The Golden Path of the Sun

About this book

In the 14th-century Mali Empire, eleven-year-old Aminata lives a quiet life in the trade city of Gao until her brother, Jibril, is falsely accused of theft and sold into slavery. Determined to save him, she disguises herself as a boy and stows away on Emperor Mansa Musa's legendary pilgrimage to Mecca—a caravan of sixty thousand people carrying enough gold to change the world. Amidst the chaos of the journey, she befriends Samba, a spirited griot apprentice, and Zara, a tough young camel tender. As they cross the Sahara, Aminata uncovers a conspiracy by corrupt merchants to sabotage the pilgrimage and seize control of the empire's trade routes. Facing blinding sandstorms, treacherous salt mines, and ruthless raiders, Aminata must master the secrets of desert navigation and find the courage to lead. Her journey transforms her from a lone survivor into a hero who fights not just for her brother's freedom, but for the future of her people.