
By Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Aaliya Jaleel (Illustrator)
Part of the Amina Banana series
Amina's formula for friendship falters in her new school. Can she solve the equation?
Amina, a spirited third grader from Syria, starts a new life in Indiana. Armed with a formula for making friends—speak English, dress right, excel in class, eat American—she's ready to conquer her fears. But when her plan falters, Amina must navigate the complexities of fitting in and staying true to herself. Will she find the missing variable to unlock friendship in a foreign land?
Meet Amina Banana! She’s a determined and clever third grader, and star of a new chapter book series with a STEM twist. Perfect for readers of The Questioneers and Junie B. Jones! Amina loves bananas, science, and all things yellow! Her family recently arrived from Syria to Indiana, and she’s starting at a brand-new school in a brand-new country. She’s excited but also nervous, especially about making friends! But she develops the perfect formula to get everything just right: Speak English + wear a perfect outfit + be a good student + eat American food = Make American Friends! When the first few days are harder than Amina imagined, she’s left worrying: why doesn’t her formula add up?
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