Sita, Snake-Queen of Speed

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

When Yosser's best friend, Kylie, comes back from Thrill City she is full of amazing stories about the best ride there - Sita, Snake-Queen of Speed. Yosser knows that she MUST go on the ride but there is no way Dad will pay for such an expensive day-trip. Her only chance is to earn enough money to go. But how? An opportunity presents itself when Kylie's dad's prize ferret, Thunderball Silver the Third, mysteriously goes missing just days before the Grand Ferret Championships. Yosser and Kylie must find a way to catch Thunderball (and the thief!) and make enough money to make their dream come true.

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Kirkus Book Review

Yosser, a Muslim girl pictured with a hijab, and Kylie, with streaked hair, are best friends in their last year of English primary school. When Yosser becomes obsessed with Sita, Snake-Queen of Speed, the most terrifying ride at Thrill City, she and Kylie don rubber snakes--and rubber gloves to search for treasure to finance a trip. They don't find treasure, but they do find Kylie's father's missing prize ferret, stolen by a rival before the Grand Championships. They are, after all, Sita's Fearless Band of Snake-Warriors. Of perhaps greater import, what is Yosser to do about the entrance exam for secondary school? Should she do well, perhaps well enough to earn a scholarship so her family has money left over? Or fail on purpose, so she can stay with her friend? Although some of the vocabulary and details of Pakistani immigrant life in England may be unfamiliar, this simple story of friendship will resonate with American middle-grade girls who can understand her moral dilemma and identify with her passionate longing to visit an amusement park. (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.