Shehzil Malik & Illustrator
Sep 9, 2025
Hardcover Picture Book
Juvenile Fiction / Places / Middle East / Girls & Women / Sports & Recreation / Cycling
Pakistani artist and activist Shehzil Malik’s empowering picture book celebrates girls carving out the right to ride bikes, in a society where it’s traditionally been only allowed for boys.
Zoey has never ridden a bike, as most people in her part of the world feel it’s strictly for boys. So when Sophie and Maya invite her to ride with them in the park, and offer to teach her how, she’s beyond excited. And once she gets the hang of it, she falls in love with the feeling of flying on her bike. But when the girls decide to leave the security of the park and venture into the city, it does not go smoothly—the people are not used to seeing girls riding bikes! Could Zoey’s dad be right that it’s not safe for girls to ride? Or is there something the friends can do to challenge the status quo about girls on bikes?
Inspired by the author’s experiences, this empowering story shows that while the rights some of us might take for granted aren’t enjoyed by everyone, change is possible!
Zoey has never ridden a bike, as most people in her part of the world feel it’s strictly for boys. So when Sophie and Maya invite her to ride with them in the park, and offer to teach her how, she’s beyond excited. And once she gets the hang of it, she falls in love with the feeling of flying on her bike. But when the girls decide to leave the security of the park and venture into the city, it does not go smoothly—the people are not used to seeing girls riding bikes! Could Zoey’s dad be right that it’s not safe for girls to ride? Or is there something the friends can do to challenge the status quo about girls on bikes?
Inspired by the author’s experiences, this empowering story shows that while the rights some of us might take for granted aren’t enjoyed by everyone, change is possible!
