Queen of the Tiles! This is a very fun somewhat murder mystery young adult book set in the world of competitive Scrabble.
It’s been a year since Najwa, considered one of the best Scrabble players in Malaysia, has been to a tournament. It’s also been a year since her best friend, Trina Low and the player considered the “Queen of the Tiles,” died at a tournament. Now, Najwa decides to return to the game at the very competition where Trina died.
Hoping to use the game as the next step in her healing and grieving process, Najwa finds herself immersed in a world she both loves and now fears. While she tries to avoid panic attacks and other players in general, she also hopes to win the tournament and gain the “Queen of the Tiles” title to honor her best friend. Somehow, however, has other ideas.
At the start of the tournament, Trina’s Instagram account is suddenly active and posting clues that suggest Trina was murdered. Who was it? And can Najwa solve both the mystery of her best friend’s death and win the tournament? You’ll just have to read to find out!
And you should read it. Queen of the Tiles is not just a mystery book. It’s also an examination of grief. While we focus on Najwa’s process, we also see insights into how others have processed Trina’s death and how it impacts their view of the game. Yes, I figured out the culprit halfway through, but I still had fun reading how the clues unfolded and how they caught the person. The insights into the world of competitive Scrabble and the use of words and definitions to move the plot along added a unique twist.
So if you’re looking for an interesting read for #AAPIHeritageMonth, you can’t go wrong with this one.
The Rita Reads 