Synopses & Reviews
Will the new girl come between Nikki and Deja?
When an arrogant new girl comes to school, third-graders and best friends Nikki and Deja decide to form a club to exclude her. But the results are not what they expectednow theyre in a fight with each other!
Youngsters will find a lot to cheer for in this delightful story. The joys and complexities of school life are captured with finesse and humor, and the writing, complemented with charming illustrations, is spot on for readers ready to enjoy longer texts.
Look for more adventures with Nikki and Deja in Birthday Blues!
Review
Few early chapter books feature African American characters, and English, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book author, addresses this dearth with a sweet, realistic friendship story.
Booklist, ALA
The short chapters, quick pacing, and frequent black-and-white illustrations will both appeal to and assist young readers. Kids negotiating the sometimes treacherous waters of middle-grade frienship will find Nikki and Deja' story both truthful and comforting.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
English nicely fills an undeveloped areathis is a first chapter book featuring African-American girls,and race is presented as an attribute of the characters rather than as an issue.
Kirkus Reviews
English perceptively explores the undercurrent of insecurity and rivalry that threatens two African-American girls' friendship.
Publishers Weekly
Review
"In her first chapter book, English perceptively explores the undercurrent of insecurity and rivalry that threatens two African-American girls' friendship." —
Publishers Weekly"Accesible writing, authentic characters, an easy-to-identify-with plot and Freeman's appealing black-and-white illustrations come together smoothly in this straightforward friendship tale." —Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
In this story about two best friends, the award-winning author of "Hot Day on Abbot Avenue" delivers an easy-to-read chapter book that captures all the joys and complexities of elementary school life--particularly friendships and cliques. Illustrations.
Synopsis
Meet Nikki and Deja, who live next door to each other and are best friends. They do everything together—watch Saturday morning cartoons, play jacks, jump double Dutch at recess, and help each other with their homework for Mrs. Shelby's third-grade class. But when an arrogant new girl arrives and Nikki and Deja form a club that would exclude her, the results are not what they expect. This warm, easy-to-read chapter book from an award-winning author captures all the joys and complexities of elementary school life—particularly friendships and cliques—with finesse and humor.
About the Author
Karen English is a Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winning author and an elementary school teacher. In addition to her three books about Nikki and Deja, she is the author of Hot Day on Abbott Avenue, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, also published by Clarion Books. She lives in Los Angeles, California.