The Magical Reality of Nadia (The Magical Reality of Nadia #1)

About this book

Inspired by the author's real life experiences, this rollicking, charming novel follows sixth grade Egyptian immigrant Nadia as she navigates the ups and downs of friendships, racism, and some magic, too!

Nadia loves fun facts. Here are a few about her:

• She collects bobbleheads — she has 77 so far.

• She moved from Egypt to America when she was six years old.

• The hippo amulet she wears is ancient... as in it's literally from ancient Egypt.

• She's going to win the contest to design a new exhibit at the local museum. Because how cool would that be?!

(Okay, so that last one isn't a fact just yet, but Nadia has plans to make it one.)

But then a new kid shows up and teases Nadia about her Egyptian heritage. It's totally unexpected, and totally throws her off her game.

And something else happens that Nadia can't explain: Her amulet starts glowing! She soon discovers that the hippo is holding a hilarious — and helpful — secret. Can she use it to confront the new kid and win the contest?

From political satirist and comedian Bassem Youssef, aka The Jon Stewart of the Arab World, and author Catherine R. Daly comes a humorous and heartfelt story about prejudice, friendship, empathy, and courage.

Includes sections of black-and-white comics as well as lively black-and-white illustrations throughout.

Reviews

Praise for The Magical Reality of Nadia:

"In this heartfelt tale, Youseff and Daly strike a solid balance between magical worldbuilding, witty humor, and a unifying anti-xenophobic theme." –Publishers Weekly

"Readers will cheer for Nadia as she responds to prejudice and affirms her identity." –Kirkus Reviews

“Youssef based the novel on his daughter’s experience moving to the U.S. from Egypt, and the labor of love comes through, sweet and silly. The bullying on display isn’t the threatening kind; the new kid is popular and often terrifically funny, but his hurtful humor cuts down those around him. Nadia isn’t perfect, but she handles the hurdles with grace, making this a poignant ode to the American ideals of blended culture and community.” –Booklist

"Humorous black-and-white illustrations, including some comic pages, draw in even the nonbookworms." –Parents Magazine

“This lighthearted read bubbles with jokes, magic, comics, and the ever-persistent issues of friendship and personal identity. And yet, the cheerful tone belies deep messages of acceptance and understanding that are brought beautifully to life. Whimsically packaged into a relatable tale, the message to celebrate diversity and identity comes through loud and clear in this must-buy.” –School Library Journal, starred review