Ten PJ Our Way Titles with AAPI Characters
The month of May was both Jewish Heritage Month and Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month, but here at PJ Our Way, we celebrate these amazing cultures all year round! This month, readers can select Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohen, a heartwarming story about a half-Indian, half-Jewish girl who has managed to keep a big secret hidden for years and what happens when the truth finally comes out.
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by Denis Markell
Ted loves escape room video games, but this is real life! Can Ted and his friends solve the puzzle and stay one step ahead of the bad guys?
The Ghost in Apartment 2R
by Denis Markell
Danny’s been waiting for years to get his older brother’s bedroom, but when Jake finally goes off to college, Danny’s parents decide to rent out the room to make extra money. Then it turns out the spare room is haunted! Can Danny and his friends solve the mystery of the ghost before it’s too late?
How to Find What You’re Not Looking For
by Veera Hiranandani
Ari would do anything for her big sister, Leah, including keeping her boyfriend, Raj, a secret from their parents. How could she have known it would change everything?
The Magical Imperfect
by Chris Baron
Etan hasn’t spoken since his mom left. Malia stopped going to school when kids started calling her The Creature. Could a mysterious jar of clay be the solution to their problems?
My Basmati Bat Mitzvah
by Paula Freedman
Tara Feinstein’s decision to celebrate her bat mitzvah is making her life really complicated. What would her beloved Nanaji say? Does she really believe in God? And why is her best friend Ben-o acting so weird around her?
Not Your All American Girl
by Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Mrs. Tyndall says Lauren doesn’t look “American” enough to be the lead in a play set in Pleasant Valley, USA – but Lauren’s blonde best friend, Tara, looks perfect. Things are about to get a lot less pleasant at Dwight D. Eisenhower Junior High.
A Place at the Table
by Laura Shovan and Saadia Faruqi
Elizabeth and Sara are both in 6th grade, and they’re both worried about their mothers — but the similarities end there. Can the two girls overcome their differences and agree on an award-winning recipe for their school’s International Food Festival?
This is Just a Test
by Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang
These are just a few of the things David is worried about:
- Nuclear War
- Forgetting to wear pants to school
- Getting his leg chomped by a shark
- Sneezing on Kelli Ann
- His bar mitzvah speech
Welcome Back Maple Mehta-Cohen
by Kate McGovern
Maple Mehta-Cohen has kept her big secret hidden from everyone for years. Now she’s been found out — and her whole life is about to change.
The Whole Story of Half a Girl
by Veera Hiranandani
"I am half Indian, half Jewish, and now I’m half a cheerleader!" When Sonia’s father loses his job, she must leave her beloved private community school and attend the local public school. Will she ever feel like she belongs?