Book Review: A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

 

I'm always in search of meaningful novels that explore themes of identity, inclusion, family, and growing up. These topics matter deeply to middle school students, and it's so important to have a diverse collection of narratives in a classroom library. When I saw A Place at the Table on display at my local public library, I was intrigued by the title and the beautiful illustration on the cover. I decided to check it out and see whether it might be a good fit for a middle school classroom. 

As soon as I started reading, I was hooked. The book has a dual narrative structure in which the chapters are written from the alternating perspectives of protagonists Sara and Elizabeth. Both girls are sixth grade students who are navigating unique challenges at school and at home. 

Sara is experiencing loneliness after transferring to a new school with a majority white population. As the child of Pakistani immigrants who are Muslim, she often feels out of place among her peers. To make matters worse, she is explicitly bullied by one of her classmates who makes racist remarks. When she goes home after school, she feels the strain of her parent's financial stress and worries about living up to their expectations of her. 

Elizabeth, on the other hand, started the sixth grade school year with her best friend Maddy. Unfortunately, tension begins popping up in their friendship, and Elizabeth worries about losing Maddy. At home, she struggles with her mom's mental health challenges and her dad's frequent absence due to work travel. 

Both girls meet in an after school cooking club led by Sara's mother, Mrs. Hameed. Sara and Elizabeth become an unlikely pair of cooking partners when Maddy abandons Elizabeth for another friend. Over time, Sara and Elizabeth build a friendship and learn to support each other through their unique experiences. They find both similarities and differences in their Jewish and Muslim faith practices, as well as in their multicultural Pakistani, British, and American families. 

Without giving any spoilers about the ending, I can say that the book simultaneously made me laugh, tear up, and reflect on the complicated memories of my own middle school experiences. This book captures the reality of how hard it is to be a sixth grader while navigating changing relationships, family challenges, and the desire to be holistically accepted.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book for a middle school classroom library or read aloud novel study. There are so many powerful discussion opportunities for teachers to bring up themes of cultural differences, prejudice, belonging, identity, friendship, and family. The topics are handled in an age-appropriate way that will lead to thought-provoking class conversations. 

Have you read this book? Leave a comment below to share your opinion!