Hanna Alkaf's latest young adult novel takes place in the high-pressure world of Scrabble tournaments, where teenager Najwa Bakri is trying to win the title of Queen of the Tiles while also coming to terms with the mysterious death of her best friend a year ago. As Najwa struggles to cope with her grief while also focusing on the competition, her dead friend's Instagram account starts posting cryptic messages. We discuss the thrills of a murder mystery unfolding amidst much word-nerdery, and whether the novel succeeds as a young adult novel. We close off the conversation by discussing our love for word games.  

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