WISHING UPON THE SAME STARS, by Jacquetta Nammar Feldman, HarperCollins, Feb. 1, 2022, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
Jacquetta Nammar Feldman’s Wishing Upon the Same Stars follows an Arab American girl as she moves from Detroit to San Antonio.
When 12-year-old Yasmeen Khoury moves with her family to San Antonio, all she wants to do is fit in. But her classmates in Texas are nothing like her friends in the predominantly Arab neighborhood back in Detroit where she grew up. Almost immediately, Yasmeen feels like the odd girl out, and as she faces middle school mean girls and tries to make new friends, she feels more alone than ever before.
Then Yasmeen meets her neighbor, Ayelet Cohen, a first-generation Israeli American. As the two girls grow closer, Yasmeen is grateful to know someone who understands what it feels like when your parents’ idea of home is half a world away.
But when Yasmeen’s grandmother moves in after her home in Jerusalem is destroyed, Yasmeen and Ayelet must grapple with how much closer the events of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are than they’d realized. As Yasmeen begins to develop her own understandings of home, heritage, and most importantly, herself, can the two girls learn there’s more that brings them together than might tear them apart . . . and that peace begins with them? —Synopsis provided by HarperCollins
Wishing Upon the Same Stars tackles the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the eyes of children whose families have deep roots in the Middle East. Author Jacquetta Nammar Feldman expertly explores personal feelings and political motivations on both sides of the issue without taking sides or pushing an agenda. This all takes place against the backdrop of middle school bullies a new friendship.
At the center of the story is Yasmeen, a bright, hard-working 12-year-old who wants to please her parents but also wants to fit in. These universal themes will resonate with readers while introducing them to a different culture at the same time.
Feldman’s writing is warm and comfortable. She immediately puts readers at ease while challenging them to see beyond themselves. Wishing Upon the Same Stars is an excellent MG novel that balances staying true to yourself while pushing to be more.
