The Magical Reality of Nadia

The Magical Reality of Nadia #1

by Bassem Youssef

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


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 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?

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

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Childrens, Friendship, Graphic Novels

Audible Audio

First published February 2, 2021

About the author

Bassem Raafat Muhammad Youssef is an Egyptian comedian, writer, producer, physician, media critic, and television host. He hosted Al-Bernameg, a satirical news program, from 2011 to 2014.

Reviews

[Mai M Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Aladdin but with a school girl! 😍
ده اللي قاله باسم يوسف ف مقابلة كوصف للكتاب .. الشخصية الرئيسية هي شخصية خيالية لبنته ناديه

حقيقي الكتاب جميل وينفع لكل الاعمار مش الاطفال بس .. فيه مغامرات، تاريخ، صداقة وغيرها من الحاجات ... والرسومات كيوت جدا 😍

مبسوطة اني قدرت استعيره من المكتبة العامة

ومتحمسة لقراءة الجزء التاني 🏃‍♀️
لمغامرات نادية و تي تي المعلم الفرعوني اللطيف 😌

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

الفكرة و التنفيذ مميزين 👍👍👍👍
مغامرة نادية أمريكية من أصل مصري و أصدقائها "فرقة الدحيحين" في إطار عالم المراهقين .

[Hoda Marmar]

so much fun!!!!

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! My students love books w text and pictures. I look forward to seeing the final art. The message of inclusivity and celebrating immigrants for their contributions is well done.

[Arvia Maharhani · Rating 4 out of 5]

ceritanya ringan sekali! ada persahabatannya dapet, konfliknya kena, tema rasisme juga tersampaikan dengan baik!

[Kate Waggoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

@Kidlitexchange

Thank you to @Scholasticinc for sharing an advance copy of the Magical Reality of Nadia by Bassem Youssef and Catherine R. Daly. This middle grade novel will be out February 2, 2021. All opinions are my own.

Nadia and her parents emigrated to the U.S. from Egypt when Nadia was six-years-old. Nadia is very proud of her heritage and culture and visits her family in Egypt each summer. This summer she picked up a hippo amulet. What she doesn't know is that it's from ancient Egypt and houses an ancient Egyptian teacher, Titi. Titi has been trapped within the amulet for thousands of years. His only way out is to help Nadia solve a series of problems. Nadia loves fun facts, bobbleheads, and her friend group, the Nerd Patrol. When a museum contest is announced at school, it's a no-brainer that the Nerd Patrol will work together. Nadia is feeling pressure from both the project and a new kid who seems to not be very found of Nadia and her culture. With Titi's help, will Nadia be able to confront the new kid and win the contest?

The Magical Reality of Nadia is a powerful and fun book. I love the illustrations and humor that are found throughout the novel. My favorite part though are the strong themes related to immigration, racism, prejudice, and acceptance. When a student arrives at her school, Nadia begins to feel discriminated against as the boy makes comments and jokes that just don't sit write with her. She struggles with what to do. With Titi's help, Nadia decides to confront the boy. Rather than throwing insults back or waiting quietly, Nadia takes the opportunity to educate her peer on immigrants and their connection to the United States. The issues that Nadia faces in this book are very real for many middle grade readers. The situations in the book will resonate with many readers. I feel that this an important book to include in a middle grade library. Some readers will see themselves in Nadia and others will see themselves in Jason. Both of these perspectives are important and important lessons will, hopefully, be learned regardless of which character the reader connects with most. This book has the possibility to lead to some amazing, important, and powerful conversations.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a great job working through the usual tangled friendship dynamics, and also modeling how to disarm and call out both microaggressions and outright racism. Nadia is a fun, engaging character and her celebration of her Egyptian heritage is beautiful.

The only thing I'm confused by is that it reads as though it were written for a much younger audience. I can see 3rd and 4th graders loving this book, especially with the cute illustrations*, but I'm not sure it would appeal to kids who are in 6th grade.

*I kind of wish she looked less like Disney's Jasmine early on in the book. She's got more depth and character by far.

Advanced Reader's Copy Provided by Edelweiss.

[ᨳ ˖ ݊｡ﾟℓєιℓα ໒꒱｡ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating🧐:
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review🖋:
This book was a very nice and quick read that I would recommend for kids between the ages of 7-12. It is a fun book that has nice characters. I had a connection with the protagonist, Nadia as I am a middle eastern and I felt a connection with cultures and past experiences with peers. The concept of the book was funny and intriguing, and I loved the idea of Titi and the hippo amulet. The only thing that I didn't enjoy about the book was how some of the parts of the book were a bit corny, especially with Jason, Nadia's bully. It felt a bit like a book out of Disney, but I really enjoyed it otherwise; would recommend!

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic, culture, friendship, and tribulations. Nadia accidentally calls upon a teacher who has been trapped in her Egyptian hippo necklace for thousands of years. In this imaginative tale, Nadia learns how to be a better friend and how to stand up to prejudice expressed by a new classmate. A quick, fun read.

[Rummanah (Books in the Spotlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. The characters are endearing and Titi made me chuckle. Full review coming soon.

[Christy Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It has a diverse cast of characters, magic, relatable struggles with school and friendship, and lots of fun facts.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lighthearted tale of a girl with all the facts discovering magic and helping a friend trapped by an ancient magic curse. But can Nadia keep the group together for a big project and deal with a problematic new kid who constantly puts her down because she's from Egypt?

The illustrations were charming! There is even a mini comic section that was very fun. The book is not terribly long but the story feels complete. Pick this up for a contemporary adventure filled with interesting facts, a delightful main character, and a hippo necklace!

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fact-loving Nadia is an exuberant and brainy Egyptian-American who loves bobblehead dolls and has a great group of friends who refer to themselves as the Nerd Patrol. Sixth grade holds lots of new adventures for Nadia and the Nerd Patrol: a new student who likes to tease Nadia about her heritage, a competition to design a display for the local museum, and most unusual is a quirky Egyptian spirit named Titi, who Nadia has accidentally released from her antique Egyptian Hippopotomas locket. This adorably wacky realistic fiction is filled with facts, humor, and a touch of magic. Adding to its unique style, the book format is a mix of traditional text as well as paneled illustrations, this is the first book in a series. Recommended for grades 3-5.

[diytrasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really surprised there aren't more reviews for this book, because I swear I have been seeing it everywhere. The Magical Reality of Nadia approaches race much like fellow children's author Jerry Craft. Unlike most other books in the genre, this one does a good job looking at the nuances of racism — as well as its origins, without creating a storyline that is either too trivial or too heavy.

That being said, I think it is mis-marketed as a fantasy. Her glowing amulet (I don't want to give away too many spoilers) failed to really shape the story and I felt like there were a number of missed opportunities to move along the overall pace of the book.

But I also recognize that as a little girl who was incredibly bossy, incredibly nerdy, and incredibly brown - I would have loved reading a book with a character like Nadia.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent mindless listen. Liked it trying to hit racial stereotypes, but then the little genie guy from the amulet kind of ruined it. And the Jason, 'typical jock' character.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sixth grader Nadia Youssef is proud of her Egyptian heritage and her friends in the Nerd Patrol. After a summer spent in Egypt, she is eager to share her experiences with others. But she is surprised to learn that a hippopotamus pendant she bought there actually contains Titi, a teacher who is bound to offer help a certain number of times to Nadia when she requests it. Although Nadia tends to be logical and eschew anything having to do with magic, eventually she gives in and accepts his help. She and her friends are excited to create a new exhibit for the local museum, and she has some great ideas about immigrants. But her friends also have good ideas, and they become annoyed when she takes over and ignores their suggestions. Nadia struggles with how much to lead and how much to follow, and she also feels increasingly uncomfortable at the thinly veiled cultural slurs that Jason Flanagan, a transfer student from Chicago, utters about Nadia's culture, her food, and others that he considers to be unAmerican. His remarks are sometimes funny, but they also sting, and Nadia needs to figure out how to handle them. After all, sometimes he seems to go too far. When the group's project is wrecked and their victory seems unlikely, Nadia gets assistance from Titi in teaching Jason a lesson about this nation's history and foundation on immigrants. Although the book tackles some tough issues, it does so with empathy and humor, and readers can see that Nadia herself is no saint. Despite her good intentions, she makes mistakes and hurts others, even her friends. The framing of the story within a spell cast eons ago seems to indicate that Nadia's story will continue. Middle graders who like lite magic and a strong female protagonist will enjoy this one.

[Alba Arango · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about friendship, prejudice, and empathy.

Nadia can’t wait for the first day of sixth grade. Not only is she excited to learn more facts (she is, after all, a member of the “Nerd Patrol”), but she had also spent the summer getting a fashion upgrade with her cousins back in her homeland of Egypt. But the first day of school brings two very unexpected surprises: 1) a new kid named Jason shows up, and makes some subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) prejudiced remarks about her culture; and 2) her Egyptian amulet begins to glow, revealing a very magical secret—an ancient Egyptian teacher, trapped inside.

What I liked: great story about the complexities of friendship, the realities of prejudice/racism, and the triumph of empathy. The characters are believable (including the bully) and each learn valuable lessons as the story unfolds. The relationships between the characters are not perfect, they are flawed and realistic which I love. I also loved all the random facts Nadia mentioned throughout the book.

What I didn’t like: honestly, the element of magic felt a little forced in the story. I felt like the author wanted the Egyptian teacher to be like the genie in Aladdin, but he came across as unnecessary to the story, and even detracted a little from it. I would’ve preferred his character to be a real person. I also did not like the Prologue—it could’ve easily been woven into the story itself—as I would’ve preferred Nadia to be the first character I met.

Still, the premise was great, and the story of standing up to bullies and prejudice, and showing empathy, is definitely worth the read.

4 out of 5 stars

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat formulaic in plot (not a criticism when writing for this age group). I appreciated how well this book introduced many different kinds of subtle racism/microaggressions, as well as more overt examples of racism, in the context of kids talking with one another. Partway through, it felt like it was checking things off a list to make sure some of the most common comments were covered but again, not a problem when writing for this age group.

I could see myself using this book as a class read-aloud because of the many moments where we could stop and talk about inclusion, learning and respect for others. It's also got a pretty quick pace for read aloud or for kids to read on their own. Fun facts about Egypt and general topics are sprinkled throughout.

(Summary: Nadia comes back to the West Coast after her family's annual trip to Egypt, where she immigrated from as a six year old. Turns out the hippo amulet she bought at a market has a teacher, Titi, from ancient Egypt trapped inside who appears in 2 dimensions on paper when she holds the amulet and says the word "help." They hypothesize that he can be freed when he helps Nadia solve seven problems, 7 being a significant number in ancient Egyptian culture. She uses Titi to solve a variety of social and school problems, learning how to be a better friend along the way.)

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nadia begins the school year confident in her Egyptian-American heritage and her amazing group of friends that she can't wait to see again after a summer apart. When a new student who disguises his insults as jokes joins her class, things start going a little differently than she had hoped. As her confidence starts to fall and her friendships are tested, she discovers her beloved hippo amulet contains the magical help she needs to assist her in making things better again.

This is the first book in a new series about Nadia and her magic amulet. The story and how it is presented will appeal to middle school readers. The themes of bullying, friendship, and self-worth are popular in literature for this age group and this book does those things well. While this is a traditional middle grade chapter book, there are supplemental illustrations throughout that add to the fun as the magical teacher can first only appear in print to help Nadia.

I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Amanda Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nadia loves to learn, and she is not afraid for anyone to know it. When a contest is presented to the students of her class, she is sure that she and her friends can win. But when a new kid arrives and thinks throwing insults about Nadia’s Egyptian heritage is funny and ok, Nadia is thrown off her game. Will her friends be able to get her back on track, or will it be too much for Nadia to handle?

I immediately connected with Nadia’s love of facts, and I really found the information she presented to be interesting. The magic amulet added an interesting twist to the story, but I struggled with some of the knowledge the “magical being” had since it was supposedly locked inside the amulet for centuries. I really liked the struggle between Nadia and the new kids, but I didn’t love the way it solved and worked out the issues. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but there were a few details in the storyline which confused me at times.

[Allison Turkish · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Very enjoyable! Packed with fun facts and some funny jokes (I'm already adding the "roast beef and pea soup" joke to my rotation).

The authors did a great job of weaving feelings, worries, school, family, and friendship together which makes for a great middle grade book.

Probably best for grade 5 and up but appropriate enough for younger readers.

The book had an unexpected surprise ending. I look forward to reading the sequel.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This starts off as a very silly story, but Nadia ends up learning good points about friendship, how to deal with bullies/racists, and to value her background as Egyptian-American. This is also a paean to immigrants and the value they bring to America. Pretty deep themes for what on the surface is such a silly story.

[Sobia A Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a cute way, the authors present the problems immigrant middle school school children face today - bullying, anti-immigration speech, and other issues brought forth the past few years.

The authors mix mythology and magic into the story as well a bit of time traveling. The main character, Nadia, did get on my nerves a bit, just like she did with her best friends.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is needed in times like these, not just for kids but for adults as well as I really enjoyed reading this book. The message that comes at the end of the book is an important one.

There's an ending to the main story, but the small cliffhanger at the end makes me curious about the next book.

[Shaunna MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! Funny, smart female lead, issues of racism often seen in middle school and beyond, resolution for the (human) characters, and a killer duh duh duuuuhhh ending leading into book 2!
It reminded me of Planet Omar Trouble Magnet. I need some of my SSBOY committee members to read this one!

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter book with some illustrations and comic elements. Read the ARC so didn’t see the final art. Smart Egyptian American girl Nadia finds a trapped teacher/genie in an amulet. He helps her deal with middle school life. Both fun and serious.

[Wardah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual star 3,5.

I enjoy the story so much. Buku ini berhasil menyajikan perbedaan dan rasisme dengan sangat baik untuk dibaca anak-anak. Tentang ketidaktahuan yang bisa menjelma jadi rasisme dan gimana anak-anak memahami rasisme.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline is good here, as a group of middle schoolers learns to appreciate their differences and their roots. I found the writing style to be a bit too tell-not-show and a bit too simplified for middle grade.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An upper elementary realistic fiction with a fantasy twist where an Egyptian American deals with a mystical figure from the past and school mates who don't appreciate her heritage against the backdrop of a school project she is taking over.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very cute 4th/5th grade novel that I think was hindered a bit by the magic. I get what the author was going for, but I think tempering it down a bit would have really made this shine because the overall message is a great one.