Right on the heels of an intense novel, I read this gem of a middle grade book. It deals with serious issues but takes a warm approach. I appreciated the main character and her loving family. ( )

Great contemporary re-imagining of Little Women, set in a Pakistani-American household. As with Khan's other books, the characters are strong and engaging, the settings are realistic, and the story is very well done. ( )

Seventh grader Jameela is starting out the school year as the features editor for her school newspaper and with a new friend in Ali, who recently immigrated from England. But on the home front, things are less rosy. Jameela's father has to take a new job that will require him to be halfway across the world in Abu Dhabi for six months. And then everything comes crashing down when Jameela's beloved younger sister Bisma is diagnosed with cancer. Can Jameela and her sisters survive this huge trial?

This book is a modern retelling of Little Women and it worked spectacularly well. I must admit to being a little concerned about the fate of Bisma considering the source material but this story ends far more optimistically. Hena Khan's writing is lovely -- the characters feel fully actualized and like people you'd want to spend time with in the real world; her descriptions make you feel as though you're in the room; and she knows just when to use a metaphor and aptly so. While the variety of subplots could be overwhelming in a lesser writer's hand, everything flows smoothly here. She covers a lot of ground from sibling rivalry to microaggressions to journalistic integrity.

In case my gushing hasn't made it obvious yet, this is a MUST read for middle graders as well as for anyone who loved Little Women and welcomes a new spin on the classic tale. ( )

This is a lovely read about family, friends, siblings, first love interests, and chasing your dreams.

Jameela is a seventh grade girl, who has a loving family and a good head on her shoulders. But that doesn't mean life is simple. Her father is having trouble finding a job and must head across seas, leaving the rest of them alone. A boy her age, and family friend, moves to their town from Britain, with troubles of her own. While she's becoming good friends with him, her ambitions to because a great reporter for the school paper have her chasing him for an inclusive. And that might not go as planned. Add troubles with the head of the newspaper, regular life with her siblings (which isn't always smooth) and she's in for quite the time.

The author does a terrific job at introducing a wholesome family and bringing their situation to life in such a way that readers of this age group will easily identify with. Jameela is a girl with energy, determination, a big heart but that doesn't mean she feels secure in every situation or always knows what to do. The problems she faces are the type readers will recognize and sympathize with, and the solutions are realistic as well as nicely laid.

While the tale follows every day problems (more or less), it's never boring. Jameela has her plate full and not every problem is easy to solve. Her insecurities make her easy to like and fun to root for. Even her mistakes are simple to understand. The Muslim life weaves in seamlessly. This allows readers not only to learn more about the religion and culture, but doesn't take over the story. Readers from other religions and cultures can still identify with the characters and their issues without ever feeling pushed. It's simply well done. There are surprising twists and turns as well as humor built in, making it a fun read from start to finish, too. This is a read kids ages 8 to 12 are sure to enjoy and identify with. ( )