The Scrollrunners

Talibah and her best friend Letes have kept a secret between them for years. As the daughter of the Head Librarian of the Library of Alexandria in Egypt around 200 BCE, Talibah has access to a wealth of knowledge strictly denied women and girls. But being the daughter of the man who oversees this haven of learning and discovery certainly has its perks. Since age eight, Talibah has been stealing, or rather, borrowing papyrus scrolls from the library and bringing them to her and Letes' most treasured place, the abandoned courtyard on the outskirts of the city that they have transformed into their own makeshift classroom. Four years later, Talibah and Letes spend all their free time in this special spot reading, writing, and unearthing life's wonders.
When one day the two girls are followed into their hiding place, they soon find themselves with a growing number of young students. Quickly overcoming their hesitations to share their secret, the two friends cultivate a flourishing place of study for those in the city who would otherwise be refused the opportunity to learn.
In this coming of age story, Talibah begins to bear more and more on her strong shoulders as she risks her safety by spreading forbidden knowledge and as she senses a growing tension in Alexandria as religious and political turmoil heighten daily. Her place in the middle of all this conflict is still unclear, but Talibah knows she must do whatever she can to empower herself, her best friend, and their new flock of outcast students.