New Arrival/New American Books

Written by Saadia Faruqi
Illustrated by Laura Shovan
Published by Clarion Books

Sixth graders Sara and Elizabeth could not be more different. Sara is at a new school that is completely unlike the small Islamic school she used to attend. Elizabeth has her own problems: her British mum has been struggling with depression. The girls meet in an after-school South Asian cooking class, which Elizabeth takes because her mom has stopped cooking, and which Sara, who hates to cook, is forced to attend because her mother is the teacher. The girls form a shaky alliance that gradually deepens, and they make plans to create the most amazing, mouth-watering cross-cultural dish together and win a spot on a local food show. They make good cooking partners . . . but can they learn to trust each other enough to become true friends?

Primary ISBN: 9780358116684
Publication Date: August 2020
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 10 or older

Community Represented: Muslim/Muslim American, Pakistani/Pakistani American

Themes: Allyship, Audiobook, Cross-Group Friendship, Discrimination: Racial, Family Relationship: Parents, Generation: 1st, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Religious Background: Jewish, Religious Background: Muslim

Setting: United States

Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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