Hanna Alkaf Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Tales from Cabin 23 Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Hanna Alkaf is a published author and a mother of two. She wrote her first short story at eighteen and it was accepted into a local anthology.

Alkaf is a writer of books for young adults. She was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She considers herself to be part of the house Hufflepuff when it comes to the world of Harry Potter. She also is more of an introvert than an extrovert and considers herself a professional at it.

Alkaf may have her first novel in print in 2016, but her work has appeared many times before that. Her stories have been featured as part of different anthologies and collections.

Her first full length work of nonfiction is titled GILA. It came out in 2016. The book is a self-described journey, an exploration through madness and moods and the various facets of this topic.

The book is an intriguing collection that comes with an interesting title that draws you in. However, this is a book that examines the issues that mental health services provide. Make no mistake that it is an honest look at a variety of stories of men and women in Malaysia that live with mental illness.

These are tales never told before of those people as well as the various other individuals that work with them, care for them, campaign for them, and love them. There are stories in here from real people that might evoke feelings in you as well as a commentary and resources that may be helpful from psychiatrists, psychologists, caregivers, patients, advocates, and volunteers.

A novel unlike many other works of nonfiction, this is an honest look at the way that mental health is seen and even lived in a country such as Malaysia. There are instances in one case of a young man, certain that he is being trailed and his every move followed by spies. Or the daughter whose mother is doing whatever she can to try and help her get over the many voices echoing in her head.

Check out the story of the psychiatrist as well, doing everything that he can to try and get patients of his out of the literal chains binding them. Then there is a woman that just like Jesus thinks that she can also walk on the water. This may be a problem still for her as the laws of gravity and the universe still continue to be in effect.

This is a telescope into the industry of mental health in Malaysia, a world that is not often discussed or seen in any real detail. Never pulling any punches and bound to teach you something new about mental health, people, Malaysia, and more. Covering all of the prevalent types of mental illness and illustrating an entire world using colorful and true stories, this is a book that stands alone in its unique scope and topic.

If you’re looking for an engaging nonfiction book that will educate you as well as at times interest you with the many personal anecdotes from those featured and the different stories that are told, this is the one for you. The author includes in this book some tips for telling whether the mental health professional you are consulting is the right fit for you and what should and should not be said to someone that has a mental illness.

Whether you know someone struggling with mental illness, are yourself invested in the struggle, or just want to find out more about the topic, you can do so by checking out GILA, a fascinating book from Alkaf that takes a look at a place where mental illness may be on the rise but speaking about the topic is frequently taboo and care is sometimes scarce.

Her second full length book is being published by Salaam Reads and Simon & Schuster. It is fiction and is titled The Weight of Our Sky. In this story from author Hanna Alkaf, readers get to meet the main character of Melati Ahmad for the first time. This teen is pretty much just like any other teenager. She goes to the movies and loves listening to music, particularly The Beatles.

Melati may seem like other teens her age, but this sixteen year old is different from other girls and guys her age in an interesting way. She thinks that she has a djinn that is inside her. She thinks that it is constantly threatening her by showing her the images of her mother dying, horrific pictures that will happen unless Mel does certain things.

As a result she is constantly practicing a ritual that is painstakingly involving to try and stop this from happening. Elaborate and compulsive, her tapping and counting must be done to try and satisfy the djinn and keep him from killing her mother.

This is what would be recognized as obsessive compulsive disorder, but does it go deeper than that? She may love music, but that is about the only thing that is defining Mel as having something in common with her peers around her right now. She is doing everything that she can to try and get back to her mom during a time of unrest.

This is Malaysia during the 1969 race riots and mental health and historical events collide in this thrilling fictional work. The city suddenly finds itself in the middle of race riots, violent clashes going on everywhere between the Malay and the Chinese. It was supposed to be an after school trip going to watch a movie for them, but it quickly evolves into a terrible experience.

Gangsters end up entering the cinemas and hold everyone hostage. Mel is herself Malay. She ends up being rescued by a woman who is Chinese, but her closest friend must be left behind. She ends up being a personal witness to the riots and their devastating aftermath.

Mel finds out her mother was called to work as a nurse to help with the hospital’s demands. She must make her way alone until she gets back to her. But will the djinn keep her from coping? Read this intriguing novel to find out!