Tanya Athar-Jogee (IMC03)

2014: When a knock comes in the half-light before dawn in a slum in Karachi, Pakistan, the lives of 19-year-old Goha and his family are about to change forever.

Lured by a tantalizing opportunity to work for a secret organization that will release his family from poverty, Goha leaves his parents behind for the tribal areas up North. But as he learns about the organization’s core beliefs and activities, his excitement starts to fade. His courage is tested when he is coerced into a physical relationship with his superior and faces other agonizing moral dilemmas and violence—all while falling in love with the local imam’s stunning ex-wife.

Rife with suspense and rich characters, Tiny Glimmers of Light explores themes of identity, sexuality, religious nuances, class hierarchies, extremism, and institutional corruption. It will keep readers on edge as Goha faces threats to his survival and his family’s fortune.

Hundreds of Urdu words bring a tumultuous Pakistan alive on the pages while immersing readers fully into the country’s diverse geography, languages, and gender roles. The story will appeal to anyone craving a deeper understanding of the temptations faced by a hard-working, lower-class family to improve the circumstances of their lives.