Save Me a Seat

Save Me a Seat
Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
Scholastic, 2016 216 pages
Grades 4-7
Realistic Fiction

Two alternating points of view relate the first week of school in Mrs. Beam's fifth grade class at Albert Einstein Elementary in suburban New Jersey. Ravi has recently emigrated from India and although he attended English school in his home country, he finds the customs much different and that people have a hard time understanding him. The only other Indian boy in class is named Dillon, who is not only more American than Indian, but not very nice. Ravi tries to befriend Dillon, only to become the brunt of his bullying. Meanwhile Joe is also having a rough start to the year. His two only friends have moved away over the summer and he feels alone, especially since he has a sensory condition that makes traditional learning difficult. Joe is also a target for Dillon, who makes him feel big and stupid. To make matters worse, Joe's mom has accepted a job as a lunch monitor and insists on talking to him as he suffers through his solitary lunch in the cafeteria. Joe finds solace in food and each new school day is named by the food on the menu that day in the cafeteria. A misunderstanding, made worse by Dillon, pits Ravi and Joe as enemies. Finally, as Ravi witnesses Dillon trying to sabotage Joe's project, he lends a hand, cementing the two outcasts in a much needed friendship.

Two authors cooperatively pen the points of view of two boys who come from very different backgrounds, yet have much in common. Sarah Weeks, a veteran children's author with over fifty books to her name, and newcomer Gita Varadarajan work beautifully together, offering two very different stories that complement each other and work together seamlessly. Working in a similar town in New Jersey with many new Americans I know that many of my readers will relate to Ravi's story. It has helped me to better serve these children by hearing Ravi's struggles, especially at the frustration of constantly having his name mispronounced, a mistake of which I am often guilty. Joe, although not new to American society, struggles to fit-in because of his disability. Many children will also relate to Joe's situation. Children who cannot personally relate to either boy's challenges should still read the book in order to better understand their classmates and to develop some compassion and empathy. The bully character, Dillon, is perhaps a bit over the top and is not fully developed as a character, but this is not his story so this is excused. Both Ravi and Joe experience personal growth through this first week of school and although they are both ready to quit, they come out by the end of the week stronger and better. Food is a strong theme in the story. It is what gives Joe comfort and also sets Ravi apart from his classmates, yet also helps him to connect to the teacher. The end of the book offers a glossary of terms used by both Ravi and Joe as well, as a recipe from both of their mothers as seen prepared within the pages of the story. A great choice to read for the  new school year.