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A sweet and joyful story of self-discovery and identity from the same celebrated creative team who brought us My Bindi, and the co-author of the bestselling middle grade story Save Me a Seat.

I look in the mirror, I see me in my saree. And my heart is full... In my beautiful peacock blue saree. I bring my palms together and smile. "Namaste, I am Divya, and this is my saree."

Divya loves her mother's sarees. Each one is unique; some are soft and silky, some are stiff and crisp, and some dazzle with gold and silver. And she can't wait for the day when she's old enough to wear one herself! It's Heritage Night at school and everyone gets to share something from their culture with the class. Divya hopes this is her chance to finally wear her first saree. Will Divya get to wear one after all?

In this tender follow-up to My Bindi, author Gita Varadarajan's lyrical and moving text is accompanied with Archana Sreenivasan's charming and vibrant illustrations and bring to life another beautiful story as a young girl discovers a new way to embrace her Indian culture.

 Save Me a Seat joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!

Joe and Ravi might be from very different places, but they're both stuck in the same place: SCHOOL.

Joe's lived in the same town all his life, and was doing just fine until his best friends moved away and left him on his own.

Ravi's family just moved to America from India, and he's finding it pretty hard to figure out where he fits in.

Joe and Ravi don't think they have anything in common -- but soon enough they have a common enemy (the biggest bully in their class) and a common mission: to take control of their lives over the course of a single crazy week. 

BY SARAH WEEKS & GITA VARADARAJAN ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 10, 2016

A novel treatment of a familiar situation delivered with fizz and aplomb.

Arefreshing spin on a story about fitting in and overcoming obstacles features two viewpoints written by two authors.

Just arrived from Bangalore, Ravi Suryanarayanan is eager to make friends at his new American school. When he spots Dillon Samreen, a popular, cool classmate with swoopy bangs and a big smile, Ravi believes the two could become great friends. Even if Dillon is an ABCD—American-Born Confused Desi—another name for U.S.–born children of Indian immigrants, Ravi believes catching Dillon’s attention will take him from the lame table in the cafeteria to where the popular kids eat. Meanwhile, all white Joe Sylvester wants is not to catch the attention of Dillon Samreen. Joe is large and awkward and completely aware of how Dillon can smile at you one minute then torture you forever and ever. When Ravi, Joe, and Dillon wind up in Mrs. Beam’s class, the trio are on a collision course that will end with the unlikeliest of friendships. Veteran Weeks pairs with newcomer Varadarajan for this tale told in Ravi’s and Joe’s alternating first-person narrations. Varadarajan’s voice offers an authenticity and liveliness that perfectly pairs with Weeks’ realistic, quietly poignant style. Using the daily school-lunch schedule as a structural device, the authors bring alive a humdrum, ordinary routine, making it crackle with emotion and humor. Glossaries of Hindi and American terms and two recipes round out the book.

A novel treatment of a familiar situation delivered with fizz and aplomb. (Fiction. 8-12)

Pub Date: May 10, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-545-84660-8

Page Count: 240

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

There in the mirror, I see a shining star.

My mother's joy, my father's pride.

And then I see something else:

I see me.

Divya is scared to put on the bindi for the first time. What if she gets made fun of? What will it feel like? But Amma assures her that her bindi will bring protection. After Divya looks inside Amma's special box to find the perfect bindi to put on, she gazes in the mirror and discovers a new side of herself, and it gives her strength.

In this tender debut picture book, author Gita Varadarajan crafts a powerful story about belonging, embracing your heritage, and believing in yourself. Archana Sreenivasan's vibrant and magical illustrations bring to life this journey of self-discovery. My Bindi is a universal message of the importance finding oneself and celebrating the unique beliefs and experiences that make us who we are.