What do you think?
Rate this book
The Eleventh Trade
From debut author Alyssa Hollingsworth comes a moving middle-grade story about living with fear, being a friend, and finding a new place to call home.
They say you can't get something for nothing, but nothing is all Sami has. When his grandfather’s most-prized possession―a traditional Afghan instrument called a rebab―is stolen, Sami resolves to get it back. He finds it at a music store, but it costs $700, and Sami doesn’t have even one penny. What he does have is a keychain that has caught the eye of his classmate. If he trades the keychain for something more valuable, could he keep trading until he has $700? Sami is about to find out.
The Eleventh Trade is both a classic middle school story and a story about being a refugee. Like Katherine Applegate, author of Wishtree , Alyssa Hollingsworth tackles a big issue with a light touch.
They say you can't get something for nothing, but nothing is all Sami has. When his grandfather’s most-prized possession―a traditional Afghan instrument called a rebab―is stolen, Sami resolves to get it back. He finds it at a music store, but it costs $700, and Sami doesn’t have even one penny. What he does have is a keychain that has caught the eye of his classmate. If he trades the keychain for something more valuable, could he keep trading until he has $700? Sami is about to find out.
The Eleventh Trade is both a classic middle school story and a story about being a refugee. Like Katherine Applegate, author of Wishtree , Alyssa Hollingsworth tackles a big issue with a light touch.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2018
18 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Alyssa Hollingsworth
9 books123 followersAlyssa was born in small-town Milton, Florida, but life as a roving military kid soon mellowed her (unintelligibly strong) Southern accent. Wanderlust is in her blood, and she’s always waiting for the wind to change. Stories remain her constant.
Alyssa received her BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Berry College. From Bath Spa University, she received her MA with honors in Writing for Young People and her Ph.D in Creative Writing with her thesis Breaking the Curse: Retelling a Folk Fairy Tale to Explore Trauma and Healing in Novels for Young People.
She is represented by Amber Caraveo at Skylark Literary. Her award-winning debut The Eleventh Trade and her second book The Invisible Boy were published by Roaring Brook/Macmillan (U.S.) and Piccadilly Press (U.K.).
Alyssa loves crafting, cozy video games, and going on adventures with her nerdy husband and mischievous dog.
Alyssa received her BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Berry College. From Bath Spa University, she received her MA with honors in Writing for Young People and her Ph.D in Creative Writing with her thesis Breaking the Curse: Retelling a Folk Fairy Tale to Explore Trauma and Healing in Novels for Young People.
She is represented by Amber Caraveo at Skylark Literary. Her award-winning debut The Eleventh Trade and her second book The Invisible Boy were published by Roaring Brook/Macmillan (U.S.) and Piccadilly Press (U.K.).
Alyssa loves crafting, cozy video games, and going on adventures with her nerdy husband and mischievous dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
June 9, 2018
(I was trying to think of a gif to be funny about my own review of my own book but I couldn't choose just one so here you go)
November 15, 2018
My heart is so full right now. I've just closed the book, and my heart is both crying and singing in joy.
It has been a while that a book has moved me so much. But
The Eleventh Trade
is one of a kind and I know it will remain in my heart forever. It's one of those books you want to shout from the rooftops about, and especially thank the author sincerely for writing it and making the world a better place.
So where do I start? And how do I do this book justice? The Eleventh Trade is both simple and at the same time it contains SO much - in a way, like a child's heart and mind does, so clean and simple, not yet complex and full of labirynths and riddles, but just as full of life and feeling, experience and eagerness
The Eleventh Trade is for you whether you're an adult who is looking for a nice evening read for their child (possibly to read with them!), or if you're just like me and happen to find happiness in reading middle grade books yourself. It's a book about kindness and community, and most importantly, it teaches respect for a culture we are often used to seeing through the skewed lens of the "far away news".
If you want to read all of my reasons of why I adored The Eleventh Trade, please visit the full review on my blog.
Triggers include:
I thank the author, Piccadilly Press and Bonnier Zaffre for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Read Post On My Blog | Themed Bookstagram | Quick Update Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
So where do I start? And how do I do this book justice? The Eleventh Trade is both simple and at the same time it contains SO much - in a way, like a child's heart and mind does, so clean and simple, not yet complex and full of labirynths and riddles, but just as full of life and feeling, experience and eagerness
The Eleventh Trade is for you whether you're an adult who is looking for a nice evening read for their child (possibly to read with them!), or if you're just like me and happen to find happiness in reading middle grade books yourself. It's a book about kindness and community, and most importantly, it teaches respect for a culture we are often used to seeing through the skewed lens of the "far away news".
If you want to read all of my reasons of why I adored The Eleventh Trade, please visit the full review on my blog.
Triggers include:
I thank the author, Piccadilly Press and Bonnier Zaffre for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Read Post On My Blog | Themed Bookstagram | Quick Update Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
June 19, 2018
*I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've been hearing about this book for so long that I was ridiculously excited to finally be able to read it and fit all the little snippets I'd heard/read/seen about it together. I was not disappointed. I read the last third of this book on my train journey home from work with a wet face and a curious lady peering at me worriedly from the seat opposite me. When I finally stopped crying with sadness and cried with happiness, she actually wanted to know what the book was so that she could read it too. This book is thoughtful and poignant, important without ever losing sight of hope.
The Eleventh Trade begins with Sami, a lonely boy who's reluctant to make friends, recently come to Boston with his grandfather from Afghanistan. Travelling with them all the way from home and across Europe is a precious rebab, a traditional Afghan musical instrument beloved to them both. When it's stolen from Sami, he feels the loss is his fault and wants nothing more than to get it back for his grandfather. Then he discovers it for sale in a music store with a $700 price tag and a time limit: Sami has just one month to make the money, but how? Let the trades begin!
I've read a little of Alyssa's writing before, as well as devouring her blog for all its fantastic writing tips, but it was wonderful to read this book and really see how well she writes across a full novel. With a tight plot and nothing extraneous or unnecessary, the pacing flows with an ease and confidence it's hard to find in some books by authors who've been writing novels for decades already. I was hooked right from the start. It's is an utterly wonderful story, full of so much character and emotion, friendship, heart and hope. I loved every moment, every scene, every page. This is a story that perfectly balances plot-driven and character-driven storytelling with an arresting POV, lots of engaging twists and turns, thoughtful emotional depth, and one very satisfying ending.
Sami is of course my favourite character. He's introspective and determined, quiet, caring and curious. His voice is strong and immersive, engaging me quickly into his worldview and thoughts. I loved following Sami on his journey, not only to try and recover his grandfather's stolen rebab, but to find friends, community, safety, healing, and to settle in a new home. I felt so close to him and so much hope for him, I just wanted to wrap him up in a big hug. He's a character who I think will stay with me for a very long time. Every character felt real and important, though, with even secondary and background characters vibrant and leaping off the page with their own lives buzzing in the undercurrents of the story. No matter the age of the character, they always felt very real and grounded in their lives, cultures, and histories. I could really believe these characters were real, they were so sensitively drawn. This gave the novel a real sense of both place and community, especially in the times when they all come together.
I also didn't expect to enjoy reading about a children's football club as much as I did, but every scene involving football is purposeful and well-crafted, with detail that makes picturing exactly what's going on easy. And because Sami and his friends cared about it, I also found myself invested in it. Alyssa has a great ear for children's dialogue and I found myself snickering at how accurate some of the interactions between the kids were. The Pashto and Arabic phrases were also really well inserted into the narrative, and despite there being a glossary in the back of the book, it never really felt needed because the meanings were often explained alongside the phrases or inferred in the context, which made them very accessible.
A big part of The Eleventh Trade is the sobering truth of so many refugees and migrants around the world, escaping from war and persecution, trauma and loss. It's easy to see how much research and how many people's stories went into the small moments in this novel, something Alyssa talks a little about in her notes at the back of the book. Alyssa sensitively traverses Sami's complex repressed emotions, his anxieties, memories, trauma, culture shock, and social difficulties and makes them personal, accessible and impactful. There are a lot of important lessons about empathy in this book. And as well as addressing many other important themes, such as bullying and racism, honesty, respect, sensitivity and awareness of others, grief and loss, family and friendship, and fighting fears, it's also rich in subtle details about day-to-day Muslim life. This book takes place during Ramadan, and the difficulties of holding on to your own culture while also adjusting to the attitudes and ways of life in a new country were another layer to the narrative. I loved learning more about Ramadan and Eid, Afghan culture, and Islamic customs. I'd also love to one day see a rebab myself and hear one played.
I could probably out-gush the character limit about this book, there's just so much in it, and it was such a pleasure to read. It's so packed with themes and questions that would also make it a fantastic class book for schools. Seriously, when this book gets released, I'm buying it for every kid I know. While this book is important and moving, it's also full of hope and fun and is wonderfully compelling. It's an incredible debut, and I hope, a future children's classic.
I've been hearing about this book for so long that I was ridiculously excited to finally be able to read it and fit all the little snippets I'd heard/read/seen about it together. I was not disappointed. I read the last third of this book on my train journey home from work with a wet face and a curious lady peering at me worriedly from the seat opposite me. When I finally stopped crying with sadness and cried with happiness, she actually wanted to know what the book was so that she could read it too. This book is thoughtful and poignant, important without ever losing sight of hope.
The Eleventh Trade begins with Sami, a lonely boy who's reluctant to make friends, recently come to Boston with his grandfather from Afghanistan. Travelling with them all the way from home and across Europe is a precious rebab, a traditional Afghan musical instrument beloved to them both. When it's stolen from Sami, he feels the loss is his fault and wants nothing more than to get it back for his grandfather. Then he discovers it for sale in a music store with a $700 price tag and a time limit: Sami has just one month to make the money, but how? Let the trades begin!
I've read a little of Alyssa's writing before, as well as devouring her blog for all its fantastic writing tips, but it was wonderful to read this book and really see how well she writes across a full novel. With a tight plot and nothing extraneous or unnecessary, the pacing flows with an ease and confidence it's hard to find in some books by authors who've been writing novels for decades already. I was hooked right from the start. It's is an utterly wonderful story, full of so much character and emotion, friendship, heart and hope. I loved every moment, every scene, every page. This is a story that perfectly balances plot-driven and character-driven storytelling with an arresting POV, lots of engaging twists and turns, thoughtful emotional depth, and one very satisfying ending.
Sami is of course my favourite character. He's introspective and determined, quiet, caring and curious. His voice is strong and immersive, engaging me quickly into his worldview and thoughts. I loved following Sami on his journey, not only to try and recover his grandfather's stolen rebab, but to find friends, community, safety, healing, and to settle in a new home. I felt so close to him and so much hope for him, I just wanted to wrap him up in a big hug. He's a character who I think will stay with me for a very long time. Every character felt real and important, though, with even secondary and background characters vibrant and leaping off the page with their own lives buzzing in the undercurrents of the story. No matter the age of the character, they always felt very real and grounded in their lives, cultures, and histories. I could really believe these characters were real, they were so sensitively drawn. This gave the novel a real sense of both place and community, especially in the times when they all come together.
I also didn't expect to enjoy reading about a children's football club as much as I did, but every scene involving football is purposeful and well-crafted, with detail that makes picturing exactly what's going on easy. And because Sami and his friends cared about it, I also found myself invested in it. Alyssa has a great ear for children's dialogue and I found myself snickering at how accurate some of the interactions between the kids were. The Pashto and Arabic phrases were also really well inserted into the narrative, and despite there being a glossary in the back of the book, it never really felt needed because the meanings were often explained alongside the phrases or inferred in the context, which made them very accessible.
A big part of The Eleventh Trade is the sobering truth of so many refugees and migrants around the world, escaping from war and persecution, trauma and loss. It's easy to see how much research and how many people's stories went into the small moments in this novel, something Alyssa talks a little about in her notes at the back of the book. Alyssa sensitively traverses Sami's complex repressed emotions, his anxieties, memories, trauma, culture shock, and social difficulties and makes them personal, accessible and impactful. There are a lot of important lessons about empathy in this book. And as well as addressing many other important themes, such as bullying and racism, honesty, respect, sensitivity and awareness of others, grief and loss, family and friendship, and fighting fears, it's also rich in subtle details about day-to-day Muslim life. This book takes place during Ramadan, and the difficulties of holding on to your own culture while also adjusting to the attitudes and ways of life in a new country were another layer to the narrative. I loved learning more about Ramadan and Eid, Afghan culture, and Islamic customs. I'd also love to one day see a rebab myself and hear one played.
I could probably out-gush the character limit about this book, there's just so much in it, and it was such a pleasure to read. It's so packed with themes and questions that would also make it a fantastic class book for schools. Seriously, when this book gets released, I'm buying it for every kid I know. While this book is important and moving, it's also full of hope and fun and is wonderfully compelling. It's an incredible debut, and I hope, a future children's classic.
September 14, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This will not affect my review in any way.
From the very first chapter—in fact, page—of The Eleventh Trade, I knew I was in for something very special. It’s very rare for me to have that feeling super early on in the story, and my hunch was right. The Eleventh Trade is one of the most heart-warming and inspirational books I have ever read. The ending made me tear up, and I have not cried from reading a story in such a long time. I can’t even remember the last time I ever did that from a book. The Eleventh Trade will break and re-piece your heart over and over again. Readers will rejoice with Sami during his triumphs and become saddened by his failures.
Alyssa Hollingsworth’s debut novel helped changed my perspective on the refugee crisis today. It is a vivid and real portrayal of the struggles that Afghan refugees endure as they adjust to life in the United States. Sami had to face so many trials during his quest to gain back his grandfather’s rebab, such as raising money from virtually nothing, dealing with an impending deadline, being forced to lie to his only remaining relative, enduring vile racism from one of his classmates, and coping with trauma from a horrific experience in Afghanistan. You don’t really think about the struggles that these people have and had to go through during their search for a better life. It’s shocking to think how many refugees such as Sami are being labeled as terrorists out of racism and prejudice in their new countries while terrorist groups oppressed them and their family members out of pure evil in their home countries. It’s very rattling to think about this. This is the reason why I love contemporary Middle Grade so much—novels such as The Eleventh Trade cover such important issues in a way that wrenches your heart, changes your viewpoint, and makes you love the goodness in humanity even more.
Sami’s story of perseverance is truly inspiring. His quest to raise $700 to buy back his grandfather’s rebab is full of new friends, moments of triumph, bouts of trouble, and ultimately love and sacrifice. I fell in love with Sami from the very first page, and I rooted for him to succeed every step of the way. His deep affection for his grandfather and for the music of his mother nation is very contagious—I truly could feel the passion he had for soccer, for his family and friends, and for the rebab. I loved how this tragedy turned out to be a blessing in disguise: He not only found new friends but also a newfound hope for a better future.
The Eleventh Trade is truly one of the most memorable and touching novels I have ever read. From having his grandfather’s rebab stolen to dealing with trauma and racism on his quest to regain it back, Sami is a character that readers will fall in love with and cheer on. Alyssa Hollingsworth’s debut will melt, break, and wrench your heart over and over and over again. Her writing truly emanates the pains, joys, sufferings, and trials of being a refugee from a war-torn nation. I would definitely recommend this book to students, teachers, parents—virtually everyone—in a heartbeat. The Eleventh Trade is a much needed and relevant story in today’s world full of uncertainty, grief, hate, and hope.
From the very first chapter—in fact, page—of The Eleventh Trade, I knew I was in for something very special. It’s very rare for me to have that feeling super early on in the story, and my hunch was right. The Eleventh Trade is one of the most heart-warming and inspirational books I have ever read. The ending made me tear up, and I have not cried from reading a story in such a long time. I can’t even remember the last time I ever did that from a book. The Eleventh Trade will break and re-piece your heart over and over again. Readers will rejoice with Sami during his triumphs and become saddened by his failures.
Alyssa Hollingsworth’s debut novel helped changed my perspective on the refugee crisis today. It is a vivid and real portrayal of the struggles that Afghan refugees endure as they adjust to life in the United States. Sami had to face so many trials during his quest to gain back his grandfather’s rebab, such as raising money from virtually nothing, dealing with an impending deadline, being forced to lie to his only remaining relative, enduring vile racism from one of his classmates, and coping with trauma from a horrific experience in Afghanistan. You don’t really think about the struggles that these people have and had to go through during their search for a better life. It’s shocking to think how many refugees such as Sami are being labeled as terrorists out of racism and prejudice in their new countries while terrorist groups oppressed them and their family members out of pure evil in their home countries. It’s very rattling to think about this. This is the reason why I love contemporary Middle Grade so much—novels such as The Eleventh Trade cover such important issues in a way that wrenches your heart, changes your viewpoint, and makes you love the goodness in humanity even more.
Sami’s story of perseverance is truly inspiring. His quest to raise $700 to buy back his grandfather’s rebab is full of new friends, moments of triumph, bouts of trouble, and ultimately love and sacrifice. I fell in love with Sami from the very first page, and I rooted for him to succeed every step of the way. His deep affection for his grandfather and for the music of his mother nation is very contagious—I truly could feel the passion he had for soccer, for his family and friends, and for the rebab. I loved how this tragedy turned out to be a blessing in disguise: He not only found new friends but also a newfound hope for a better future.
The Eleventh Trade is truly one of the most memorable and touching novels I have ever read. From having his grandfather’s rebab stolen to dealing with trauma and racism on his quest to regain it back, Sami is a character that readers will fall in love with and cheer on. Alyssa Hollingsworth’s debut will melt, break, and wrench your heart over and over and over again. Her writing truly emanates the pains, joys, sufferings, and trials of being a refugee from a war-torn nation. I would definitely recommend this book to students, teachers, parents—virtually everyone—in a heartbeat. The Eleventh Trade is a much needed and relevant story in today’s world full of uncertainty, grief, hate, and hope.
July 3, 2023
I highly recommend this book!
Sami and his grandfather are Afghan refugees navigating life in Boston. Sami finds unexpected friendship and community through classmates and their families, the rec center (soccer), and people from his mosque. The story takes place during Ramadan fasting and ends with Eid al-Fitr.
It’s a truly beautiful picture of kids from different cultures and backgrounds coming together to support each other! I also loved learning more about the culture of the Pashtun people. I was even moved to tears a couple of times.
There are flashbacks and memories from their time in Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and Greece. They had some harrowing experiences, and Sami seems to have PTSD (e.g. his body reacts to fireworks as if they are bombs; and being near water sends him back to an awful boat escape they experienced with other refugees). They also have survivor’s guilt, but that’s not a main theme.
I came across the author’s sister’s recommendation for The Eleventh Trade. She said the author worked extensively with Afghan refugees to write the main character’s perspective, and that is apparent in the book’s acknowledgments as well.
Content info to consider for kid readers:
Some references to people dying in various ways in Afghanistan because of the Taliban, but not detailed (beheading is mentioned with zero details)
A story about a suicide bomber and the aftermath in Afghanistan
There is a ~1 page summary (not graphic) of a woman’s experience with her abusive husband in Afghanistan. He punished her for sneaking out to go to school and eventually locked her in the house. When she was discovered playing an instrument at home, he burned her with acid. She survives, escapes, and eventually makes it to the US.
Two situations where a school bully calls Sami things like “terrorist” and “bomb lover”. The bully gets in trouble for hate speech, but he has no remorse.
Sami is making trades to hopefully buy back his grandfather’s instrument that was stolen. He wants it to be a surprise, so he lies quite a bit when his grandfather asks questions - this makes him feel guilty, but he rationalizes it as being for a good cause. He does have his community helping him with the effort.
References to one kid’s mom meeting with lawyers / going to court because she’s getting divorced.
No romance.
Sami and his grandfather are Afghan refugees navigating life in Boston. Sami finds unexpected friendship and community through classmates and their families, the rec center (soccer), and people from his mosque. The story takes place during Ramadan fasting and ends with Eid al-Fitr.
It’s a truly beautiful picture of kids from different cultures and backgrounds coming together to support each other! I also loved learning more about the culture of the Pashtun people. I was even moved to tears a couple of times.
There are flashbacks and memories from their time in Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and Greece. They had some harrowing experiences, and Sami seems to have PTSD (e.g. his body reacts to fireworks as if they are bombs; and being near water sends him back to an awful boat escape they experienced with other refugees). They also have survivor’s guilt, but that’s not a main theme.
I came across the author’s sister’s recommendation for The Eleventh Trade. She said the author worked extensively with Afghan refugees to write the main character’s perspective, and that is apparent in the book’s acknowledgments as well.
Content info to consider for kid readers:
Some references to people dying in various ways in Afghanistan because of the Taliban, but not detailed (beheading is mentioned with zero details)
A story about a suicide bomber and the aftermath in Afghanistan
There is a ~1 page summary (not graphic) of a woman’s experience with her abusive husband in Afghanistan. He punished her for sneaking out to go to school and eventually locked her in the house. When she was discovered playing an instrument at home, he burned her with acid. She survives, escapes, and eventually makes it to the US.
Two situations where a school bully calls Sami things like “terrorist” and “bomb lover”. The bully gets in trouble for hate speech, but he has no remorse.
Sami is making trades to hopefully buy back his grandfather’s instrument that was stolen. He wants it to be a surprise, so he lies quite a bit when his grandfather asks questions - this makes him feel guilty, but he rationalizes it as being for a good cause. He does have his community helping him with the effort.
References to one kid’s mom meeting with lawyers / going to court because she’s getting divorced.
No romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. It carries your heart along with each page that’s turned. I cried, got goosebumps on my arms, held my breath, and cried some more. The pages whisper “hope” as the words teach us about Afghan culture, the refugee experience, and the painful healing process of confronting our memories. I love the prominent theme of family that resounds throughout the book. It’s relationships based on blood, relationships built on shared experiences, and relationships built on love and friendships that constitute family. You will benefit from reading this book. It offers a fresh, heart wrenching perspective that I believe is so necessary in today’s climate.
May 13, 2022
What an endearing contemporary story about a boy named Sami and his grandfather who have fled Afghanistan and reside in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sami's new friends are the ultimate definition of what genuine and loyal relationships among peers should be to make the adolescent years memorable in a positive way. I highly recommend this novel for middle schoolers to read. My two students whom I read this with both enjoyed it very much.
October 15, 2018
Incredible book! Loved this one so much. Fantastic characters and compelling story. I sure hope they’ll be a sequel!
June 21, 2020
What a beautifully-written book! It's not easy to deal with things like loss, trauma, and the refugee experience in YA literature, but Hollingsworth navigates those troubled waters with a gentle hand. As Sami tries to regain what he has lost, he finds kinship, friends, and family. The relationship between Baba and Sami is also deeply effective, and the familiar bond of grandfather and grandson helps to develop an understanding of the Pashto culture. An excellent read!
January 5, 2021
Warning: The following review is a rambler.
This book caught me off guard. The writing isn't all that beautiful, at times the character even vexed me (talk to your grandfather! He loves you!), and yet this book has a lot to offer. It's odd because I'm reading it while also reading a thriller with terrorists, bombings and international intrigue set in the Middle East. Same locale, such different takes. I really value the perspective provided in this middle grade book.
There's soccer in here. That's a draw for some kids, I'm sure. More importantly, it serves as the bridge that brings Sami to his new community. The team dynamic of the characters felt pretty flimsy, though, including the coach. At one point where the coach disciplines one of his players for hate speech, the character's reactions seemed authentic, but aside from that, he's kind of a zero.
I appreciated how the author layers Sami's challenges without making them melodramatic. While we are disgusted and angered by the harassment he endures from Patrick, Sami just wants it to go away. In the list of problems he's facing, the bully is just static that gets in the way, not something he's really afraid of.
There's a lot for Sami to adjust to and we experience his discomfort first hand. The first person narrator we understand so well is struggling to master English. As an American woman, I felt awkward for Sami when he adjusted to sharing public space with girls and women he isn't related to. I appreciated his flexibility and willingness to adapt to the cultural norms of his new home. Those cringey moments when American characters inadvertently made Sami and his grandfather flail were great examples of everyday discomforts faced by people thrown into a new culture by necessity if not choice.
The story is most interesting when Sami flashes back to his life in Afghanistan. We get a sense of the diversity of people in his home country and the constant tension of living among the Taliban. The descriptions of his mother and father were the most convincingly drawn characters. Compared to the flat parents of his American friends, Sami's parents are far more interesting. It also builds a genuine appreciation for the life that Sami has lost and can never recover, no matter how happily the story ends.
Hollingsworth's approach to story telling feels like a random string of beads. There are varying levels of detail, so what you see is what you get. Still, Hollingsworth's story feels genuine in the variety of family structures she presents. We have a single parent struggling to provide her for ADHD son, Dan. Then there's Patrick's overly indulgent helicopter mom. Ayesha's two parent family is kind, but not particularly interesting.
Most importantly, through Sami we experience the lasting impacts of trauma. While many stories focus on an immigrant's path from danger to safety, this story develops a more realistic concept about the immigrant story in which memories and trauma make Sami's life an ongoing injury. He asks his grandfather what there is to live for and look forward to when loss has been so severe and memories are so painful. Baba struggles to answer.
While I wouldn't say there are loose ends in this story, I did feel that many elements were just tossed in and left. They enhanced the story in some ways, but the didn't really coalesce into something greater. We have multiple references to the military (combat boots, Dan's absentee veteran dad), but what this signifies in unclear. In fact, at one point, Dan misses soccer practice for a court case, but we never get the details aside from a snide remark from Patrick about the dad not wanting anything to do with Dan. Is this PTSD? Something else? Who knows?
As someone who lived in Boston for a couple of years, I enjoyed the descriptions of the area. They felt authentic and seeing the city through the eyes of Sami brought it back to me.
Overall, I felt that I gained insight into what life in the US might be like for an Afghani refugee. I also got a greater appreciation for the surrounding community of immigrants from other Muslim nations and a hint at the lives they left behind in their various home countries, too. That's a lot to get from a little novel about a soccer playing kids who makes trades to recover his grandfather's stolen rebab.
This book caught me off guard. The writing isn't all that beautiful, at times the character even vexed me (talk to your grandfather! He loves you!), and yet this book has a lot to offer. It's odd because I'm reading it while also reading a thriller with terrorists, bombings and international intrigue set in the Middle East. Same locale, such different takes. I really value the perspective provided in this middle grade book.
There's soccer in here. That's a draw for some kids, I'm sure. More importantly, it serves as the bridge that brings Sami to his new community. The team dynamic of the characters felt pretty flimsy, though, including the coach. At one point where the coach disciplines one of his players for hate speech, the character's reactions seemed authentic, but aside from that, he's kind of a zero.
I appreciated how the author layers Sami's challenges without making them melodramatic. While we are disgusted and angered by the harassment he endures from Patrick, Sami just wants it to go away. In the list of problems he's facing, the bully is just static that gets in the way, not something he's really afraid of.
There's a lot for Sami to adjust to and we experience his discomfort first hand. The first person narrator we understand so well is struggling to master English. As an American woman, I felt awkward for Sami when he adjusted to sharing public space with girls and women he isn't related to. I appreciated his flexibility and willingness to adapt to the cultural norms of his new home. Those cringey moments when American characters inadvertently made Sami and his grandfather flail were great examples of everyday discomforts faced by people thrown into a new culture by necessity if not choice.
The story is most interesting when Sami flashes back to his life in Afghanistan. We get a sense of the diversity of people in his home country and the constant tension of living among the Taliban. The descriptions of his mother and father were the most convincingly drawn characters. Compared to the flat parents of his American friends, Sami's parents are far more interesting. It also builds a genuine appreciation for the life that Sami has lost and can never recover, no matter how happily the story ends.
Hollingsworth's approach to story telling feels like a random string of beads. There are varying levels of detail, so what you see is what you get. Still, Hollingsworth's story feels genuine in the variety of family structures she presents. We have a single parent struggling to provide her for ADHD son, Dan. Then there's Patrick's overly indulgent helicopter mom. Ayesha's two parent family is kind, but not particularly interesting.
Most importantly, through Sami we experience the lasting impacts of trauma. While many stories focus on an immigrant's path from danger to safety, this story develops a more realistic concept about the immigrant story in which memories and trauma make Sami's life an ongoing injury. He asks his grandfather what there is to live for and look forward to when loss has been so severe and memories are so painful. Baba struggles to answer.
While I wouldn't say there are loose ends in this story, I did feel that many elements were just tossed in and left. They enhanced the story in some ways, but the didn't really coalesce into something greater. We have multiple references to the military (combat boots, Dan's absentee veteran dad), but what this signifies in unclear. In fact, at one point, Dan misses soccer practice for a court case, but we never get the details aside from a snide remark from Patrick about the dad not wanting anything to do with Dan. Is this PTSD? Something else? Who knows?
As someone who lived in Boston for a couple of years, I enjoyed the descriptions of the area. They felt authentic and seeing the city through the eyes of Sami brought it back to me.
Overall, I felt that I gained insight into what life in the US might be like for an Afghani refugee. I also got a greater appreciation for the surrounding community of immigrants from other Muslim nations and a hint at the lives they left behind in their various home countries, too. That's a lot to get from a little novel about a soccer playing kids who makes trades to recover his grandfather's stolen rebab.
July 28, 2023
4.5* due to some content considerations. I wouldn't give this to my nearly 11 year old but would recommend to high schoolers or adults.
This tells the story of 12 year old Sami and his grandfather, Afghanistan refugees living in Boston. Sami is trying to regain his grandfather’s rebab (a traditional Afghan instrument) after it is stolen. Along the way he and his grandfather discover friends, community, healing, and hope. I didn’t want to stop reading this book, I was engaged throughout and felt I was seeing with Sami’s eyes. This story touched my heart. I felt I got a glimpse of the refugee experience, it strengthened my faith through reading of Sami and his grandfather’s observance of their Muslim faith, particularly Ramadan, and I felt uplifted and inspired by the characters in the story. I was very impressed with the author’s note and her descriptions of Afghanistan and its people. It truly changed how I view the country.
This story is not a good fit for sensitive readers, particularly regarding a bully at school. There is significant name calling throughout but there are consequences for the racial comments.
Considerations: pg 15 graffiti in boy’s bathroom (read, not spoken): “Ms. Nolan sucks!”
pg 34 describing a stain on the cafeteria ceiling: “People say a teacher’s body was stuffed up there after she was murdered.” Referred to later (once) as “murder corner” No other discussion on this topic.
Used by 7th graders: jerk, idiot, retards, “flipping jerk,” “dirty cheat,” loser, “bacon brain,” shut up!, “racist moron,” “filthy liar”
Racial slurs from 7th grade bully to 12 yr old Sami: “bomb lover,” “terrorist,” “ISIS Junior,” “this Arab,” “the terrorist.” These situations are addressed by adults: a teacher, a principal (who calls it out as hate speech) with the involved parents and students, and an adult coach who tells the bully it violates the honor code and he is to leave. **This bully does not change or improve throughout the book, however his former friend (who becomes Sami's closest friend) was on the same trajectory and makes different decisions throughout the book showing it is possible to change.
As a complete aside it was so awesome to read that the author was homeschooled after 3rd grade :)
This tells the story of 12 year old Sami and his grandfather, Afghanistan refugees living in Boston. Sami is trying to regain his grandfather’s rebab (a traditional Afghan instrument) after it is stolen. Along the way he and his grandfather discover friends, community, healing, and hope. I didn’t want to stop reading this book, I was engaged throughout and felt I was seeing with Sami’s eyes. This story touched my heart. I felt I got a glimpse of the refugee experience, it strengthened my faith through reading of Sami and his grandfather’s observance of their Muslim faith, particularly Ramadan, and I felt uplifted and inspired by the characters in the story. I was very impressed with the author’s note and her descriptions of Afghanistan and its people. It truly changed how I view the country.
This story is not a good fit for sensitive readers, particularly regarding a bully at school. There is significant name calling throughout but there are consequences for the racial comments.
Considerations: pg 15 graffiti in boy’s bathroom (read, not spoken): “Ms. Nolan sucks!”
pg 34 describing a stain on the cafeteria ceiling: “People say a teacher’s body was stuffed up there after she was murdered.” Referred to later (once) as “murder corner” No other discussion on this topic.
Used by 7th graders: jerk, idiot, retards, “flipping jerk,” “dirty cheat,” loser, “bacon brain,” shut up!, “racist moron,” “filthy liar”
Racial slurs from 7th grade bully to 12 yr old Sami: “bomb lover,” “terrorist,” “ISIS Junior,” “this Arab,” “the terrorist.” These situations are addressed by adults: a teacher, a principal (who calls it out as hate speech) with the involved parents and students, and an adult coach who tells the bully it violates the honor code and he is to leave. **This bully does not change or improve throughout the book, however his former friend (who becomes Sami's closest friend) was on the same trajectory and makes different decisions throughout the book showing it is possible to change.
As a complete aside it was so awesome to read that the author was homeschooled after 3rd grade :)
July 28, 2023
This book is about a 12 year old boy with post traumatic stress who came to the USA, to Boston, as a refugee from Afghanistan with his grandpa after his parents died. The premise of the book is similar to the game called "Bigger, Better." He aims to trade his belongings for things that are worth more until he can buy back the thing that was stolen from his grandpa.
This book was very well written. It takes place in the present. One of my favorite parts was the description of a circuit board as seen from his perspective. I also like that between lines of dialog, his thoughts and feelings are detailed out. It helped to better understand the experience of a refugee kid with English as a second language, America as a strange culture, and post trauma wedged in as well.
The characters on the soccer team were so wonderful, supportive and awesome.
Although the main character is a 12 year old, I think it could be nearly the same story if he were older. In fact, my first glance at the book title looked like The Eleventh Grade, so that first impression had it in my mind that he was 16 or so and I had to remind myself that he's just 12.
This book was very well written. It takes place in the present. One of my favorite parts was the description of a circuit board as seen from his perspective. I also like that between lines of dialog, his thoughts and feelings are detailed out. It helped to better understand the experience of a refugee kid with English as a second language, America as a strange culture, and post trauma wedged in as well.
The characters on the soccer team were so wonderful, supportive and awesome.
Although the main character is a 12 year old, I think it could be nearly the same story if he were older. In fact, my first glance at the book title looked like The Eleventh Grade, so that first impression had it in my mind that he was 16 or so and I had to remind myself that he's just 12.
February 10, 2020
"Something jolts the rebab. Suddenly my hands are empty. My eyes fly open. A teenager hurries with the crowd toward the platform. The rebab is in his hands. He snatched it from my lap."
Sami was only playing his grandfather's musical instrument since he went to use the bathroom while they were at the train station. A rebab is a traditional musical instrument from Afghanistan. This rebab has great sentimental value as it is one of the only mementos that Sami and his grandfather were able to keep as they fled Afghanistan and became refugees in several countries before landing in the United States.
Sami vows to get his grandfather's beloved rebab back, but how can do this when he has no money? Soon Sami is off on a trading adventure to earn the money needed to rescue the rebab from a pawn shop.
Students looking for riveting realistic fiction will love this story. My students who come from Afghanistan will love having a story full of familiar customs and items.
Sami was only playing his grandfather's musical instrument since he went to use the bathroom while they were at the train station. A rebab is a traditional musical instrument from Afghanistan. This rebab has great sentimental value as it is one of the only mementos that Sami and his grandfather were able to keep as they fled Afghanistan and became refugees in several countries before landing in the United States.
Sami vows to get his grandfather's beloved rebab back, but how can do this when he has no money? Soon Sami is off on a trading adventure to earn the money needed to rescue the rebab from a pawn shop.
Students looking for riveting realistic fiction will love this story. My students who come from Afghanistan will love having a story full of familiar customs and items.
February 12, 2020
My 5th grader and I read this for our library book club. It's a beautiful story of a 12-year-old boy and his grandfather who come to America as refugees from Afghanistan fleeing the Taliban. When his grandfather's rebab, a traditional Afghan musical instrument and their source of income as well as joy and a link to their home culture, is stolen out of Sami's hands, he devises a system of trading items to ultimately win it back. Some events are too coincidental and contrived to be quite believable, but that's OK. This is a touching story, and I always enjoy learning words, phrases, and customs of other cultures.
March 20, 2020
Sami a young kid that is less fortunate. When Samis most prized position is stolen Sami tries his hardest to get it back for him. When Sami saw it in a music store he thought of buying it back but the instrument coasts 700$ and Sami doesn't have a single penny. The only thing that Sami has is a key chain that he says his classmate saw interesting. What Sami thought he would do is keep trading until he gets to the value of 700$.
January 3, 2019
A lovely book by an even lovelier person!
This book is important, beautiful, and well-written! Alyssa certainly knows how to tackle bigger world issues, well-developed characters, and diverse emotions. The world is better now thanks to this book!
Can't wait to see what Alyssa comes out with next.
This book is important, beautiful, and well-written! Alyssa certainly knows how to tackle bigger world issues, well-developed characters, and diverse emotions. The world is better now thanks to this book!
Can't wait to see what Alyssa comes out with next.
January 19, 2019
This was one of the best young adult books I have ever read. The author came to speak at our middle school on a day I was subbing and I got to hear her speak firsthand. This book was thoughtful, suspenseful, emotional and heartfelt.
July 1, 2023
I loved this one. I learned a lot, too. I loved Sami’s quest to get his Baba’s rebab back, I loved the truth in how people treated him and how others (and Sami) reacted, I loved that it wasn’t cliche, I loved that - even though I lost some along the way - there was hope infused throughout. I loved that Sami’s story came out slowly, and the fact that he still has many stories from others to learn. I’m using this one for a first-chapter Friday for my seventh graders, for sure.
September 21, 2018
What an amazing story - this was a breakout debut for Ms Hollingworth! It was such a enjoyable book to read - I was introduced to a culture I knew little about, and in a gentle manner. Learning about the lives of the Afghan people through 12yo refugeee Sami's eyes was eye-opening and heartwarming. I could hardly put the book down! Now that I'm finished reading it for myself, I look forward to reading it to my children. I hope that Ms Hollingworth continues to write!
February 24, 2019
This book is wonderfully written and the characters, Sami in particular, are carefully drawn. Hollingsworth was able to paint a picture in my mind of Sami's life in the U.S. and of his previous life in Afghanistan. Challenges and triumphs fill the book. Well done.
May 3, 2023
You will love Sami and his grandfather. In a new country after losing almost everything, Sami is on a quest to regain the one precious token of the world that was taken away. This wonderful story invites you to join Sami and his new friends on his journey.
This book is written for middle grade readers, full of middle grade characters, and is very relatable without talking down to the reader. It also strikes a wonderful balance of dealing with very difficult real life trauma in a way that is not dark and oppressive nor dismissive. That is why the educators of the United Kingdom Literary Association chose The Eleventh Trade as the best book for classroom learning for the 8-10 year age group.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=y...
You will love living Sami's story with him, through the loss and the joy.
Amended: The Eleventh Trade has also been added to the school curriculum in Japan! And is published (in the local language) in the UK (Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand), France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and the Republic of Korea.
This book is written for middle grade readers, full of middle grade characters, and is very relatable without talking down to the reader. It also strikes a wonderful balance of dealing with very difficult real life trauma in a way that is not dark and oppressive nor dismissive. That is why the educators of the United Kingdom Literary Association chose The Eleventh Trade as the best book for classroom learning for the 8-10 year age group.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=y...
You will love living Sami's story with him, through the loss and the joy.
Amended: The Eleventh Trade has also been added to the school curriculum in Japan! And is published (in the local language) in the UK (Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand), France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and the Republic of Korea.
October 9, 2018
I absolutely loved this beautifully-written middle grade book. Sami is such a lovable main character with lots of depth. The author's personal experiences noted at the back of the book were interesting and it was so cool to see how they influenced the novel. The ending was touching and hopeful, and I may have shed a tear or two. This is the type of classic-feeling MG that is probably just as enjoyable for adults as children.
December 26, 2018
This book fills a niche for kids who want to understand middle eastern culture and the Taliban presence in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, no matter how many adults like this book and have a curiosity about the ongoing conflict in the middle east, I don't expect many kids to have the same reaction to this book.
The book opens with Sami and his Baba (grandfather) playing an Afghan instrument called a rebab in a Boston metro station. Sami becomes so absorbed while playing, that a thief easily snatches it, and takes off. Sami is heartbroken because it's one of the few things his grandfather brought with him from Afghanistan. Now his Baba has to find another way to make a living.
Sami is determined to find the rebab. Luckily he meets Dan, a classmate who plays soccer. Not only does Dan introduce Sami to Ebay, but after witnessing his soccer skills, he convinces Sami to join the Rec Center soccer team. Dan easily locates the stolen rebab on Ebay, but the pawnshop owner refuses to let it go for less than $700. Sami has $0. When the anti-Muslim bully Pete, offers to trade his broken iPod for Sami's Manchester United keychain, it opens Sami's eyes to a potential money maker. He begins trading up small items for better items, working his way towards the $700 needed to buy back the rebab.
We learn about the bombing that killed Sami's parents through flashbacks. The author keeps this important bit of information largely under wraps, revealing a little at a time. This can be a very effective writing technique to build suspense and keep the reader interested. Unfortunately, I found myself needing more than the author gave me. The description was weak on details. I could not emotionally connect or feel the severity of the tragedy like a book written by an author like Alan Gratz. When this happens I can't help but feel let down by the author. For that reason, this book is only average.
There were other things that bothered me, for example, the inconsistencies in Sami's English skills. Most of the time he seems to completely understand English, then out of the blue, he has trouble understanding. Inconsistencies like this make me question the authenticity of all the characters. Then there's the soccer. It's a minor part of the story, almost an add-on. There aren't enough books with a soccer theme, which is one of the main reasons I picked this one up, but truthfully, the soccer theme really doesn't go anywhere. It's not going to attract sports fans like a Mike Lupica, John Feinstein, or Tim Green book will.
The successful plot point in this book is the idea of trading up. It's like the guy who started with a red paperclip and after many trades ended up with a house. True story. Google it. It becomes the platform on which the author is able to relay the Afghan immigration story. It's not the reason she wrote the book, and yet it is the very thing that is most likely to compel MG readers to read it. When you're trying to think of a student who might read this, just know that it will not be a sports fan or historical fiction enthusiast.
The book opens with Sami and his Baba (grandfather) playing an Afghan instrument called a rebab in a Boston metro station. Sami becomes so absorbed while playing, that a thief easily snatches it, and takes off. Sami is heartbroken because it's one of the few things his grandfather brought with him from Afghanistan. Now his Baba has to find another way to make a living.
Sami is determined to find the rebab. Luckily he meets Dan, a classmate who plays soccer. Not only does Dan introduce Sami to Ebay, but after witnessing his soccer skills, he convinces Sami to join the Rec Center soccer team. Dan easily locates the stolen rebab on Ebay, but the pawnshop owner refuses to let it go for less than $700. Sami has $0. When the anti-Muslim bully Pete, offers to trade his broken iPod for Sami's Manchester United keychain, it opens Sami's eyes to a potential money maker. He begins trading up small items for better items, working his way towards the $700 needed to buy back the rebab.
We learn about the bombing that killed Sami's parents through flashbacks. The author keeps this important bit of information largely under wraps, revealing a little at a time. This can be a very effective writing technique to build suspense and keep the reader interested. Unfortunately, I found myself needing more than the author gave me. The description was weak on details. I could not emotionally connect or feel the severity of the tragedy like a book written by an author like Alan Gratz. When this happens I can't help but feel let down by the author. For that reason, this book is only average.
There were other things that bothered me, for example, the inconsistencies in Sami's English skills. Most of the time he seems to completely understand English, then out of the blue, he has trouble understanding. Inconsistencies like this make me question the authenticity of all the characters. Then there's the soccer. It's a minor part of the story, almost an add-on. There aren't enough books with a soccer theme, which is one of the main reasons I picked this one up, but truthfully, the soccer theme really doesn't go anywhere. It's not going to attract sports fans like a Mike Lupica, John Feinstein, or Tim Green book will.
The successful plot point in this book is the idea of trading up. It's like the guy who started with a red paperclip and after many trades ended up with a house. True story. Google it. It becomes the platform on which the author is able to relay the Afghan immigration story. It's not the reason she wrote the book, and yet it is the very thing that is most likely to compel MG readers to read it. When you're trying to think of a student who might read this, just know that it will not be a sports fan or historical fiction enthusiast.
February 20, 2019
Alternative Assessment: #5 from provided list of book report alternatives-Suppose you had written to a character in your book and asked him/her what he/she would like for their birthday. Make a list of ten presents and explain why the character would want them.
1. Soccer ball/gear: Sami makes friends at his new school in America by joining a soccer team.
2. Rebab: While Sami is waiting for his Baba in the restroom, their rebab is stolen from Sami.
3. Data for his cell phone: Sami is a little jealous of what his friends can do without wifi.
4. Items to trade: After the rebab gets stolen, Sami becomes determined to get it back. He tries to accomplish this by trading items to people to gain items of higher value.
5. Dried Mulberries: This is considered an Afghan treat, and is not readily available in America
6. Happiness for Baba: After the rebab is stolen, Sami notices that his Baba is not very happy anymore. Baba doesn't like his job and Sami spends most of the book trying to help Baba to be happy.
7. Good friends: When Sami starts at his new school, the school year is almost over and it was difficult at first for him to make friends.
8. A Manchester United keychain: Sami had one that Baba had given him as a gift in their travels to America, but Sami ended up trading it very early in his quest for the rebab. Baba noticed when it was gone and is very disappointed in Sami.
9. His cousins: After the attack that happened at a wedding for some of his family members, he has no cousins left and he misses them greatly.
10. His parents: Sami carries quite a lot of guilt around the subject of his parents being killed and he misses them a lot.
Rationale: This assignment is very good for students to complete because it makes them think about what another person would like to receive as a gift. It also makes them think about things that the character might not have directly mentioned but may still like to have. The article cited below helps to explain further benefits to children exploring other's feelings, but it is a key milestone in children's development, and one they often aren't happy to learn in practice. Who wants to learn about this when someone takes their toy away? It is much easier to understand when it is happening to someone else so that they can observe that outside perspective.
Crippen, M. (2017, November 6). In The Value of Children’s Literature. Retrieved February 20, 2019, from https://www.luther.edu/oneota-reading...
1. Soccer ball/gear: Sami makes friends at his new school in America by joining a soccer team.
2. Rebab: While Sami is waiting for his Baba in the restroom, their rebab is stolen from Sami.
3. Data for his cell phone: Sami is a little jealous of what his friends can do without wifi.
4. Items to trade: After the rebab gets stolen, Sami becomes determined to get it back. He tries to accomplish this by trading items to people to gain items of higher value.
5. Dried Mulberries: This is considered an Afghan treat, and is not readily available in America
6. Happiness for Baba: After the rebab is stolen, Sami notices that his Baba is not very happy anymore. Baba doesn't like his job and Sami spends most of the book trying to help Baba to be happy.
7. Good friends: When Sami starts at his new school, the school year is almost over and it was difficult at first for him to make friends.
8. A Manchester United keychain: Sami had one that Baba had given him as a gift in their travels to America, but Sami ended up trading it very early in his quest for the rebab. Baba noticed when it was gone and is very disappointed in Sami.
9. His cousins: After the attack that happened at a wedding for some of his family members, he has no cousins left and he misses them greatly.
10. His parents: Sami carries quite a lot of guilt around the subject of his parents being killed and he misses them a lot.
Rationale: This assignment is very good for students to complete because it makes them think about what another person would like to receive as a gift. It also makes them think about things that the character might not have directly mentioned but may still like to have. The article cited below helps to explain further benefits to children exploring other's feelings, but it is a key milestone in children's development, and one they often aren't happy to learn in practice. Who wants to learn about this when someone takes their toy away? It is much easier to understand when it is happening to someone else so that they can observe that outside perspective.
Crippen, M. (2017, November 6). In The Value of Children’s Literature. Retrieved February 20, 2019, from https://www.luther.edu/oneota-reading...
December 10, 2020
I came across this and as the rebab (see it in light blue on the cover?) is a string instrument from Afghanistan, I thought to put it on hold and check it out of my local library.
Then the author joined a critique group I'm in, and she's a fantastic writer, so I should probably disclose that, before you read this review. But one of the things I've learned from her writing, and it's so very apparent here, is how she layers emotion and feeling into every little nook and cranny of her books! It packs a real wallop, by the end. Ready the tissue box!
Sami's grandfather lets him play their family rebab, a traditional stringed instrument from their home country of Afghanistan and one of the few possessions the two managed to bring with them to the United States. Unfortunately, he gets so into the music, a thief snags the instrument out of his hands and makes off into the Boston subway station with it.
Playing for tips is their one means of supporting themselves in their meager apartment. As a result, Sami's grandfather is forced to take a dish washing job and his hands crack and bleed in the cheap soap. Times are super tough, but Sami is determined to find the rebab and bring it -- and the hope his grandfather attaches to it -- home.
First, he makes a friend at school who helps him locate the instrument in a pawn shop. There's no mistaking it -- it's his grandfather's. The pawnshop dealer gives Sami a deadline to come up with the money to buy it back.
But Sami's dead broke. He comes up with a scheme to barter, or trade, items with his soccer team to raise the full $700 he needs to buy it back. It starts with a UK soccer team's key chain for an iPod, and works his way up to repairing and selling a laptop computer. He finally does it, but when he arrives at the pawn shop, cash in-hand, the instrument is gone! The pawnshop dealer hasn't kept his word, and he's already sold it to someone else.
I won't spoil the ending. Like I said, break out the tissues! This is a super gift to give to a special child in your life! Enjoy.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Then the author joined a critique group I'm in, and she's a fantastic writer, so I should probably disclose that, before you read this review. But one of the things I've learned from her writing, and it's so very apparent here, is how she layers emotion and feeling into every little nook and cranny of her books! It packs a real wallop, by the end. Ready the tissue box!
Sami's grandfather lets him play their family rebab, a traditional stringed instrument from their home country of Afghanistan and one of the few possessions the two managed to bring with them to the United States. Unfortunately, he gets so into the music, a thief snags the instrument out of his hands and makes off into the Boston subway station with it.
Playing for tips is their one means of supporting themselves in their meager apartment. As a result, Sami's grandfather is forced to take a dish washing job and his hands crack and bleed in the cheap soap. Times are super tough, but Sami is determined to find the rebab and bring it -- and the hope his grandfather attaches to it -- home.
First, he makes a friend at school who helps him locate the instrument in a pawn shop. There's no mistaking it -- it's his grandfather's. The pawnshop dealer gives Sami a deadline to come up with the money to buy it back.
But Sami's dead broke. He comes up with a scheme to barter, or trade, items with his soccer team to raise the full $700 he needs to buy it back. It starts with a UK soccer team's key chain for an iPod, and works his way up to repairing and selling a laptop computer. He finally does it, but when he arrives at the pawn shop, cash in-hand, the instrument is gone! The pawnshop dealer hasn't kept his word, and he's already sold it to someone else.
I won't spoil the ending. Like I said, break out the tissues! This is a super gift to give to a special child in your life! Enjoy.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
January 6, 2019
Sami is new in Boston USA after fleeing his home in Afghanistan with Baba (his Grandfather). He has learnt the hard way about being invisible, keeping his head down and staying out of trouble. So he mostly keeps to himself.
On the way home one day, he intercepts a football that has been kicked too hard from a game in the street. A boy from school sees his skill and Sami is invited to a local gym that hosts football games amongst many other activities.
This connection leads to meeting new people, and making new friends, which Sami finds incredulous. Trusting strangers has been hard for him. These new friends help him settle in to his new country, but underneath Sami is mourning the loss of a stolen rebab that belonged to Baba. The rebab is a traditional instrument Baba would play back home, and the only thing that survived the long journey to the USA. Sami blames himself for its loss and will do anything to get it back. It is the only thing besides Sami himself that gives Baba any joy after all they have been through.
He does find the beloved instrument, but has to raise a lot of cash to pay for it. His trading begins - one small item for another, and another. With his new friend's help he gets a little closer every day. Not everything goes smoothly and Sami wonders if he'll ever get enough money in time. His Baba's health and happiness relies on it.
This story is a window into the continuing struggles that many refugees face assimilating into a new country. Sami and his extended family lived under constant threat in their own country from the Taliban, which molded Sami's character and inner fears. There are things he doesn't want to remember, things that real refugees constantly heard, saw and faced themselves. And then they often face more hostility, suspicion and hate in their new 'safe' country. I enjoyed learning about many muslim customs Sami, his Baba and other muslim characters in the story observed, and a helpful glossary of terms is included in the back of the book for further information. Enlightening and sobering at the same time....
On the way home one day, he intercepts a football that has been kicked too hard from a game in the street. A boy from school sees his skill and Sami is invited to a local gym that hosts football games amongst many other activities.
This connection leads to meeting new people, and making new friends, which Sami finds incredulous. Trusting strangers has been hard for him. These new friends help him settle in to his new country, but underneath Sami is mourning the loss of a stolen rebab that belonged to Baba. The rebab is a traditional instrument Baba would play back home, and the only thing that survived the long journey to the USA. Sami blames himself for its loss and will do anything to get it back. It is the only thing besides Sami himself that gives Baba any joy after all they have been through.
He does find the beloved instrument, but has to raise a lot of cash to pay for it. His trading begins - one small item for another, and another. With his new friend's help he gets a little closer every day. Not everything goes smoothly and Sami wonders if he'll ever get enough money in time. His Baba's health and happiness relies on it.
This story is a window into the continuing struggles that many refugees face assimilating into a new country. Sami and his extended family lived under constant threat in their own country from the Taliban, which molded Sami's character and inner fears. There are things he doesn't want to remember, things that real refugees constantly heard, saw and faced themselves. And then they often face more hostility, suspicion and hate in their new 'safe' country. I enjoyed learning about many muslim customs Sami, his Baba and other muslim characters in the story observed, and a helpful glossary of terms is included in the back of the book for further information. Enlightening and sobering at the same time....
December 7, 2018
I received a review copy of this middle grade fiction novel from the publisher and I have to say that I just loved it. This book takes readers into the mind and heart of a twelve-year-old Afghan refugee who, with his grandfather, is trying to recover from the trauma of losing his parents in a brutal bombing attack.
Sami and Baba (his grandfather) have spent several years making their way from Afghanistan to Iran, Turkey, Greece, and finally America. They’ve recently arrived in Boston and settling into their new life together. But when Baba’s rebab, a special Afghan musical instrument and heirloom, is stolen, Sami feels responsible for somehow getting it back. Through the help of his new friend, Dan, Sami finds the instrument in a pawn shop, but to his dismay, the store owner wants $700 for it. Because he doesn’t have any money of his own, Sami starts making a series of trades, hoping to trade higher and higher until he has enough money to reclaim his Baba’s instrument.
This book is a window into Afghan culture, focusing on social customs, religious traditions, and holidays. The book also has some terrific lessons about the power of relationships. In a letter from the author that accompanied this book, she states that a “broken boy from a broken nation meets strangers who become friends. His hurting family opens itself to outsiders who become brothers and sisters. It’s about the way sharing music and stories turns loss into joy, and how kindness writes the sweetest songs.”
In addition to showing young readers how people from a different culture live, there is also plenty that they will realize they have in common with Sami. Sami’s love of sports, especially soccer, will definitely resonate with many readers. Sami’s shyness and reluctance to call out those that bully him is also an issue that many will appreciate. I love books that show us the things we have in common, along with teaching us unique qualities of others.
Sami and Baba (his grandfather) have spent several years making their way from Afghanistan to Iran, Turkey, Greece, and finally America. They’ve recently arrived in Boston and settling into their new life together. But when Baba’s rebab, a special Afghan musical instrument and heirloom, is stolen, Sami feels responsible for somehow getting it back. Through the help of his new friend, Dan, Sami finds the instrument in a pawn shop, but to his dismay, the store owner wants $700 for it. Because he doesn’t have any money of his own, Sami starts making a series of trades, hoping to trade higher and higher until he has enough money to reclaim his Baba’s instrument.
This book is a window into Afghan culture, focusing on social customs, religious traditions, and holidays. The book also has some terrific lessons about the power of relationships. In a letter from the author that accompanied this book, she states that a “broken boy from a broken nation meets strangers who become friends. His hurting family opens itself to outsiders who become brothers and sisters. It’s about the way sharing music and stories turns loss into joy, and how kindness writes the sweetest songs.”
In addition to showing young readers how people from a different culture live, there is also plenty that they will realize they have in common with Sami. Sami’s love of sports, especially soccer, will definitely resonate with many readers. Sami’s shyness and reluctance to call out those that bully him is also an issue that many will appreciate. I love books that show us the things we have in common, along with teaching us unique qualities of others.
July 26, 2019
This book is a perfect example of how all middle-grade books should be. Honestly, it's how most books should be written *period*... but I'll try to focus on the middle-grade aspects for the majority of this review since that is the intended audience.
This book addresses a lot of real-life issues that are difficult to discuss, especially with young readers. The protagonist faces many hardships and conflicts that the average middle schooler does not have to deal with, and then on top of that he faces conflict that is common in middle school. The story deftly weaves these conflicts together to introduce new ideas and cultures to a reader that may not be familiar with them. The baseline of the story may seem simple at first glance - a middle school boy trading up to earn enough money to buy back a precious instrument - but the character development that takes place throughout the journey of trades is complex and compelling. The middle school aged narrator/protagonist makes this book easy to grasp for young readers, but the complex issues and layered story-line makes it enjoyable for readers of all ages.
And the writing... the writing is superb. So many beautiful sentences that make you feel like you're right there with Sami, cheering for him as he makes another trade, angry when he is treated unjustly, sad when he remembers what he has lost, and so warm and fuzzy when he has tender moments with his grandfather and new friends. The conversations feel natural and real, not forced or over-done as they sometimes do in middle-grade books especially. This book doesn't feel like an adult writing through the perspective of a young boy. I truly believed I was hearing Sami's voice come through the pages. It was an immersive experience, which is what happens when writing is at it's best. Like I said, this is how most books should be written.
All in all, five stars. I highly recommend it. Go buy a copy today.
This book addresses a lot of real-life issues that are difficult to discuss, especially with young readers. The protagonist faces many hardships and conflicts that the average middle schooler does not have to deal with, and then on top of that he faces conflict that is common in middle school. The story deftly weaves these conflicts together to introduce new ideas and cultures to a reader that may not be familiar with them. The baseline of the story may seem simple at first glance - a middle school boy trading up to earn enough money to buy back a precious instrument - but the character development that takes place throughout the journey of trades is complex and compelling. The middle school aged narrator/protagonist makes this book easy to grasp for young readers, but the complex issues and layered story-line makes it enjoyable for readers of all ages.
And the writing... the writing is superb. So many beautiful sentences that make you feel like you're right there with Sami, cheering for him as he makes another trade, angry when he is treated unjustly, sad when he remembers what he has lost, and so warm and fuzzy when he has tender moments with his grandfather and new friends. The conversations feel natural and real, not forced or over-done as they sometimes do in middle-grade books especially. This book doesn't feel like an adult writing through the perspective of a young boy. I truly believed I was hearing Sami's voice come through the pages. It was an immersive experience, which is what happens when writing is at it's best. Like I said, this is how most books should be written.
All in all, five stars. I highly recommend it. Go buy a copy today.
July 10, 2021
This book is such a sweet, wholesome, moving read that as a story - being rooted so closely in a reality for many in terms of the protagonist’s background - is bound to stick with you. It’s a gorgeous exploration of what it means to have to find and make a new home, and deals with grief and trauma in a way that is accessible to children (while pushing adults to the verge of tears).
What Alyssa Hollingsworth does incredibly is painting a portrait of Afghanistan that is free from bias: she neither sugarcoats negative parts (such as the terrorism and the treatment of women), nor does she villainise the country. Instead, she shows the beauty of Afghan and Islam culture and tradition - particularly in regards to music and festivities like Eid - while also accurately and movingly portraying the consequences of terrorism in particular for the survivors.
The writing is in simple prose, which certainly makes the book accessible for the age group it’s aimed at, but also has a certain elegance. I have much respect for people who can use simple language to convey such deep, difficult themes (a minimalism I am clearly incapable of, given the length of this review). At times, the plot is a bit predictable, particularly with a reasonably suggestive title, though arguably the readers this is aimed may have a different experience being slightly younger.
The protagonist - Sami - and his grandpa are incredibly sympathetic characters, and it’s very easy for the reader to feel sympathetically towards Sami. All the characters are very likeable (except for the deliberately hatable ones) and Hollingsworth movingly portrays family dynamics in a recognisable way, evoking a sharp sense of pathos at times particularly in older readers.
What it comes down to is that this isn’t the sort of book I’d normally read, but it was recommended to me by someone close to me so I decided to give it a shot. And God, I am glad that I did.
What Alyssa Hollingsworth does incredibly is painting a portrait of Afghanistan that is free from bias: she neither sugarcoats negative parts (such as the terrorism and the treatment of women), nor does she villainise the country. Instead, she shows the beauty of Afghan and Islam culture and tradition - particularly in regards to music and festivities like Eid - while also accurately and movingly portraying the consequences of terrorism in particular for the survivors.
The writing is in simple prose, which certainly makes the book accessible for the age group it’s aimed at, but also has a certain elegance. I have much respect for people who can use simple language to convey such deep, difficult themes (a minimalism I am clearly incapable of, given the length of this review). At times, the plot is a bit predictable, particularly with a reasonably suggestive title, though arguably the readers this is aimed may have a different experience being slightly younger.
The protagonist - Sami - and his grandpa are incredibly sympathetic characters, and it’s very easy for the reader to feel sympathetically towards Sami. All the characters are very likeable (except for the deliberately hatable ones) and Hollingsworth movingly portrays family dynamics in a recognisable way, evoking a sharp sense of pathos at times particularly in older readers.
What it comes down to is that this isn’t the sort of book I’d normally read, but it was recommended to me by someone close to me so I decided to give it a shot. And God, I am glad that I did.
November 24, 2018
Sami and his beloved grandfather have managed to leave the turmoil in Afghanistan far behind them and are now doing their best to make their way in Boston, their new home. But urban centers can be less than friendly to newcomers, and they haven't left behind their memories of what happened to prompt their departure. Sami is haunted by what happened and his own part in it. After his grandfather's traditional musical instrument, his beloved rebab, is stolen on the street, Sami swears to get it back. Although he finds it, the shopkeeper who bought it from the thief wants $700 for it. Sami has nowhere near that amount of money. But he does have a key chain, and when a schoolmate trades an iPod for it, even though the iPod doesn't work, he figures that maybe he can keep trading up and selling things until he has the money he needs. I loved watching the friendship between Dan and Sami develop, first over soccer, but then deepening, and how it seemed as though most of the soccer community had his back and wanted to help him. I wasn't too enamored with the trade log that started off every chapter, but I suppose that device might hold the interest of young readers and keep them guessing about whether he could pull off getting something from nothing. The book is filled with hope amid moments of darkness, most often evidenced through Sami's grandfather's constant reminder that God is kind. It's hard to see how someone who had been through what these two had endured could still think that way, but it is that firm belief that keeps Sami's grandfather determined to endure. This is an excellent debut novel, well worth reading for what it reveals about human nature and the essential goodness and resilience of most humans even amid evil acts and when faced by evil human beings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews