AMINA BANANA AND THE FORMULA FOR FRIENDSHIP

Amina has crafted the perfect formula for fitting in.

Having recently settled in Indianapolis with her Syrian refugee family, Amina is starting third grade late in the term. She plans to “speak English perfectly, wear a perfect outfit, be a good student, [and] eat American food.” But everything unravels when she mispronounces words and struggles to be understood—to the scorn of some of her classmates. When the students are told they must each give a presentation on a dish they’ve prepared, Amina is disheartened—how can she deliver a whole speech in English? But after talking with Egyptian American classmate Fatima, Amina finds a recipe for friendship and belonging. Safadi and Jaleel seamlessly weave Amina’s Syrian and Muslim identities into both art and text. Safadi pinpoints experiences that many English language learners will recognize: the oddity of idioms, the often-frustrating gap between Amina’s rich inner monologue and her less-than-fluent spoken dialogue, the loneliness that results from not being able to fully communicate, and the joys of forging connections as Amina becomes part of a warm, diverse group of friends. Her journey is realistically rocky but immensely rewarding, with teachable moments for readers young and old—for instance, a classmate correcting a teacher who mispronounces Amina’s name. Children will be heartened by Amina’s small triumphs, like when a new friend lovingly graces her with the nickname “Amina Banana.”

A winning series starter with layers of depth.