Up to Miracles

About the Book

Alex is looking forward to the Christmas party but is a little disappointed when his parents tell him he has to look after his little sister, Annie. Nonetheless, they attend the party near their home. However, when Alex insults Santa Claus, the brother and sister find themselves thrust into a world where fairy tales are real and miracles are just a part of everyday life. Alex suddenly finds himself in the role of guardian to his little sister, and he must protect her throughout their long perilous journey through a strange world. As they make their way through an exotic, magical world, they are surrounded by the weirdest of creatures—dragons, trolls, unicorns, witches, and queens. They learn that some are foes but others are friends. They find themselves shanghaied into a war between the queens of the four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Even more eerie is the fact that many of those they meet seem to know all about them and why they ended up here in the first place. But no one is too willing to share this information with the siblings, for how else would the children learn their lesson? Forced to grow up, Alex takes charge of the situation. He knows only two things for sure: that he is responsible for the safety and well-being of his little sister and that they have to find a way to return to their parents. It’s not a small feat since they have no idea where they really are. Will they be able to find their way back home? Will they ever be allowed to return? Alex refuses to lose hope, and Ann refuses to lose faith. They got here somehow—so there must be a way back . . . right?

About the Author

Zeynab Salimova was born and raised in Baku, Azerbaijan. Ms. Salimova and her family were destined to leave their homeland and settle in New York.

Back home in Baku, Ms. Salimova published several collections of lyrical poems and in 2006 she became a member of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers. When she moved to the United States she started experiencing the feelings of nostalgia for her homeland. Along with the nostalgia she was plunged into the new life in the United States that was, in the beginning, challenging, but at the same time, interesting, absorbing and fascinating. All those sundry feelings and emotions pushed her to write her first novel The Garnet Bunches. The novel was published in 2017, in English and Russian languages, in the United States and Russia. After The Garnet Bunches Ms. Salimova, inspired by her children, decided to write a children’s book Up to Miracles: A Stone’s Throw from a Fairy Tale. The children’s book was published in English and Russian languages in the United States and Russia, in 2018.

Depending on the inspiration the author writes poetry and prose. Zeynab Salimova holds Ph.D. and MBA degrees and is a member of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers.