The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi

 

Over the weekend, I read The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi. This realistic fiction novel is about Mahnoor "Maha" Raheem, a twelve-year-old Pakistani American girl who loves journalism. Over winter break, Maha's grandmother, Dadi, comes from Pakistan to move in with her and her family. At first, Maha hates the idea of spending time with Dadi after school and at the senior activity center on Saturdays. She's also struggling to come with a topic for her documentary for her media studies class, but as Dadi begins talking about her own childhood and how she had to move with her family from India to Pakistan after the Partition in 1947, Maha is fascinated by the Partition and decides to use the topic for her documentary. As the weeks go by, making the documentary starts to take over her life and she has to learn how to balance family, friendship, and school work.

Overall, I thought this book was fantastic. I enjoyed learning more about the Partition, a lesser known historical event here in the U.S., and following Maha's progress for making a documentary about it. I loved her passion, but not how it distracted her from her best friend, Kim Hoang, and their book report for English class. I also found her unlikable at times because of how dismissive she was of fiction, particularly fantasy. On the other hand, I did like how she befriended Ahmad Mirza, the new boy in her grade who moved from Pakistan. I think they had a lot in common because of their shared cultural background. Additionally, I appreciated how her media studies teacher, Mr. Goode, pushed her to think about media studies in new and different ways. He was definitely a great teacher. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention her relationship with Dadi, though. Although Maha is initially reluctant to hang out with Dadi, it was beautiful how they connected as Dadi told Maha stories from her childhood when she was the same age as Maha. Because the stories are tragic, painful, and scary at times, I did wonder a bit about how Dadi would feel about Maha sharing the stories in her documentary, but I figured it would work out even if there was some conflict. Finally, it was nice how Dadi moving in brought Maha closer with her parents and older brother, Talha. In conclusion, The Partition Project is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys family and friendship stories that demonstrate the links between the present and the past.

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko

 

Last week, I read The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko. This realistic fiction novel is about Hank Hooperman, an eleven-year-old boy whose mom often leaves him in charge of his three-year-old sister, Boo. Hank hates making mistakes, but when his mom doesn't come back after several days and the apartment manager lets them know they're being evicted the next morning, he decides to take a bus with Boo to find Lou Ann Adler, the woman listed as an emergency contact on his field trip form. Although Hank finds it hard adjusting to Lou Ann's rules at first, Boo thrives while they're living with her. Hank is also anxious about what will happen if Lou Ann decides she doesn't want them anymore, but their time with Lou Ann goes from days to weeks and Hank begins making friends and getting involved at his new school and connects with Lou Ann's neighbor, Ray. Hank desperately misses his mom, so he tries to find her with Ray's help. His search isn't initially successful, but soon he has a breakthrough and must decide if living with his mom is the right thing or a huge mistake for himself and Boo.

This novel deals with some tough stuff, like child neglect, but I enjoyed reading it. I thought Hank's relationship with Boo was adorable and felt so bad that they have a mom who just can't keep it together. They definitely deserved a better life, but I wasn't sure if it would be with their mom, Lou Ann, or someone else. As I read the story and Ray became like a father figure to Hank, I began to realize that he might be a good option for them, but things got pretty tense and I definitely wasn't positive where Hank and Boo would find a home or if they would even be able to stay together. I also liked Hank's new friends, especially Ana Lopez because I thought their crushes on each other were sweet. On the other hand, I found Lou Ann to be a difficult woman to like because of her skepticism about Hank even though she was what Boo needed at the time, helping her learn to go to the bathroom consistently and write her name. Besides that, I thought it was cool that Hank discovered that he was good at basketball and wanted to try out for the team. I hoped that would work out for him because it was a way he could just be a kid after all he's been through. The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman is an excellent story about what it's like to experience neglect, homelessness, and the foster care system as a kid, and I would recommend it to anyone, especially those who are having a rough time at home to let them know that they're not alone.

365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr.

 

Last week, I read 365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr. This realistic fiction novel is about Rigel Harman, an eleven-year-old girl who loves living in the wilderness of Alaska. After her parents, Bear and Lila, divorce during the summer, Lila takes Rigel and her two sisters, Willow and Izzy, to Baldwin, Connecticut, to live with their grandma. Before they leave, Bear promises Rigel that she can return to Alaska in a year as long as she keeps it a secret from everyone else until he can talk to Lila about it. Rigel hates living in Connecticut at first, especially because it's challenging making new friends and the food isn't as good, but she finds joy in taking care of an injured crow outside her new school by feeding it whenever she can. As the months go by and Bear's communication with her and her sisters decreases, she wonders whether or not Bear will really keep his promise and if she'll have adjust to living in the suburbs more permanently.

I was really looking forward to reading 365 Days to Alaska because its main characters are from Alaska, so I wasn't surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Although I've never had to move as far from home as Rigel, I could relate to her struggles because I moved from Ohio to Illinois at a similar age. My favorite part of the whole book was her friendship with the crow whom she named Blueberry. This friendship was definitely the emotional core of the story for me and I got a bit teary-eyed near the end knowing it couldn't last. It also felt poignant how her relationship with her dad, Bear, changed as time went on and she began to realize that not going back to Alaska the next summer was a real possibility. I love that Rigel eventually found some friends among her classmates, though, because she was having a rough go of it before she received a surprise Christmas gift. 365 Days to Alaska is a wonderful story about truth, belonging, and discovering beauty anywhere and anyone who enjoys family and friendship stories should read it.

Summer Reading 2026

 

Welcome back to school, everyone! Here is an update of the middle grade and YA books I read over summer break. Early in June, I finished reading Magic Has No Borders edited by Sona Charaipotra & Samira Ahmed. This story collection features a wide range of fantasy and science fiction tales that reimagine South Asian folklore, legends, and epics. Some of the stories take place in the past, while others take place in the present or the future. All of them are by bestselling, award-winning, and emerging writers who have roots in southern Asia. The stories in this collection were quite enjoyable and I especially like that each one had an illustration after its ending. I didn't expect that when I decided to read this book. I also feel like I learned more about South Asia culture although I had some background knowledge from taking an Asian mythology class in college. Anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure should read this story collection. I can't recommend it enough. Some of my favorite stories were "Kiss Me Goodbye" by Tracey Baptiste, "Chudail" by Nikita Gill, "A Goddess of Fire and Blood" by Tanaz Bhathena, "Infinite Drift" by Olivia Chadha, "Dismantle the Sun" by Sangu Mandanna, "Shamsuddin-Jalal" by Tahir Abrar, "Poetry of Earth" by Swati Teerdhala, and "Mirch, Masala, and Magic" by Nafiza Azad.

In June, I also read Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger. Taking place decades after Sheine Lende, this paranormal fantasy is about Elatsoe "Ellie" Bride, a seventeen-year-old Lipan Apache girl who can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill that has been passed down through generations of her family. When her beloved cousin, Trevor, is mysteriously murdered in what appears to be a car accident, Ellie decides to investigate with her dog, Kirby, and her best friend, Jay. As they uncovered the truth about Dr. Abraham Allerton, the father of one of Trevor's students, and the seemingly perfect town of Willowbee where he lives, Ellie must also protect her family and friends. I was really excited to read this novel after I finished reading Sheine Lende back in May, and it did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed Ellie's determination to find out what really happened to Trevor, and Jay was great comic relief. Given the combination of fantasy and mystery elements, the story was quite tense, especially towards the end during the climax because Dr. Allerton wasn't the only antagonist after a plot twist that was heavily foreshadowed. If you like fantasy and mystery or have already read Sheine Lende, like I had, you should definitely check Elatsoe out!

Additionally, I started reading The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare this summer. This paranormal fantasy series is about Clary Fray, a soon-to-be sixteen-year-old girl who learns that the world is protected from demons by a group of warriors called the Shadowhunters. In the first book, City of Bones, she witnesses a murder at the Pandemonium Club in New York City. Because she shouldn't have been able to see the murder, Jace Wayland, a seventeen-year-old Shadowhunter she met that night, brings her into his world. After her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon, she has to figure out why they're being targeted because she always thought that they were normal. She also feels an undeniable attraction to Jace. Then, in City of Ashes, the second book, someone in New York City is murdering young vampires, werewolves, and faeries. The Inquisitor accuses Jace, so Clary must track down who is actually responsible for the killings. In the next book, City of Glass, Clary is still working towards saving her mom. To find the person who knows how, she travels to Alicante, the capital of Idris, where she learns more about her family's past and encounters Sebastian, a mysterious Shadowhunter who seems to be an ally.

I'm about halfway through this series and it has been thrilling and absolutely wonderful. I adore the world-building and the romance between Clary and Jace, even though it seems impossible for a while because of the reveal at the end of City of Bones. I have watched the movie and the TV series, so I wasn't completely unfamiliar with the story, but the movie only covers the first book and it's been a while since I saw the show. I was definitely getting impatient for Clary and Jace to realize that the villain lied to them. Anyways, the fight scenes are excellent and I like the growth of the characters so far, including Clary's best friend, Simon. I can't wait to finish the rest of the series. It's the perfect choice for anyone who enjoys paranormal fantasy and romance.

In July, I read an advance reader copy (ARC) of The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth, which is not officially released until October 6! This dystopian novel takes place in an alternate universe of the Divergent series. Instead of leaving Abnegation and her family by joining Dauntless, Beatrice "Tris" Prior makes a different choice during her Choosing Ceremony after tragedy strikes and she loses a friend. Although she tries hard to make it work, it's not the right fit, especially when she can't lie to herself about what her father tried to do to her. With her mother's support, she decides to become Factionless. Being Factionless has its own challenges, but she makes new friends and connects with Four, a Dauntless boy who happened to help rescue her during the attack on the Choosing Ceremony. As Tris learns secrets about both the five factions and the Factionless, she must decide which side she's on.

Because I enjoyed reading the Divergent series years ago, I was ecstatic to revisit the universe when I learned about the new duology and snagged an ARC in June at the ALA Annual Conference. So far, I think it's even better than the original series, although I'm still very anxious that it will end the same way. I'm not going to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything about either version of the series, but the progression of Tris and Four's relationship is a lot more satisfying in The Sixth Faction. I found Insurgent, the second book in the Divergent series, frustrating, even if the third book, Allegiant, was a huge improvement on that front. Also, I expected events to occur differently, but I was blown away by the huge twist at the end and desperately want to talk about it with someone. Anyone who liked the original series or is a fan of dystopian science fiction should read The Sixth Faction.

Last week, I read Worst-Case Collin by Rebecca Caprara. This realistic fiction novel in verse is about Collin, a twelve-year-old boy whose mother died in a tragic car accident. Because he's worried about another incident happening and wants to be better prepared, he keeps a worst-case scenario handbook. His best friends, Liam and Georgia, even nickname him Worst-Case Collin. Although his handbook covers many disasters, like avalanches, earthquakes, and riptides, and he uses swimming as a refuge, he still struggles with avoiding bullies, hiding his dad's hoarding habits from everyone, and telling Georgia he likes her more than a friend. As summer break approaches, Collin dreads having to spend more time at home where his dad just keeps accumulating more and more junk and the living conditions become increasingly unbearable. When another disaster strikes, Collin must find a way to be honest with his loved ones.

This novel was an emotional read in which family and friendship were major themes along with mental health and bullying. I like that it was in verse because the format let Collin's personality shine. The story itself dealt with hoarding, which is a mental health issue I've never encountered in fiction before, even though my maternal grandmother suffered from a form of it. I enjoyed Collin's friendship with Liam and Georgia and thought it was pretty cool that they were all on the swim team. On the other hand, the relationship between Collin and his father made me feel very sad. I know from experience that it can be hard when a parent has a mental health issue that he isn't acknowledging. Through the writing, the growing distance between the Collin and his dad was a tangible thing, even though I could tell that they still loved each other very much, especially when they went out to eat together. It was also interesting how they responded differently to the death of Collin's mom: Collin through his worst-case scenario handbook to cope with anxiety and his dad through hoarding stuff he doesn't need and letting the the disorganization of their house get out of control. Finally, I thought the climax was terrifying because it tied into one of my greatest fears, but it didn't surprise me because of how bad the situation had gotten in Collin's home. Overall, I definitely recommend Worst-Case Collin to any kid who has a parent who's struggling.

Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger

 

Over the last few days, I read Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger. The prequel to Elatsoe, this fantasy novel is about Shane, a seventeen-year-old Lipan Apache girl who helps her mom, Lorenza, track down missing persons with their two living dogs, Neal and Nealey, and ghost dog, Nellie, in an alternate version of 1970s Texas in which extradimensional magic and supernatural beings, like fae and vampires, exist. When two siblings, Donnie and Bobby Park, vanish along the railroad tracks running behind their house in Less Crossing, Lorenza leaves to investigate but disappears herself. With the help of her younger brother, Marcos, and unreliable Grandpa Louis, they discover a mysterious group of mimic rings that look like fairy rings. Although Shane is able to find Donnie quickly in the Ozarks when she is accidentally transported by one of the mimic rings, Bobby and Lorenza are still missing. Over the next week, Shane, Marcos, Grandpa Louis, Donnie, Donnie's grandparents, and Shane's friend, Amelia, work together to figure out where Bobby and Lorenza are, or if they're even together, and rescue them. As they learn more from the people they meet along their journey, Shane begins to realize that Bobby and Lorenza may not be anywhere in this world or place in time.

Although I generally like books that mix fantasy and mystery elements, I was a tiny bit apprehensive before reading this book, but it was much better than I expected. I especially loved the world building, which was inspired by Lipan Apache oral history. Shane was an amazing character and I admired her determination to find her mom and Bobby no matter what it took. Her story was especially emotional because her family was displaced after Hurricane Alda flooded their home in la rancheria de los Lipanes and her father and three of her grandparents soon passed away. I also liked how the story took Shane to different parts of America. The road trip to Tanner, Colorado, was especially revealing because they visited the location of the Longfire Incident with Dr. Richards, a man who had done biological research relating to what exactly happened there. Additionally, I enjoyed Shane's friendships with Donnie and Amelia and her relationship with Marcos, and it felt realistic when she confronted Grandpa Louis about abandoning her family. The one part of Sheine Lende that I'm not sure how I feel about is the very end because I found it somewhat cryptic regarding Shane's mom. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm not going to say anything else besides that I did like how the epilogue connected to Elatsoe, the original book in the series. The line drawings at the beginning of each chapter were a nice touch, as well. Finally, I read an advance uncorrected proof and there's a note on the title in the back of the book. As a young adult fantasy, I recommend Sheine Lende to mature middle school students who enjoy fantastical stories that mix mystery and adventure with alternate history.

Facing the Enemy: How a Nazi Youth Camp in America Tested a Friendship

 

Over the weekend, I read Facing the Enemy: How a Nazi Youth Camp in America Tested a Friendship by Barbara Krasner. This historical fiction novel in verse is about Tommy Anspach and Benjy Puterman, two teenage boys who are growing up in Newark, New Jersey, in the 1930s. Despite the fact that Benjy is Jewish American and Tommy is German American, they are best friends, at least until Tommy's dad forces him to start going to Camp Nordland, a camp for kids with German parents that opens in July 1937. Tommy doesn't realize that it's a Nazi youth camp, but he quickly learns that Jews are the enemy. Meanwhile, Benjy is hurt by the loss of his best friend and decides to form a version of the Newark Minutemen, an anti-Nazi vigilante group, for teens to help close down Camp Nordland. Over the next few years, Benjy hopes that Tommy will abandon his extremist beliefs so that they can be friends again, but they continue to grow apart until a series of events convinces Tommy to run away from the camp.

This book was such a compelling read and I devoured it because I had no idea there were actual Nazi youth camps in the United States during the late 1930s and early 1940s. I enjoyed how the author told the story from both Benjy's and Tommy's perspectives because it showed the impact of Nazism on young people on both sides. It's a highly relevant topic these days because I've heard about teenage boys being exposed to right-wing extremism on the Internet. It seems like although the methods have changed, young people have always been targeted by those who don't have their best interests at heart. I thought that was interesting. It was heartbreaking as Benjy fought for their friendship, even though Tommy refused him so many times. There were definitely moments I wasn't sure if it was worth it because Tommy said some things that were downright cruel. I desperately wanted them to repair their friendship, though, and continued to hope that Tommy would see the light. The climax of the story was actually pretty terrifying, revealing just how horrible the camps were, but it showed how Benjy would do anything for Tommy. Benjy's courage and forgiveness were definitely the highlights of the story. I also liked how some of the poems gave historical context to the story by describing what was happening in Europe at the time. The copy I read is an advance uncorrected proof and the back matter includes an epilogue describing what happened after Camp Nordland closed, images, an author's note explaining her inspiration, a glossary, a timeline of events, source notes, a bibliography, a list for further reading/viewing, and picture credits. Facing the Enemy is a powerful story and anyone who enjoys friendship stories and/or World War II fiction should read it.

You Are Here: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh

 

This week, I read You Are Here: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh. This realistic fiction story collection is about twelve young Asian Americans who all happen to be in a crowded Chicago airport on the same date when flights are delayed and cancelled due to a thunderstorm. The series of events kicks off when Paul's grandma brings her late husband's ashes in a coffee canister through the TSA checkpoint without declaring what she's carrying to an airport official. Paul's sister, Jessie, wanders off by herself in the midst of the chaos and rumors begins to spread throughout the airport, impacting the young Asian Americans and their families. As their paths cross in the airport, they meet fellow travelers that are helpful or hostile and grow from their experiences, discovering courage and belonging.

This book was such a fun read because it reminded me of Grounded by Aisha Saeed, Huda Al-Marashi, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, and S.K. Ali, a book I read two years ago. Airports are definitely a great setting for a story because a lot of crazy events can happen. While Grounded is about Muslim kids, You Are Here focuses on kids whose family roots are in East and Southeast Asia. Unlike most of the story collections I've read, all of the stories in You Are Here are interconnected. It's similar to a traditional novel, but a different author wrote each of the chapters. You definitely can't skip any because the main character from one story may make a cameo appearance in one or more of the other stories. I also liked how several of characters found the courage to stand up to racism even though they're just kids. Some of the characters needed courage to speak up to family and friends, as well. For example, Mindy wasn't ready to go to Korea with her dads and Natalie got into a serious argument with her friend, Beth. While I enjoyed all the stories, the one with the most unique format was Ari's, narrated completely in lists. Out of the boys, I loved Paul's relationship with his grandma and Jae made the right decision to leave the employee break room to look for Jessie and return her to her family, even though he didn't have permission. Jae's interactions with Jessie were very sweet and I was relieved when he wasn't in too much trouble after the ordeal. The stories demonstrate how Asian Americans have variety of interests, too. While Lee plays guitar, AJ plays basketball, as just two examples. The last story, which is about Soojin, ties everything together nicely and is among the most emotional in the collection. I felt so bad that Soojin and her mom were moving to Korea even though Soojin really didn't want to leave her dad and New York. For most of the story, I wasn't sure that things would work out in her favor, but the climax ended up being fantastic. Finally, I would like to note that You Are Here factors in the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Asian Americans, which I think was very important to show because it's been a huge part of their experiences in recent years. At the end of the book, there is a note from the editor that explains the inspiration behind this story collection. Overall, You Are Here is a wonderful choice for anyone and can be an excellent conversation starter between children and adults.