Saving Kabul Corner

Gr 4–6—Twelve-year-old Ariana is Califonia tomboy who dreams of having a room of her own. When her polite, pretty, perfect cousin Laila arrives from Afghanistan and steals Ariana's best friend and her personal space, she is less than thrilled. To make matters worse, the family store, Kabul Corner, is vandalized and business is going terribly. When a rival Afghan grocery opens up nearby and a decades-old feud between the two stores is reignited, Ariana must learn to get along with her cousin and her family's enemy in order to solve the mystery of who is sabotaging their livelihoods. While this title is not quite as fast paced as Senzai's Shooting Kabul (S & S, 2010), the mystery coupled with Ariana's struggles in middle school will keep readers interested. Several characters from Shooting Kabul return, but this companion title can be enjoyed on its own. Ariana's voice is relatable and her feelings of unsureness and frustration will be familiar to readers. While all of the main characters share an immigrant experience to some degree, the different struggles that each character faces makes for a more nuanced and compelling read. It is refreshing to see such a vastly multicultural cast in children's literature, and no character is portrayed as stereotypical or overly generalized. The glossary of terms in the back is also a nice touch. Recommended for any fan of multicultural literature or realistic fiction.—Ellen Norton, White Oak Library District, Crest Hill, IL