About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels misunderstood by peers or is struggling with the transition to a new school environment. It is an ideal choice for families navigating the nuances of cultural identity or those supporting a child with learning differences who feels 'othered' by the traditional classroom structure. The story follows Ravi, a brilliant Indian immigrant, and Joe, a local boy with Auditory Processing Disorder, as they navigate the first week of fifth grade. Through their eyes, we explore how assumptions and bullying can isolate us, but also how a shared struggle can forge a deep, unexpected bond. It is a realistic and hopeful look at finding one's footing that is perfectly calibrated for the emotional complexity of the upper elementary years.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book addresses xenophobia with a direct, secular approach. The bullying is realistic and psychological rather than physical. The resolution is hopeful but grounded: the bully isn't magically 'fixed,' but the protagonists gain the internal tools to withstand him.
