Penguin Random House South Africa

Categories: Children, Children's Fiction, Local Non-Fiction, Young Adult
ISBN: 9780637007955
Published: August 2025
Imprint: Penguin Books (South Africa)
Page Extent: 280
Format: e-Book
RRP 245.00

Some Unspoken Thing

Rushdiyah Narker

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About the book

THE BOOK

In the shadows of friendship, can love illuminate the way?

Maryam, a 16-year-old girl from Cape Town, has always been the quiet observer, content to let her vibrant best friend, Tauhier, take the spotlight. But when Fuad, the charismatic heartthrob of their friend group, begins to notice her, Maryam finds herself caught in a whirlwind of curiosity, fear, and excitement. Each interaction with Fuad feels like an insurmountable challenge—until Tauhier steps in to help.

Set against the backdrop of 1990s Cape Town, Maryam must navigate the complexities of first love, cultural expectations, and her own insecurities. As she grapples with her feelings, she must decide if she has the courage to let her heart lead the way, even if it...

About the Author

Rushdiyah Narker

Rushdiyah Narker

Rushdiyah Narker is a Cape Town-based author who drafts stories that focus on love, culture, and identity. Growing up surrounded by her parents, helping with wedding planning and having worked as an entrepreneur in the wedding industry for over 10 years, she's always been drawn to the stories that unfold around her. While pursuing a master's degree in social anthropology, she discovered a passion for writing about her community through fiction. She writes to bring these voices to life, drawing on their lived narratives and sometimes adding a touch of other worlds to her stories.

She is the winner of the SFFSA NOVA 2025 competition, a 2025 Komadagga Short Story Resident and the founder of Wordsmiths Guild Writing Group. When she's not writing or studying, she's living her own friends to lovers' story with her husband, four daughters and their five cats.

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