Note: We coincidentally received two reviews for the same book, Save Me a Seat, by Gita Varadarajan and Sarah Weeks, so we’ve decided to publish them both to get two different perspectives. Review by Nandini Krishnan: We’ve all been in uncomfortable situations. For Ravi and Joe, it’s the first week of fifth grade as the book Save Me a Seat follows the trials and tribulations they face. Ravi is moving all the way from Bangalore, India to Hamilton, New Jersey. Joe has lived there all his life, but his best friends have moved away. They seem to have nothing in common at all, but soon enough they find common ground- Dillon Samreen, the most popular boy in school. Each chapter in the story alternates from Ravi’s and Joe’s perspective. The story starts on the first day of school: Ravi’s family are eager for his first day of school, but he soon realises all the differences between India and New Jersey. Besides from having an unpronounceable name, nobody can decode what he is saying because of his accent. In the cafeteria, his vegetarian packed lunches are peculiar. But Ravi is undaunted, because he knows that he and Dillon Samreen, the other Indian boy in class, will become best friends. Soon enough, Ravi realises that this may not be the case… Joe is alone without his best friends and the outlook for the coming year don’t look too good. To make things worse, his mom is becoming the cafeteria monitor. But to top it all of, Dillon is in his class, and is a bigger jerk than ever. Joe’s Auditory Processing Disorder, makes it even harder for him to make friends. How could Joe’s year possibly get better? You’ll have to read and see! This book focuses on a very important topic, on accepting differences and celebrating them instead of using them as a tool to put people down. It also beautifully displays the power of food in bringing people together! I was really able to relate to this book, because Ravi’s character comes from the same part of India as I do, and it felt really nice to read about my culture! I can also relate to him when he talks about the switch from India to the USA, because it is quite similar to how I felt when I moved from a largely monocultural school to an international one, where I had to understand how things changed and how different interactions were, but had to learn to stay true to myself and who I was and not have to change myself to fit in. I think that this a great feel good read that is suitable for anyone 9+ (although, my mom loved it too). The book brings light to some very complex issues, but makes them understandable for younger readers. My favourite part of the book, was finally seeing Joe and Ravi’s storylines merge at the end of the week. I liked how no matter how different Joe and Ravi were, they still became friends. If you are looking for an easy read, that will still make you think when you reach the end then you should definitely read this book! Review by Sarina Patel Banker: Ravi, a fifth grader at Albert Einstein elementary school, has a hard time fitting in. This is his first year at a new school, and he is not used to America. Ravi moved from India where he was “popular” and bullied kids who were different. Now, in America, he is the one who is bullied for being different. When he is hiding in the bathroom from the bully he says, “It seems I am getting a taste of my own medicine.” At the end of the book, he shares with the class his grandfather’s story of working in tea plantations and struggling, because many dangerous animals lurked nearby. I can relate to this because my Grandfather worked hard in fields in India every day to cut sugarcane. He had a dream to go to school in America. When he finally was able to come to America, he had a difficult time fitting in and was teased for his accent. Now, my Grandfather is a successful doctor in Texas. Joe, the other main character of this book is bullied by Dillon, the same boy that bullies Ravi. Joe has a hearing problem called APD, which makes your ears very sensitive to loud noises. Joe’s mom works at the school as a lunch monitor, and Dillon teases Joe about her. Over the summer, Joe’s only two friends moved away to California, and now he feels alone. Joe’s favorite time at school used to be lunch, but after his friends move away he sits by himself feeling lonely. Joe and Ravi are different people from different backgrounds, but they shared some hardships. They both feel like outcasts and are both bullied by Dillon. Though at first they are not friends, they start to support each other. By the end of the book, Joe and Ravi become good friends. Ravi says, “Winning is not always about shining brightest. Sometimes it is about sharing the light with someone who has been waiting in the shadows all along.” To me, this book is about friendship. The title Save Me A Seat captures the idea that no matter how lonely and sad you might feel, there could be someone nearby feeling the same way, who could become a good friend. It also shows how good friends look out for each other, whether it’s adjusting to a new country, dealing with a bully, or just having someone to share lunch with in the cafeteria. I highly recommend this book, and I hope you enjoy it. Save Me a Seat by Gita Varadarajan and Sarah Weeks. Scholastic Press, 2016. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you also read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? Tell us below!
All’s Faire in Middle School, Reviewed by Sabrina Guo, 11
Victoria Jamieson’s fantastic new graphic novel, All’s Faire in Middle School, tells the tale of an eleven-year-old girl named Imogene (Impy, for short) who, after being homeschooled her whole life, is entering a public school for the first time. Impy has grown up at the Renaissance Faire themed park in Florida where her father performs as a knight in jousting competitions and her mom runs a souvenir shop. Impy is finally old enough to work as a squire, an assistant to the knights, and even though some of her job is just shoveling up horse poop, she’s willing to do anything to how that she’s worthy of becoming a knight–her ultimate dream. Impy knows that knights are required to be chivalrous, honest, and brave…all traits she will need as she starts public school, which is a very frightening quest indeed! The first time she goes into the lunchroom at her new public school, she realizes that everyone is sitting with people they’ve known since elementary school, and she doesn’t know anyone. Luckily, she finds a group of seemingly-nice girls and hits it off with them. But when she is invited to one girl’s house, which is actually a mansion, Impy starts to become aware of the differences between her new friends and herself. She begins to see her own appearance in a new light, as well as her family’s weird lifestyle, and their not-so-nice-and-rich apartment. She also learns in middle school that everyone has a dragon inside. The girl who lives in a mansion starts to mock Impy for wearing different clothes and shoes than the other girls in their group. After Impy spends the money and time to buy a new outfit to fit in, her new friends start talking about how uncool it is for her to copy them. Then, Impy starts doing mean things just to fit in. After a difficult week at school, she gives into peer pressure and draws an unflattering picture of a girl named Anita who is considered the teacher’s pet. After one of Impy’s supposed ‘friends’ posts the picture all over the school, Anita sees the picture and is hurt, which makes Impy’s heart sink. Is Impy more of a dragon than a knight? Even though Impy doesn’t do the right thing, Ms. Jamieson makes Impy’s struggles relatable by showing us Impy’s insecurities and how they lead her to do things she regrets. Overall, this was a great graphic novel and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves adventurous books filled with color and vitality. The humor in this book is never-ending, like when her family embarrasses her at school and when she talks back to her ‘friends.’ I also learned many life lessons from this book; it gives a lot of good tips and on how to let your inner knight shine through and tame your inner dragon. For example, choosing the right friends plays a big part, along with having the ability to determine whether they see you as a friend too. The book also teaches you about peer pressure and how to be cautious so a similar situation doesn’t happen to you. Ms. Jamieson does a great job showing that you should not be afraid to be different from others, even if fitting in might seem like the best choice sometimes. This book shows us, through Impy’s journey through middle school, that you should not just follow others to feel accepted and in place. Being unique lets your true inner light shine through. All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson. Penguin Random House, 2017. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? If so, comment below!
Hoops: Elle of the Ball, Reviewed by Christine Chang, age 10
In Hoops: Elle of the Ball, Elle is the type of girl who would prefer basketball over dancing. Especially since she’s six feet tall at age twelve. And, for the past few months, this has worked out fine for her. But, when the new school year comes, and her new coach sees her height, she has high hopes for Elle to be a great player in a new position. Unfortunately, Elle isn’t used to being so tall! She keeps on tripping over her feet and stumbling. Not only does she have to amp up her basketball practice, but when the school announces their annual mandatory cotillion, Elle is in for a hard time. Wait, what? She is going to be dancing for a grade with a boy much shorter than her, and she’ll be performing in front of the whole school? Elle must find a way to keep up her passion for basketball and learn to please others as well. I think the author of this book, Elena Delle Donne, WNBA MVP and Olympic Gold Medalist, wrote Hoops: Elle of the Ball because Delle Donne used to be just like Elle and wanted to express how she felt and show how hard she worked to be a professional basketball player. Being a WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist, she was predictably very into basketball at Elle’s age. She might have been six feet tall at Elle’s age, and because of this, she could have been upset by people expecting her to rule the court. I wonder if it is a coincidence that Elle’s name is kind of a combination of the author’s name, Elena and Delle? This book gave me insight into different kinds of girls, how the pull of relationships and school struggles affect for girls of all ages and how everyone experiences bullying. I also learned a little about basketball. Delle Donne does her best to bring out the characters and use dialogue to make the book more interesting. However, if you appreciate more in-depth and thought provoking books, this book is most likely not for you because Elle of the Ball did not necessarily have a plot that made you care about the characters, a pronounced climax, and it did not suck me into Elle’s life. Unfortunately, I think Delle Donne’s incredible skill and talent on the basketball court did not translate well to the pages of her book. But, if you really like basketball or are looking for a fun quick-read, perhaps you can give it a shot. However, Elle of the Ball is a fun and entertaining quick read for basketball lovers everywhere, and Elle’s basketball adventures will hopefully continue on in the Hoops series for everyone who wants more books about girls and basketball, which we don’t often see nowadays. Hoops: Elle of the Ball by Elena Della Donne. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? If so, comment below!