Your PJ Our Way Books for March

A Place at the Table
by Laura Shovan and Saadia Faruqi

Ages 10+

336 pages

When 6th graders Elizabeth and Sara meet in an after-school South Asian cooking class, it seems like they have nothing in common. Elizabeth is Jewish, she’s been in the public school her whole life, and she loves cooking. Sara just transferred from a small Islamic school, she loves to draw, she’s only in the cooking class because her mother happens to be the teacher.

As the girls get to know each other, they learn they share a lot more than they ever realized. Both girls are worried about their mothers; Elizabeth’s mother has been struggling with depression ever since her own mother, Elizabeth’s grandmother, died back in England. Meanwhile, Sara’s mother runs a struggling catering business, and money is tight in the family. Plus, neither girl is quite sure where she belongs; Elizabeth is Jewish, but is she Jewish enough? And as a Pakistani-American, Sara and her family face racist comments on a regular basis, including from Maddy, Elizabeth’s best friend.

When the girls are paired up to compete in the school’s International Food Festival, they realize they make good cooking partners. But can they overcome their differences and trust each other enough to become good friends?

How to Survive Middle School
by Donna Gephart

Ages 10+

256 pages

David Greenberg’s big dream is to become a TV host like Jon Stewart, and he's well on his way: home videos that he has posted on YouTube featuring his cute hamster and acne-plagued older sister have become an internet sensation. But as his online popularity soars, his real life gets increasingly worse: he is picked on by the school bully; he fights with his best friend; and he misses his mom, who has left the family to resolve her own issues. How to Survive Middle School is a sweet coming-of-age book about friendship, family, and following one’s dreams.

Just a Girl
by Lia Levi

Ages 9+

144 pages

Lia Levi’s memoir of her childhood in Italy between 1938 and 1945 was originally published for adults and is here masterfully adapted for children. Young Lia and her family must move from place to place because her father keeps losing his job due to increasing restrictions on Jews. When Jews start being arrested, Lia and her sisters are hidden at a convent and have to change their names and pretend to be Catholic. The author interjects her story frequently to assuage readers’ potential anxiety during suspenseful moments. Amply illustrated, this brief narrative is perfectly aimed at young readers curious about the Holocaust but not ready for more sensitive details. A family photo album and compelling author’s note are included.

Mister Lister and the Two-Way Gift
by Judith Pransky

Ages 9+

152 pages

Reuven is not looking forward to starting 4th grade - his best friend has moved away and he has to adjust to a new teacher. But when Reuven learns that he shares a last name with the new boy, Yehuda, he is hopeful that they might be cousins! When Rabbi Abrams assigns the class a family history research project, Reuven’s Zayde shares the unique and inspiring story of their family name. A deeper understanding of his family helps Reuven make sense of his confusing feelings and all of the changes in his class. This sweet book about a neurodivergent boy will inspire readers to learn more about their family history.