A Place at the Table by Laura Shovan and Saadia Faruqi

 

Title: A Place at the Table by Laura Shovan and Saadia Faruqi

Reader: Shibani, grade 7

Rating: 5 Stars

In A Place at the Table, two completely different girls meet through a cooking class at their middle school. They both are the daughters of immigrants and face problems in their family, like money and mental health, but they figure out that they can help each other solve them. Together, they realize they do not have to face everything alone. This fun read features Sara, a Pakistani American, and Elizabeth, a Jew, as they find that their new friendship can help them get through the challenges they meet. 

 

I particularly liked how realistic this book was. The dialogue added to the characters' personalities and allowed many middle-schoolers to relate with the characters. The story was engaging and funny, but also sad at times. It explores the themes of family and friendship, and also addresses mental health and racism. My favorite aspect of Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan's writing is the attention to detail. People, feelings, and important objects are described beautifully and in-depth, helping to better portray the message.

 

In conclusion, A Place at the Table is a beautiful novel that I would definitely recommend. I would suggest this tale of friendship to fans of Realistic Fiction and middle-schoolers. 

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée

Title: A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee

Reader: Shibani, grade 7

Rating: 4 Stars

A Good Kind of Trouble is the inspiring story of a girl entering junior high who finds herself finally standing up for what's right. Shayla has always avoided trouble and tried to follow the rules. When she experiences a powerful Black Lives Matter protest, she follows in her sister's footsteps and raises awareness at her school. As she makes an effort to support Black Lives Matter, she breaks a couple of rules along the way and faces her fear of doing the wrong thing. 

 

As the protagonist develops and grows throughout the book, A Good Kind of Trouble explores the themes of friendship, injustice, and self-discovery. The author, Lisa Ramee, does a great job of creating realistic dialogue, enhancing the book's themes. Shayla navigates through different problems that arise, like new activities and changing companions. I particularly liked that she felt natural to me in this book, and it was easy to connect with the characters. I loved how this book defies stereotypes and addresses the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

 

Overall, this book is an incredible and touching read, great for fans of realistic fiction novels and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I give this book a star rating of 4 stars and would recommend it!