Books like The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

Melati Ahmad, a Malaysian teenager obsessed with the Beatles, believes a djinn dwells within her, threatening her with nightmarish visions unless she performs relentless rituals. When violent race riots erupt between Chinese and Malay communities, Melatus’ ordinary day at the movies turns into a desperate survival story. Forced into the chaos, she is rescued from a hostage situation by a Chinese woman, yet the cost is heartbreaking when her best friend is left behind to die. As the city spirals, Mel sees the devastation firsthand—hospital morgues swamped by bodies and a mother, a nurse, pulled into the grim work of healing. Determined to stay alive, she relies on the kindness of strangers while her mind battles the djinn’s relentless pressure. The novel explores mental illness, racial tension, and the resilience of young people in crisis.

First publish date: 2019