No Time Like Now

Kutub (The Loophole) explores themes of grief and love in this emotionally charged speculative novel. After Muslim 17-year-old Hazeem’s father abruptly died a year ago, Hazeem has become estranged from his neurosurgeon mother and his three former best friends, including his Yemeni American crush, Jack. Hazeem’s only companions are his paternal grandmother and his hamster, Mary Shelley. But when Nana dies, Hazeem taps into his innate magical ability, the very thing that also deteriorated his friendships: he trades some of his own lifespan to extend Nana’s. The world freezes as Time themself arrives, announcing that Hazeem has created a lifespan deficit that has broken the multiverse. To fix it, Hazeem must reclaim the years that he had given to a loved one, which would lead to their death. Time then takes Hazeem on a revelatory journey reminiscent of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, during which he learns more about his friends, his late father, and himself. While Time’s ethereal characterization often feels inconsistent, Kutub’s depiction of Hazeem’s earnest relationships build to a tender climax that is both heartrending and uplifting. Most characters are described as having brown skin. Ages 13–up. Agent: Natalie Lakosil, Looking Glass Literary. (Feb.)