The Eleventh Trade

From debut author Alyssa Hollingsworth comes a moving middle-grade story about living with fear, being a friend, and finding a new place to call home.

They say you can't get something for nothing, but nothing is all Sami has. When his grandfather’s most-prized possession—a traditional Afghan instrument called a rebab—is stolen, Sami resolves to get it back. He finds it at a music store, but it costs $700, and Sami doesn’t have even one penny. What he does have is a keychain that has caught the eye of his classmate. If he trades the keychain for something more valuable, could he keep trading until he has $700? Sami is about to find out.

The Eleventh Trade is both a classic middle school story and a story about being a refugee. Like Katherine Applegate, author of Wishtree, Alyssa Hollingsworth tackles a big issue with a light touch.

"A heartwarming story of life as a refugee, about friendship, overcoming tragedy, and an exciting quest. A classic book relevant to the events in the world today." —Jess Butterworth, author of Running on the Roof of the World

"[The Eleventh Trade] sensitively portrays the contemporary challenges faced by refugees plagued by impossibly difficult experiences to work through and the ways friends can help them find a new home." —The Bulletin, starred review

"A moving debut about music and the power of community." —Booklist

"Sami’s story sheds light on the special challenges, determination, faith, resilience, and post-traumatic stress that impact and shape the lives of many refugees. —School Library Journal