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A kite, a wish, and a promise to touch the moon… In a place where the sky rains fire, one child’s imagination is the most powerful weapon of all.

Eleven-year-old Mariam’s world is painted in the vibrant colors of the Gaza market, the scent of her father’s old books, and the boundless sky where she and her older brother Zayn fly their kites. To Mariam, these are no ordinary kites—they are “Scribes,” writing their invisible wishes for peace upon the wind. But when the relentless conflict known as the “Iron Beast” shatters her home and school, Mariam’s childhood is stolen away.
Amid the rubble and loss, a defiant idea takes flight. After witnessing a kite soar free during an air raid, Mariam becomes convinced it is trying to carry their wish directly to the moon. She embarks on an impossible mission: to build the “Moon Scribe,” a kite strong enough to make the journey. With Zayn’s help, she inspires her community to join her, transforming scraps of survival into a tapestry of hope. But when the war claims someone she loves, Mariam’s quest for hope transforms into a fierce demand for justice.
A story for readers of The Kite Runner and The Little Girl on the Ice Floe, this deeply moving and poetic novel explores the enduring power of hope in the face of unimaginable darkness. It is a testament to the resilience of a child’s spirit and a piercing cry for a world where every child can simply be a child.


A Timely and Poignant Story: A deeply humanizing narrative that shines a light on the resilience of children living under conflict and occupation.
A Celebration of Resilience: Follow a journey from profound loss to unbreakable hope, showcasing how the smallest acts of creativity can empower an entire community.
Literary and Accessible: Written in a warm, poetic tone that balances the harsh realities of war with a sense of magic and wonder, making complex themes accessible to a wide audience.
For Fans of Impactful Fiction: Perfect for readers of Khaled Hosseini, Valérie Zenatti, and Sunjeev Sahota, who appreciate character-driven stories that tackle difficult subjects with grace and heart.

A story for readers of The Kite Runner and The Little Girl on the Ice Floe, this deeply moving and poetic novel explores the enduring power of hope in the face of unimaginable darkness. It is a testament to the resilience of a child’s spirit and a piercing cry for a world where every child can simply be a child.

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The sun, a tired ruler, sank low on the horizon, giving way to the twilight. It cast a final golden blessing over the Gaza beach, where the laughter of eleven-year-old Mariam, a girl with the sea in her heart, blended with the soft, ancient murmurs of the Mediterranean. Her brother Zayn, sixteen and tall like the cypress trees from their grandfather’s tales, stood beside her, his hands skillfully guiding the lively kite that danced and soared against the fading blue sky. “Look, Mariam,” he said, his voice warm but filled with a reverence usually reserved for sacred texts, “this kite is our Scribe, writing invisible wishes on the wind.” With every pull of the string, the kite—a dazzling patchwork of sapphire, emerald, and a bold splash of crimson—flew higher, its tail whispering secrets to the clouds. It was a living record of their hopes, a vibrant symbol of dreams yet to come, and a silent witness to the approaching challenges that would soon test the very core of their destiny.

In the days before the world’s grip tightened, life in Gaza pulsed with a gentle, enduring energy. The market was more than just a place for trade; it was a living mosaic, a symphony of life. Mariam and Zayn moved through its bustling paths daily, greeted by towering piles of spices—golden turmeric with the scent of faraway lands, deep red sumac, and earthy za’atar whose aroma wrapped around them like a warm, familiar hug.

The air was alive with the sounds of bargaining voices, the sizzling of falafel, and the steady thump-thump-thump of the tailor’s needle, stitching together the fabric of their community. Their home was a refuge filled with stories. The sweet, dusty smell of old books, their pages yellowed with age, filled the air, their spines holding the dreams of countless storytellers. Zayn’s drawings decorated the walls, each charcoal line and ink wash a love letter to their world—the wise eyes of the fishmonger, the elegant curve of a mosque’s dome, the strong lines of their father’s face.

 Their UNRWA school stood as a beacon, a fortress of hope where knowledge was the greatest form of resistance. Their father’s gentle guidance, rooted in history and tradition, blended seamlessly with Mr. Rashid’s passionate teaching, as he wove together science and poetry. “The moon,” he would say, his eyes shining, “controls the oceans. Why shouldn’t our dreams answer the same call?” In that classroom, filled with the rustle of notebooks and the light of curious minds, they dreamed boldly of a world free from fear, their futures as limitless as the sky.

Soon, however, a disturbing shadow flickered at the edge of the sun’s golden hour. As Mariam and Zayn guided their kite, called the Scribe, through the sky’s celestial script, a distant, threatening hum shattered the calm—the zenana. It was an unnatural sound, like a mechanical locust buzzing with cold purpose. A delicate, chilling shiver ran down Mariam’s spine. She glanced at Zayn and noticed a change—a brief crack in his usual composure, a tightening around his eyes as he scanned the empty horizon, his grip on the string turning white-knuckled. This iron beast, a predator from the metal sky, marked a significant shift; its presence cooled the warm air, threatening to smother their laughter with a growing sense of unease.

Yet, just as the kite traced its vibrant path across the sky, Mariam’s heart swelled with defiant hope. “Watch our Scribe, Zayn!” she urged, her voice a thin thread of light piercing the encroaching darkness. As the kite dipped and danced, it seemed to carry the very resilience of their community, the spirit of their home, and the ink of their stories. It was their lifeline—a symbol not only of freedom but of their determination to write their existence into the world and refuse to be erased.

Standing firm on the shore, their shadows stretching long in the fading light, Mariam and Zayn remained steadfast and united, their spirits intertwined like the intricate patterns trailing behind their flying Scribe. Together, they made a silent promise to the sky, the sea, and themselves: they would not let their dreams be swept away by the winds of despair.