P&P Live! Kenan Trebinčević, Susan Shapiro, Saadia Faruqi, and Laura Shovan

An interfaith conversation between Muslim and Jewish authors about writing middle grade fiction that helps kids navigate a multicultural world and stand up against prejudice. Click here to purchase these books

Kenan Trebinčević and Susan Shapiro's novel, World In Between: Based on a True Refugee Story, introduces fifth-grader Kenan, who loves art and soccer but has trouble fitting in at school and sometimes fights with his older brother. His life in Bosnia is not perfect, but it is normal – a factor that is thrown into sharp relief when his country goes to war and he and his family are suddenly trapped in their home, surrounded by dangerous enemies. Seeking safety, they immigrate to the United States where Kenan struggles to acclimate to a new culture and language, with traumatic memories of life in war-torn Bosnia haunting his dreams. This story of community, hope, and resilience will help young readers understand the refugee experience.

Sara transfers from a small Islamic school to a large public school and has trouble finding her way. Elizabeth is hiding a painful secret: her mother is struggling with depression. Sixth-graders Sara and Elizabeth find friendship despite their differences in Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan’s A Place at the Table. They meet when their mothers sign them up for an after-school cooking class where they form an alliance based on their mutual disinterest. Over time their closeness grows, as does their affinity for cooking. The girls create a cross-cultural dish that they hope will win them a spot on a local food show, but can their friendship withstand the pressure?

Kenan Trebinčević is a Bosnian Muslim who survived the ethnic cleansing in the Bosnian War and came to the U.S. in 1993. He lives in Astoria, Queens. www.kenantrebincevic.com.

Susan Shapiro is an award-winning Jewish American journalist and best-selling author. She lives in Manhattan. www.susanshpiro.net.

Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American author, essayist, interfaith activist, and author of the Yasmin books and the upcoming Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero. She lives with her husband and children in Houston, Texas, where she is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, a magazine for Muslim art, poetry, and prose.

Laura Shovan is the author of two middle grade novels, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary and Takedown. She lives with her family in Maryland, where she is a longtime poet-in-the-schools for the Maryland State Arts Council.

Tiffanie Drayton is a mother, world traveler, and journalist whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Vox, Marie Claire, Salon, Complex, Yahoo, among other outlets. She has published two non-fiction young adult books, Developing Political Leadership Skills and Coping with Gun Violence. She grew up in the United States, and currently lives with her family in Tobago.

Ages 8-12

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Founded by Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade in 1984, Politics and Prose Bookstore is Washington, D.C.'s premier independent bookstore and cultural hub, a gathering place for people interested in reading and discussing books. Politics and Prose offers superior service, unusual book choices, and a haven for book lovers in the store and online.