A young girl embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she strives to find her unique voice and compete in a local Battle of the Bands contest. At fourteen, Azar Rossi navigates the challenges of adolescence, creativity, and the desire for recognition in a vibrant musical landscape. The story captures her determination and passion for music, highlighting the importance of self-expression and the pursuit of dreams.
Nahid's hesitation to part with her tooth introduces young readers to the themes of growth and change. Through engaging illustrations, the story explores the emotional journey of letting go and the significance of this milestone in childhood. This picture book offers a gentle way for children to understand the transition of losing teeth and what it symbolizes in their development.
Focusing on a young girl’s passion for soccer, the story explores her unique role as an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents. Through her experiences, the book highlights themes of family, cultural identity, and the challenges of balancing personal interests with responsibilities. The narrative combines humor and warmth, illustrating the girl's journey as she navigates her dual roles while celebrating her love for the game.
Fourteen-year-old Iranian-American Parvin Mohammadi sets out to win the ultimate date to homecoming in this heartfelt and outright hilarious debut. Parvin Mohammadi has just been dumped--only days after receiving official girlfriend status. Not only is she heartbroken, she's humiliated. Enter high school heartthrob Matty Fumero, who just might be the smoking-hot cure to all her boy problems. If Parvin can get Matty to ask her to Homecoming, she's positive it will prove to herself and her ex that she's girlfriend material after all. There's just one problem: Matty is definitely too cool for bassoon-playing, frizzy-haired, Cheeto-eating Parvin. Since being herself hasn't worked for her in the past (see aforementioned dumping), she decides to start acting like the women in her favorite rom-coms. Those women aren't loud, they certainly don't cackle when they laugh, and they smile much more than they talk. But Parvin discovers that being a rom-com dream girl is much harder than it looks. Also hard? The parent-mandated Farsi lessons. A confusing friendship with a boy who's definitely not supposed to like her. And hardest of all, the ramifications of the Muslim ban on her family in Iran. Suddenly, being herself has never been more important. Olivia Abtahi's debut is as hilarious as it is heartfelt--a delightful tale where, amid the turmoil of high school friendships and crushes, being yourself is always the perfect way to be.