Layla Karimi has been cursed by the evil eye.
Well, that’s what Layla’s superstitious grandmother tells her. And Layla reckons it makes sense as she’s sort of Australian and sort of Lebanese: a ‘halfie’ who doesn’t really fit into either world.
And when all hell breaks loose at the first beach party of the summer, Layla finds herself caught between her friends and the Lebanese kids who call themselves ‘the Cedar Army’ (of which her cousin Sufia is the Queen Bee). One group has been wrongfully accused and Layla knows the truth that would clear their name.
But will she speak up?
From the winner of the inaugural Harper Collins Matilda Prize comes a heartwarming coming-of-age story about growing up in Australia when you’re caught between two cultures. Instead of deciding which side of the fence you want to be on, maybe sitting on the fence between the two is the solution.
Half My Luck is Samera Kamaleddine’s debut novel, and it was right up my alley! I’m not a ‘halfie’, but I’m a first-generation Australian with immigrant parents. However, any teenager can relate to Layla’s character. Like most teens Layla’s age, they’re on a path of discovery, and with that comes moments of displacement and finding your identity.
Kamaleddine knows how to capture a teenage audience aged 12+. In a conversational, funny and heartwarming way, she authentically sheds light on more serious themes of bullying, racism and culture. It’s entertaining and relatable on a variety of levels.
I appreciated that while Half My Luck focuses on Layla’s story, we get a good sense many other characters and their own backstories. This complements the novel’s strong emphasis on family and friend relationships—with a dash of romance!
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