
Written by Saadia Faruqi · Illustrated by Ani Bushry
Part of the Marya Khan series
A shy partner and unknown heritage challenge Marya's class project success.
Marya, a spirited third-grader, faces a daunting task: present on Pakistan with her shy classmate, Waleed. As she embarks on 'Operation Make a Friend,' Marya must navigate cultural discoveries and friendship hurdles. Can she inspire Waleed to open up and ace their project, or will her plans backfire? With time ticking, Marya's determination is put to the test in this heartwarming tale of friendship and cultural exploration.
Perfect for fans of Ivy & Bean and Stella Diaz, this charming chapter book series by the author of the successful Yasmin series follows a Pakistani American third-grader whose plans may backfire but whose persistence and heart are inspiringIt’s time for her class’s country project, and Marya is super excited. She loves public speaking, and she’s assigned Pakistan, where her family is from. But Marya has two problems: She doesn’t actually know very much about her grandparents’ country, and she’s paired with new kid Waleed, who is so shy he can barely talk, let alone present to the class. Marya figures if she can just befriend Waleed, he’ll help her make the best project ever.It’s time for Operation Make a Friend! But how do you make a friend? Play sports? Make jokes? With time running out before the big presentation, Marya worries she’ll never get this Waleed kid to loosen up. But after researching a lot about friendship–and Pakistan–she might be able to save this project yet!”A wonderful addition to any collection, this story offers insights into Pakistani culture and the challenges–and rewards–of making new friends in a new place.”―School Library Journal”The book’s strength lies in Faruqi’s ability to recreate the ups and downs of Marya’s experiences within her family and her school community. Both the vivid character portrayals and the many grayscale illustrations will please readers of this transitional chapter book from the enjoyable Marya Khan series.” ―BooklistRead all of the books in the Marya Khan seriesMarya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party (#1)Marya Khan and the Fabulous Jasmine Garden (#2)Marya Khan and the Spectacular Fall Festival (#3)Marya Khan and the Awesome Adventure Park (#4)Marya Khan and the Disastrous Class Project (#5)Marya Khan and the Abominable Ski Trip (#6)
Surprise a reader with their next favorite book.
Spotted a mistake or something missing? Improve this page.
Are you the author or illustrator? Claim your book.
Top contributors: Literary Leslie