Not so shy

Noa Nimrodi, 1969-

Book - 2023

Twelve-year-old Shai hates having to move to America and is determined to find a way get back home to Israel--until she starts opening up to new experiences and friendships.

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Subjects
Genres
Novels
Published
Minneapolis, MN : Kar-Ben Publishing [2023]
Language
English
Main Author
Noa Nimrodi, 1969- (author)
Physical Description
256 pages : illustration ; 20 cm
Audience
Ages 9-14.
Grades 4-6.
ISBN
9781728427911
9781728427928
Contents unavailable.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Shai is angry at her father for uprooting their family from Israel to the United States for his new job. Her inadequate command of English makes her feel stupid. Even her name causes difficulties, for Americans pronounce it Shay, when it should be said like shy. Comparing her life in San Diego to Israel, Shai finds almost everything here less appealing. She is determined to devise a plan to return to Israel, perhaps by using her artistic talents to win an art competition--first prize is an international flight! Fortunately, Shai develops friendships with Korean American neighbor Kay-Lee, Iraqi American Muslim Hakim, and cute, nerdy, default White Chris. At school, however, bullies escalate antisemitic and Islamophobic remarks and incidents, causing deep pain and anguish, and the kids are afraid to speak out and report them, even to parents. A visit from Shai's beloved maternal grandparents, Saba and Safta, provides some insights and advice but also provokes many more questions. When a terrorist bombing in Tel Aviv gravely injures Safta, everything changes, including Shai's perspective on the meaning of home. Readers follow blue-eyed Shai's every thought and emotion as she narrates her own tale in descriptive detail with great attention paid to holidays and wonderful food. The storyline occasionally features awkward, unexplained jumps in time, but Nimrodi tackles difficult subjects with a hopeful, uplifting outlook. Touching, tender, and heartbreaking. (Fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.