  | Magical reality of Nadia (Magical Reality Of Nadia) Author: Yusuf, Basim | |
| Price: $20.48 | ||
Summary:
Nadia loves fun facts. She plans to win the contest to design a new exhibit at the local museum. But then a new kid shows up and teases Nadia about her Egyptian heritage. It's totally unexpected, and totally throws her off her game. And something else happens that Nadia can't explain: Her amulet starts glowing! She soon discovers that the hippo is holding a helpful -- and hilarious -- secret.
| Added Entry - Personal Name: | Daly-Weir, Catherine |
| Illustrator: | Holgate, Douglas |
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| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.50 Points: 4.0 Quiz: 511296 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (01/01/21)
School Library Journal (+) (01/29/21)
Booklist (02/01/21)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 01/29/2021 Gr 4–6—Twelve-year-old Nadia is proud of her Egyptian heritage, loves school, and is ready to rock sixth grade flanked by her friends in the Nerd Squad. But when she discovers a magical teacher in an amulet she brought home from Egypt as a souvenir, everything starts to change. All she wanted was to create a winning presentation for the question, "What makes America, America?" Instead, a new kid comes between her and her BFF, she's bullied, and even the Nerd Squad is unhappy with her. Can Nadia find a way to restore her friendships? This lighthearted read bubbles with jokes, magic, comics, and the ever-persistent issues of friendship and personal identity. And yet, the cheerful tone belies deep messages of acceptance and understanding that are brought beautifully to life. The final message readers take home, "Unless you are Native American, we all have an immigrant story in our past," clearly resounds throughout this expertly crafted lesson disguised as a fantastical story about middle school life. VERDICT Whimsically packaged into a relatable tale, the message to celebrate diversity and identity comes through loud and clear in this must-buy for collections serving young readers.—Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Sch., NE - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 02/01/2021 After sixth-grader Nadia reunites with her diverse “Nerd Crew” of likeminded friends, they enter a competition to design a display for the local museum, with the theme “What Makes America, America?” The group decides to tell the story of their origins: one is from India, others have Caribbean and Korean roots, and Nadia’s family came to California from Egypt. She takes pride in her heritage, but when a new kid joins the crew and teases her about it, she must figure out how to handle bullying, manage friendships, and win the contest—and deal with the ancient Egyptian spirit she accidentally releases. Youssef based the novel on his daughter’s experience moving to the U.S. from Egypt, and the labor of love comes through, sweet and silly. The bullying on display isn’t the threatening kind; the new kid is popular and often terrifically funny, but his hurtful humor cuts down those around him. Nadia isn’t perfect, but she handles the hurdles with grace, making this a poignant ode to the American ideals of blended culture and community. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
