Grounded

(Paperback)

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Description

Four kids meet at an airport for one unforgettable night in this middle-grade novel by four bestselling and award-winning authorsAisha Saeed, Huda Al-Marashi, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, and S. K. Ali

When a thunderstorm grounds all flights following a huge Muslim convention, four unlikely kids are thrown together. Feek is stuck babysitting his younger sister, but hed rather be writing a poem thats good enough for his dad, a famous poet and rapper. Hanna is intent on finding a lost cat in the airportand also on avoiding a conversation with her dad about him possibly remarrying. Sami is struggling with his anxiety and worried that hell miss the karate tournament that hes trained so hard for. And Nora has to deal with the pressure of being the daughter of a prominent congresswoman, when all she really wants to do is make fun NokNok videos. These kids dont seem to have much in commonyet.

Told in alternating points of view, Grounded tells the story of one unexpected night that will change these kids forever.

Reviews

I loved this thrilling airport adventure, complete with friendship, thunderstorms, chocolate, and a missing celebrity cat. I couldnt put it down! Kids will love the comfort the book offers, as well as the adventure. * Victoria Jamieson, author of Roller Girl, a Newbery Honor book *
I love this book! It's the exact type of story I dreamed about finding as a kidfun and funny with diverse Muslim representation. So charming and full of heart! * Jasmine Warga, New York Times bestselling author of A Rovers Story *
Saeed, Al-Marashi, Thompkins-Bigelow, and Ali write four relatable, well-developed characters from different backgrounds who represent the diversity of Muslim communities, seamlessly connecting their individual and collective stories into a single whole. A positive, engaging story centering Muslim kids. * Kirkus Reviews *
In alternating points of view, the four authorswho collaborated on Once upon an Eid (2020)have crafted a book that, while it brims with unapologetic Muslim rep, is not about religion but friendship and adventure. Hand to readers seeking a quick escape. * Booklist *
Spirited characters with distinctly wrought backgrounds prove both idealistic and realistic while emphasizing the importance of community and the idea that there is more than one way to honor Muslim identity. * Publishers Weekly *
This will appeal to a wide audience, with important topics addressed smartly, including the positives and negatives of social media, and fitting in with peers while staying connected to ones family. * School Library Journal *
This is more than a cute kitty caper with humorous airport antics: its a thought-provoking adventure about growing up and the need for individuality, independence, and autonomy. * The Horn Book Magazine *

Author Bio

Aisha Saeed is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of books for children. Aisha is also a founding member of the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her family. Huda Al-Marashi is the author of the bestselling memoir First Comes Marriage: My Not-So-Typical American Love Story. Her other writing has appeared in various anthologies and news outlets, such as the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, and Al Jazeera. Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is a Philadelphia-based author of popular educator-recommended childrens books. She is an Irma Black Award silver medalist, and her books continue to make many Best of lists, including Times 10 Best YA and Childrens Books and Book Riots 20 Best Childrens Books of All Time. S.K. Ali is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of several books for young people, including the Morris award finalist Saints and Misfits and reader-favorite Love from A to Z. She has a degree in Creative Writing and is striving to write every kind of book she loved growing up.