Product Description
Some Unspoken Thing
Author: Rushdiyah Narker
Format: Paperback
Recommended for ages 15+
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 means stepping out of the shadows and into the light.
About the Author
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.
For custom orders and quotes: shop@schoolspace.co.za
© 2026 Schoolspace. This product description is the exclusive intellectual property of the publisher, protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use, adaption, or copying is strictly prohibited.
