Review: More to the Story

Jameela's excited when the newspaper advisor picks up as the new feature editor for the school newspaper. More than anything, Jameela wants to be an award winning journalist just like her grandfather.

But seventh grade is proving to be difficult. First her father's job takes him away from the family for six months. Then a draft of her article is printed instead of the real article - causing a new friend embarrassment.  The last straw is the news of her sister's illness.

Suddenly nothing matters and everything worries Jameela. She longs for life to return to normal.

My Thoughts: I love Little Women, so I was more than happy when this ARC came in the mail. And I loved this book; it perfectly captures the feel of Little Women - from the family dynamics, to the friendship with the boy, to Jameela's writing. Jameela's family is Muslim American. Ali, a family friend, arrives from England. I love their conversations about the differences between the two countries. I loved the bits about the newspaper. I loved Bisma's storytime and how that turned out. Of course, I cried at the ending. This book is such a heartwarming read.

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: ARC sent for review
Library Recommendation: Strongly recommended for your school and public libraries.