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Wishing Upon the Same Stars
This coming-of-age middle grade debut novel follows an Arab American girl named Yasmeen as she moves to San Antonio with her family and navigates finding friendship--and herself.
When twelve-year-old Yasmeen Khoury moves with her family to San Antonio, all she wants to do is fit in. But her classmates in Texas are nothing like her friends in the predominantly Arab neighborhood back in Detroit where she grew up. Almost immediately, Yasmeen feels like the odd girl out, and as she faces middle school mean girls and tries to make new friends, she feels more alone than ever before.
Then Yasmeen meets her neighbor, Ayelet Cohen, a first-generation Israeli American. As the two girls grow closer, Yasmeen is grateful to know someone who understands what it feels like when your parents' idea of home is half a world away.
But when Yasmeen's grandmother moves in after her home in Jerusalem is destroyed, Yasmeen and Ayelet must grapple with how much closer the events of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are than they'd realized. As Yasmeen begins to develop her own understandings of home, heritage, and most importantly, herself, can the two girls learn there's more that brings them together than might tear them apart . . . and that peace begins with them?
When twelve-year-old Yasmeen Khoury moves with her family to San Antonio, all she wants to do is fit in. But her classmates in Texas are nothing like her friends in the predominantly Arab neighborhood back in Detroit where she grew up. Almost immediately, Yasmeen feels like the odd girl out, and as she faces middle school mean girls and tries to make new friends, she feels more alone than ever before.
Then Yasmeen meets her neighbor, Ayelet Cohen, a first-generation Israeli American. As the two girls grow closer, Yasmeen is grateful to know someone who understands what it feels like when your parents' idea of home is half a world away.
But when Yasmeen's grandmother moves in after her home in Jerusalem is destroyed, Yasmeen and Ayelet must grapple with how much closer the events of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are than they'd realized. As Yasmeen begins to develop her own understandings of home, heritage, and most importantly, herself, can the two girls learn there's more that brings them together than might tear them apart . . . and that peace begins with them?
368 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2022
22 people are currently reading
3236 people want to read
About the author
Jacquetta Nammar Feldman
3 books46 followersJacquetta Nammar Feldman loves writing poetry and stories of all kinds. When she's not curled up with a book or typing at her computer, she can be found hiking the beautiful hills of Austin, Texas. She earned her bachelor of science in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, and she’s currently a candidate for a master of fine arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
June 5, 2022
I was really excited to hear that a book about Palestine and Israel combined together is going to come out! But, I felt that the main character, Yasmeen, was not proud to be a Palestinian. She showed almost no emotion when her grandmother got evicted from her own house in Palestine. She actually used to seem annoyed while mentioning her father watch the news back home.
"I want to tell my father that his home here is just as important as the one he lost. I want to tell him that San Antonio is where he lives now, with us, not Jerusalem. I want to tell him that he should try to leave his sad story behind, that it should just be-history." Not once have I heard anyone tell a Jew to forget the Holocaust and leave it all in the past (not that they ever should) so I don't know why an exception was made for Palestinians. "Hannah and her family died in a concentrtion camp called Auschwitz. While she tells the story that's etched in my heart, sadness washes over all of us. I hang my head and try not to cry." Also, I'd like to mention that multiple times in this book, the author would mention that Arabs and Jews (Judaism is a religion) are not meant to be friends. That is completely incorrect as there are Palestinian Jews and I believe the proper term is Palestinians and Zionists. (Zionism- a radical political movement) Because then again, would you want to be friends with your oppressor?
"I want to tell my father that his home here is just as important as the one he lost. I want to tell him that San Antonio is where he lives now, with us, not Jerusalem. I want to tell him that he should try to leave his sad story behind, that it should just be-history." Not once have I heard anyone tell a Jew to forget the Holocaust and leave it all in the past (not that they ever should) so I don't know why an exception was made for Palestinians. "Hannah and her family died in a concentrtion camp called Auschwitz. While she tells the story that's etched in my heart, sadness washes over all of us. I hang my head and try not to cry." Also, I'd like to mention that multiple times in this book, the author would mention that Arabs and Jews (Judaism is a religion) are not meant to be friends. That is completely incorrect as there are Palestinian Jews and I believe the proper term is Palestinians and Zionists. (Zionism- a radical political movement) Because then again, would you want to be friends with your oppressor?
February 8, 2022
Wishing on the Same Stars is a moving, poignant exploration of finding common ground despite differences and strife. Featuring a much-needed Arab-American protagonist — who loves math and astronomy — and her vibrant family, this story shows how challenging it can be to make peace with one’s identity, especially when you don’t seem to have much in common with those around you. This story especially shines in its depiction of healthy, nurturing female friendships among tween girls and its portrayal of an Israeli-American and Palestinian-American family trying to co-exist in America. A solid debut worth reading.
Read my full review on the blog.
Read my full review on the blog.
April 6, 2022
This book introduces some difficult issues--racism, how to interpret history, the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, the Holocaust--but handles them sensitively and insightfully, exactly how they should be presented to young readers. As an Arab American living in a comfortable community in Detroit, Yasmeen is uprooted and moved to San Antonio, Texas. She and her family struggle to adjust to this new culture, finding far fewer people who look like them. There is one family--they live across the street--who do look like them, but they're Jewish. The family is from Israel, not Palestine, like Yasmeen's father and grandmother, which presents some problems so they stay away from each other. Yasmeen has some pretty typical, heart-wrenching "mean girl" experiences at her new school as she tries to make new friends and find her place. It isn't until Yasmeen joins the afterschool Math Club, and starts to find things that she has in common with some of those kids, that Yasmeen starts to feel like she belongs. She's really drawn to her Jewish neighbor, her dad is the Math Club coach, but she needs to keep that a secret. Her parents wouldn't approve, especially not her father. Can two girls forge a friendship across "enemy lines"? Can they somehow help their parents understand what it means to be part of a more inclusive community than the one they grew up with? Read it to find out! Amazing first novel. Brava Jacquetta Nammar Feldman! So very well done. I loved it.
December 8, 2022
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is something I know little about, so I'm happy to see it addressed in this MG book, which does a beautiful job of explaining it in a way that is approachable, objective, and hopeful. Through the Khoury and Cohen families, we get an intimate look at how it affects people on both sides, even when they're living away from "home." Yasmeen's friendship with Ayelet serves as a springboard for important questions about what friendship is and can be, how differences can be overcome, what home really means, and more. Our heroine is sympathetic, relatable, and likable. It's easy to feel with her and for her. With interesting characters, engaging prose, a compelling plot, and solid writing, WISHING UPON THE SAME STARS is a heartfelt, powerful gem of a novel. I loved it.
February 28, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Kids for the gifted book that I read along with the library audio.
A beautiful book about finding common ground amidst all the reasons people find to disagree. Featuring an Arab-American protagonist, Yasmeen, whose family moves from Detroit to San Antonio. She is transplanted not only in location, but out of the loving and familiar Palestinian community she has grown up in. In Texas she finds herself in the minority in her new school and when her grandmother moves in from Jerusalem, her friendship with the Israeli-American girl across the street becomes complicated for reasons Yasmeen doesn't fully understand. I loved the skill in which the author handled complex issues like racial tension and prejudice balanced with the usual middle grade themes of friendship and fitting in. I also loved the depiction of Yasmeen's relationship with her mother and the other tween, teen, and adult women who formed their new and old communities.
A beautiful book about finding common ground amidst all the reasons people find to disagree. Featuring an Arab-American protagonist, Yasmeen, whose family moves from Detroit to San Antonio. She is transplanted not only in location, but out of the loving and familiar Palestinian community she has grown up in. In Texas she finds herself in the minority in her new school and when her grandmother moves in from Jerusalem, her friendship with the Israeli-American girl across the street becomes complicated for reasons Yasmeen doesn't fully understand. I loved the skill in which the author handled complex issues like racial tension and prejudice balanced with the usual middle grade themes of friendship and fitting in. I also loved the depiction of Yasmeen's relationship with her mother and the other tween, teen, and adult women who formed their new and old communities.
March 12, 2022
Peace begins with us. This is an important book told in an accessible way, full of hope about the relationship between Palestinians and Israelis.
Yasmeen's father is Palestinian from Jerusalem and her mother is from Lebanon. Based on the author's own family, they are not Muslim but Maronite Christians. When they leave their large Arab-American community in Detroit to move to San Antonio, Yasmeen feels like she will never fit in. Her mother hears Arabic spoken by their neighbors across the street, but hurries home when she finds out their last name is Cohen. Against all odds, Yasmeen and Ayelet Cohen begin a friendship that grows to include their entire families.
Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.
Yasmeen's father is Palestinian from Jerusalem and her mother is from Lebanon. Based on the author's own family, they are not Muslim but Maronite Christians. When they leave their large Arab-American community in Detroit to move to San Antonio, Yasmeen feels like she will never fit in. Her mother hears Arabic spoken by their neighbors across the street, but hurries home when she finds out their last name is Cohen. Against all odds, Yasmeen and Ayelet Cohen begin a friendship that grows to include their entire families.
Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.
April 10, 2022
Ohmygosh this never made it to my Goodreads!!! I absolutely adore WISHING UPON THE SAME STARS and recommend this sweet middle grade novel to both middle-graders and adults alike (a lot of adults have been told about this book due to the lack of young teens in my life, oops.) Super heartwarming, incredible gorgeous writing, and very deft handling of a very nuanced topic.
June 9, 2022
Such an important book because this is the first one, I think, that I've read that talks about Palestinian-Israeli relationships and the conflict that is happening.
I loved that it took place in San Antonio, the city I did my student teaching in! It was fun to "visit" it again :)
I loved that it took place in San Antonio, the city I did my student teaching in! It was fun to "visit" it again :)
August 25, 2021
This was such a wonderful and needed book! I am Asian American, and I don’t know a lot about either of these cultures. So I am incredibly grateful I had a chance to read this. I think it was really eye opening for me, and I liked getting a chance to see a different view from someone else’s eyes. But I loved how Ms. Feldman showed how similar we all are through Yasmeen. I could sympathize and relate to her even though I haven’t specifically gone through everything she has.
Yasmeen was an incredibly real narrator. While she was heartbroken over what was going on in Jerusalem, she also was trying to figure out her place in San Antonio. I loved how honest she was. She was sometimes selfish in her priorities, but she’s also a twelve year old girl. She was dealing with a lot of different things. She would mess up, realize her mistakes, and try to fix them. She was super relatable especially in her relationships with her friends.
I loved how Ms. Feldman showed a lot of unique characters both in culture and personality. Yasmeen makes a friend in San Antonio named Waverly, so it was fascinating to watch the cultures clash. Ms. Feldman did a great job of showing different kinds of prejudice. In one sense, there are the very clear hate crimes which the Khourys do face, but they also face this aspect of being foreign. They have a different culture, and sometimes people were hurtful without trying to be. I thought it was interesting though that Yasmeen realized there are prejudices against other people too. Some of the characters are Mexican, and Yasmeen learns that every ethnicity has something going on. They all have a history that not everyone knows about, and I like how the main character didn’t know about it either. She was learning along with the readers.
Some of the parts of the book were a little bit slow, but I think overall it was a really interesting story. Yasmeen’s voice is perfect for a middle schooler, and it introduces a lot of good conversation starters. And I hope this book makes someone feel seen. Representation is so important, and I’m glad I get to read more diverse books like this. I would definitely recommend it to any middle schooler or younger!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.
Yasmeen was an incredibly real narrator. While she was heartbroken over what was going on in Jerusalem, she also was trying to figure out her place in San Antonio. I loved how honest she was. She was sometimes selfish in her priorities, but she’s also a twelve year old girl. She was dealing with a lot of different things. She would mess up, realize her mistakes, and try to fix them. She was super relatable especially in her relationships with her friends.
I loved how Ms. Feldman showed a lot of unique characters both in culture and personality. Yasmeen makes a friend in San Antonio named Waverly, so it was fascinating to watch the cultures clash. Ms. Feldman did a great job of showing different kinds of prejudice. In one sense, there are the very clear hate crimes which the Khourys do face, but they also face this aspect of being foreign. They have a different culture, and sometimes people were hurtful without trying to be. I thought it was interesting though that Yasmeen realized there are prejudices against other people too. Some of the characters are Mexican, and Yasmeen learns that every ethnicity has something going on. They all have a history that not everyone knows about, and I like how the main character didn’t know about it either. She was learning along with the readers.
Some of the parts of the book were a little bit slow, but I think overall it was a really interesting story. Yasmeen’s voice is perfect for a middle schooler, and it introduces a lot of good conversation starters. And I hope this book makes someone feel seen. Representation is so important, and I’m glad I get to read more diverse books like this. I would definitely recommend it to any middle schooler or younger!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.
June 3, 2022
This is one of the best books I’ve read in 2022 so far. Yes there is a lot going on in the book but it is so well handled and nuanced that the story still flows. The genius part of the book is the underlying realization that there are no easy answers to any of the issues that are raised. I felt like the author did a good job of presenting many considerations of every issues from all angles. No easy answers were given and I liked that. And in the end, the children led the adults into reconciliation. I am not aware of other middle grade fiction about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so this was unique.
May 1, 2022
This was REALLY good on so many levels. I teared up multiple times.
—
“When the whole world stops spinning, when I land where I’m meant to be… I’ll finally feel at home again.”
—
“Maybe it doesn’t matter what language you dream in… maybe it’s only important that you dream.”
—
“Maybe peace will begin here, with us.”
—
“Maybe, we can keep holding on.”
—
“Sometimes home is the place you never thought it would be.”
—
“When the whole world stops spinning, when I land where I’m meant to be… I’ll finally feel at home again.”
—
“Maybe it doesn’t matter what language you dream in… maybe it’s only important that you dream.”
—
“Maybe peace will begin here, with us.”
—
“Maybe, we can keep holding on.”
—
“Sometimes home is the place you never thought it would be.”
August 18, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC of this novel. This novel does a wonderful job dealing with the conflict between Israel and Palestine in a very age appropriate way. It's a timely book that shows that peace is hard but possible, even if only on small scale. I really enjoyed this and look forward to students reading this in the new year.
September 13, 2024
Middle Grade Book:
Wishing Upon the Same Stars by Jacquetta Namar Feldman
This book dove into an unlikely friendship, racism, war, and should be enemies from a young age pov.
A first generation Catholic, Palestinian-American girl moves from Detroit Michigan to San Antonio with her Palestinian parents. They find they are looked at differently there versus Detroit and experience racism on the road to San Antonio.
Yasmeen finds herself alone at school, middle-school is already difficult, but when you’re the only one there from your culture it’s even more difficult. Through trial and error, and dealing with typical middle school mean girl BS she finds an unlikely friend in her first generation Jewish-Israeli neighbor girl. Yasmeen has to lie to be able to be friends with her new friend, as she knows her father will not accept their friendship.
Yasmeen and her new friend start discussing each others issues in a very non-political way. This was done VERY tactfully by the author! She tells her new friend about the Nakba and her friend tells her about the Holocaust. They are able to be friends and end up providing hope for their families that if Palestinians and Israelis could view things like them, acknowledging each other’s horrific ancestral treatment, and be actually willing to come to an agreement the world would be a much better place for both of their peoples.
I adore how the author took on this heavy topic, especially considering the current state of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. She did it so tactfully and without her taking a clear side.
My only qualm with this book was how it made Texans seem so racist. I lived in Texas for a few years, and while I hated it, I see way more racism in MN than I did living there.
If you want to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with your children this would be a great place to start! Very well done!
Wishing Upon the Same Stars by Jacquetta Namar Feldman
This book dove into an unlikely friendship, racism, war, and should be enemies from a young age pov.
A first generation Catholic, Palestinian-American girl moves from Detroit Michigan to San Antonio with her Palestinian parents. They find they are looked at differently there versus Detroit and experience racism on the road to San Antonio.
Yasmeen finds herself alone at school, middle-school is already difficult, but when you’re the only one there from your culture it’s even more difficult. Through trial and error, and dealing with typical middle school mean girl BS she finds an unlikely friend in her first generation Jewish-Israeli neighbor girl. Yasmeen has to lie to be able to be friends with her new friend, as she knows her father will not accept their friendship.
Yasmeen and her new friend start discussing each others issues in a very non-political way. This was done VERY tactfully by the author! She tells her new friend about the Nakba and her friend tells her about the Holocaust. They are able to be friends and end up providing hope for their families that if Palestinians and Israelis could view things like them, acknowledging each other’s horrific ancestral treatment, and be actually willing to come to an agreement the world would be a much better place for both of their peoples.
I adore how the author took on this heavy topic, especially considering the current state of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. She did it so tactfully and without her taking a clear side.
My only qualm with this book was how it made Texans seem so racist. I lived in Texas for a few years, and while I hated it, I see way more racism in MN than I did living there.
If you want to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with your children this would be a great place to start! Very well done!
March 20, 2022
This is a gorgeous debut novel about friendship, family, and finding peace within yourself and in the world around you. When Arab American Yasmeen and her family move to San Antonio, she leaves behind everything she's ever known and loved, including her best friend. Texas provides a new set of challenges for this 7th grader, including dealing with racist classmates, befriending an Israeli American neighbor across the street (despite what her father might think), and finding her place at home and in her new community. Feldman's writing is beautiful, and the voice is pitch perfect for the middle grade reader. Add this to your TBR immediately. A must for classrooms and libraries.
March 17, 2022
A new girl in a new school school morphs into themes of bullying, prejudice, racism and making friends as an Arab American from Palestine makes friends with a Jewish neighbor. This reminded me of Kelly Yang’s books.
June 16, 2023
Good middle grade novel that introduces the impact of the Israeli Palestinian conflict on the relationship of two middle school girls as well as addresses racial bullying of the Palestinian girl by a classmate.
October 26, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Yasmeen (pronounced yez-MEEN) Khoury lives in Detroit with her family; a father who is a Christian from Palestine and a mother who is from Lebanon, who met each other as graduate students in Michigan. When her father gets a better job in Texas, the parents are glad to move back to a warmer climate. Younger sister Sara is fine with it, and brother Salim is too young to notice. Yasmeen doesn't want to leave her best friend and her familiar community, but things are even harder once she starts school. She doesn't know anyone, and the secretary doesn't know how to pronounce her name. She has a welcome face in Waverly, whose father works with her father, and whose mother set up their house for them. Unfortunately, Waverly is good friends with resident mean girl Hillary, who makes fun of Yasmeen for her cultural identity, a rarity in their area. Yasmeen's teachers notice that she is good at math and have her become a member of the math team. This is coached by neighbor Mr. Cohen, who is from Jerusalem like her father, but is Jewish. Since the father's mother, Sitti, is forced out of her home, family feelings about Jews in Jerusalem are running very high, and Yasmeen is not supposed to have anything to do with the daughter, Ayelet, who is also on the math team. She lies to her parents, saying a teacher is coaching the team, and that she is with Waverly when she is really with Ayelet. Yasmeen slowly becomes friends with her, as well as Esme, who is from Mexico. Sitti moves in with the family, Yasmeen starts dancing with a group at the family's new church, and the family all struggles with their new life in Texas and finding the balance between being "American" and embracing their own culture. When her parents find out about Mr. Cohen's involvement with the math group, will they be able to put aside their cultural differences and try to become friends with their traditional enemies?
Strengths: It was interesting to get a look inside Yasmeen's house, with all of their non-US furniture, cooking, and the mother's particular style of dress. I had a friend whose parents were from Greece, and walking into their home felt very similar. I was especially glad that Waverly, while she sometimes made missteps in her treatment of Yasmeen, was very welcoming and friendly. I also enjoyed Yasmeen's love of math and her involvement not only with the math club but with her church dance group. She felt very uncomfortable with just about all aspects of the dancing, but gave it a good try, and ended up enjoying it in the end. This is a great message for young people about trying new things even though they are hard. The inclusion of a strong church family is realistic, although not as prevalent as it once was, and I learned a bit about the Maronite Church. (Which, by the way, has nothing at all to do with the Maronite Center in Youngstown, which has stuck in my mind even though I haven't thought about it in 40 years!) Yasmeen and Ayelet's friendship despite their family's prejudices was certainly something we need to see more of in middle grade fiction.
Weaknesses: There were so many different things going on in this book, that Yasmeen's back and forth with Waverly, Hillary, and Ayelet slowed down the middle of the book a bit.
What I really think: I'd love to see more from Nammar Feldman, perhaps a book set in the very vibrant immigrant community near Detroit. This is a great book about an immigrant experience that will go well with Kelkar's As American as Paneer Pie, Hirandani's How to Find What You're Not Looking For, Dumas' It Ain't So Awful, Falafel, Yang's Front Desk, Faruqi's Unsettled, Ferruolo's A Galaxy of Sea Stars and Warga's Other Words for Home. There have been so many interesting books about different cultural experiences since the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement started in 2014, and I can't think of too many Arab-Israeli books except Nye's 1999 Habibi. Definitely purchasing.
Yasmeen (pronounced yez-MEEN) Khoury lives in Detroit with her family; a father who is a Christian from Palestine and a mother who is from Lebanon, who met each other as graduate students in Michigan. When her father gets a better job in Texas, the parents are glad to move back to a warmer climate. Younger sister Sara is fine with it, and brother Salim is too young to notice. Yasmeen doesn't want to leave her best friend and her familiar community, but things are even harder once she starts school. She doesn't know anyone, and the secretary doesn't know how to pronounce her name. She has a welcome face in Waverly, whose father works with her father, and whose mother set up their house for them. Unfortunately, Waverly is good friends with resident mean girl Hillary, who makes fun of Yasmeen for her cultural identity, a rarity in their area. Yasmeen's teachers notice that she is good at math and have her become a member of the math team. This is coached by neighbor Mr. Cohen, who is from Jerusalem like her father, but is Jewish. Since the father's mother, Sitti, is forced out of her home, family feelings about Jews in Jerusalem are running very high, and Yasmeen is not supposed to have anything to do with the daughter, Ayelet, who is also on the math team. She lies to her parents, saying a teacher is coaching the team, and that she is with Waverly when she is really with Ayelet. Yasmeen slowly becomes friends with her, as well as Esme, who is from Mexico. Sitti moves in with the family, Yasmeen starts dancing with a group at the family's new church, and the family all struggles with their new life in Texas and finding the balance between being "American" and embracing their own culture. When her parents find out about Mr. Cohen's involvement with the math group, will they be able to put aside their cultural differences and try to become friends with their traditional enemies?
Strengths: It was interesting to get a look inside Yasmeen's house, with all of their non-US furniture, cooking, and the mother's particular style of dress. I had a friend whose parents were from Greece, and walking into their home felt very similar. I was especially glad that Waverly, while she sometimes made missteps in her treatment of Yasmeen, was very welcoming and friendly. I also enjoyed Yasmeen's love of math and her involvement not only with the math club but with her church dance group. She felt very uncomfortable with just about all aspects of the dancing, but gave it a good try, and ended up enjoying it in the end. This is a great message for young people about trying new things even though they are hard. The inclusion of a strong church family is realistic, although not as prevalent as it once was, and I learned a bit about the Maronite Church. (Which, by the way, has nothing at all to do with the Maronite Center in Youngstown, which has stuck in my mind even though I haven't thought about it in 40 years!) Yasmeen and Ayelet's friendship despite their family's prejudices was certainly something we need to see more of in middle grade fiction.
Weaknesses: There were so many different things going on in this book, that Yasmeen's back and forth with Waverly, Hillary, and Ayelet slowed down the middle of the book a bit.
What I really think: I'd love to see more from Nammar Feldman, perhaps a book set in the very vibrant immigrant community near Detroit. This is a great book about an immigrant experience that will go well with Kelkar's As American as Paneer Pie, Hirandani's How to Find What You're Not Looking For, Dumas' It Ain't So Awful, Falafel, Yang's Front Desk, Faruqi's Unsettled, Ferruolo's A Galaxy of Sea Stars and Warga's Other Words for Home. There have been so many interesting books about different cultural experiences since the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement started in 2014, and I can't think of too many Arab-Israeli books except Nye's 1999 Habibi. Definitely purchasing.
May 2, 2022
Sweet YA book about a Arab Christian girl who moves to San Antonio where she is often mistaken as a Mexican American and is often lost in the culture. She becomes friends with a Jewish girl and the families have to adjust band accept. Really nice.
January 28, 2022
I really loved this story of Yasmeen and her move from Detroit to San Antonio and all she goes through. I liked the development of her relationship with her neighbor Ayelet and how they bonded over being daughters of immigrants.
This is such a needed story because so many students are children of immigrants and find themselves not fitting in, here in American.
Deals with topics of moving, family, friendships, and being the new kid in school. And just growing up and figuring out who you are. A great coming of age story!
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!
This is such a needed story because so many students are children of immigrants and find themselves not fitting in, here in American.
Deals with topics of moving, family, friendships, and being the new kid in school. And just growing up and figuring out who you are. A great coming of age story!
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!
June 1, 2022
This is a powerful book about the immigrant experience, and it tackles some difficult issues--racism, how to interpret history, the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, the Holocaust--but handles them sensitively, exactly how they should be presented to young readers. The plot is engaging, the characters are memorable, and the life lessons so very much needed right now. A great addition to the middle school library.
September 11, 2021
Wishing Upon the Same Stars
by Jacquetta Nammar Feldman
Pub Date 01 Feb 2022
HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperCollins
Children's Fiction | Middle Grade | Multicultural Interest
I am reviewing a copy of Wishing Upon the Same Stars through HarperCollins Children’s Books and Netgalley:
Yasmeen Khoury is twelve when she moves with her family to San Antonio. She just wants to fit in but her classmates in Texas are nothing like her friends in the predominantly Arab neighborhood back in Detroit where she grew up. Almost, immediately Yasmeen feels like the odd girl out as she faces middle school mean girls and tries to make new friends. But after Yasmeen meets her neighbor, Ayelet Cohen, a first-generation Israeli American. The two girls gradually grow closer, and Yasmeen is grateful to know another daughter of immigrants who understands what it feels like when your parents’ idea of home is half a world away.
After Yasmeen grandmother moves in after her home in the West Bank is destroyed, Yasmeen finds her family and Ayelet’s suddenly at odds, forcing them both to grapple with how much closer the events of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict are than they’ve realized. As Yasmeen starts to develop her own understandings of home, heritage, and most importantly, herself, can the two girls learn there’s more that brings them together than might tear them apart, and that peace begins with them?
I give Wishing Upon the Same Stars five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
by Jacquetta Nammar Feldman
Pub Date 01 Feb 2022
HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperCollins
Children's Fiction | Middle Grade | Multicultural Interest
I am reviewing a copy of Wishing Upon the Same Stars through HarperCollins Children’s Books and Netgalley:
Yasmeen Khoury is twelve when she moves with her family to San Antonio. She just wants to fit in but her classmates in Texas are nothing like her friends in the predominantly Arab neighborhood back in Detroit where she grew up. Almost, immediately Yasmeen feels like the odd girl out as she faces middle school mean girls and tries to make new friends. But after Yasmeen meets her neighbor, Ayelet Cohen, a first-generation Israeli American. The two girls gradually grow closer, and Yasmeen is grateful to know another daughter of immigrants who understands what it feels like when your parents’ idea of home is half a world away.
After Yasmeen grandmother moves in after her home in the West Bank is destroyed, Yasmeen finds her family and Ayelet’s suddenly at odds, forcing them both to grapple with how much closer the events of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict are than they’ve realized. As Yasmeen starts to develop her own understandings of home, heritage, and most importantly, herself, can the two girls learn there’s more that brings them together than might tear them apart, and that peace begins with them?
I give Wishing Upon the Same Stars five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
March 21, 2023
This was a highly enjoyable book. I liked the main character as she was very relatable and felt realistically written. It discusses difficult issues in a good way as well. I also liked seeing Yasmeen mature through the book, and learn some things about her life. It was a good, happy ending too, which I liked!
October 25, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. This is a powerful middle-grade novel and is very relevant. A LOT is packed in here, with the themes of friendship, interfaith, bullying, racism, and family shining through. Arab-American and Mexican-American cultural identity along with coming of age issues provide a lot of discussion points as well. A lot of racism is prevalent in Texas, so seeing how a neighborhood came together is heartwarming. The perspective of the Israel-Palestine conflict is not often heard through a Christian lens, so this was a good reminder and educational experience for those who are not familiar. I appreciate that this novel is clean, and I am recommending it for our classroom libraries.
May 1, 2022
This is one of the best books I’ve read in 2022 so far. Yes there is a lot going on in the book but it is so well handled and nuanced that the story still flows. The genius part of the book is the underlying realization that there are no easy answers to any of the issues that are raised. I felt like the author did a good job of presenting many considerations of every issues from all angles. No easy answers were given and I liked that. And in the end, the children led the adults into reconciliation. I am not aware of other middle grade fiction about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so this was unique.
May 3, 2022
This book was magnificent. It helped heal a little bit of my trauma surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I would encourage any Jewish-American person to read this book.
I loved all the characters in this story, but Waverly was surprisingly my favorite. She has such a good heart and gave Yasmeen a beautiful example of a heartfelt apology. I will definitely be recommending this book!
I loved all the characters in this story, but Waverly was surprisingly my favorite. She has such a good heart and gave Yasmeen a beautiful example of a heartfelt apology. I will definitely be recommending this book!
May 16, 2022
I really love this book. It is something I can relate to, when you are the only different one in the school, and you are not the same like everyone. This is an amazing book and I highly recommend this book.
Thank you @bookriot and @harpercollins for this won copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you @bookriot and @harpercollins for this won copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 12, 2024
A good middle- grade read about a friendship between a Palestinian/Lebanese girl and an Israeli girl. Though the book was published in 2022, it seems particularly relevant in the aftermath of October 7. It is predictable but in all the ways you want it to be.
February 24, 2024
The summer before seventh grade, Yasmeen's family--her parents are immigrants; dad is Palestinian, mom is Lebanese--moves from a close-knit Arab immigrant community in Detroit to a mostly-white suburban neighborhood in San Antonio. For the first time, Yasmeen feels out-of-place in her own skin, and wishes she was white-passing like her sister Sara instead of so obviously Arab. Her attempts to make friends ends in hurtful racist bullying, and she struggles to find her place at the Maronite church her family begins attending. Their only non-white neighbors are the Cohens, who are Israeli immigrants from the same town as Yasmeen's dad--Jerusalem--but Yasmeen knows that she can't be friends with the daughter her own age, Ayelet. The conflict between Palestinians and Israelis makes Yasmeen's father angry and sad, especially after his mother is evicted from her ancestral home in Jerusalem and must come to live with them in Texas. Despite this, Yasmeen and Ayelet grow closer as they both participate in math club, and Yasmeen wonders whether the divisive past can ever be left behind to make way for a peaceful future.
Wishing Upon the Same Stars is a sweet middle-grade book that deals with familiar topics like moving to a new place, bullying, and making new friends, with the additional factor of Palestinian-Israeli tensions. I'm glad to see this topic included in a book for young readers where it is not common, though perhaps more will be published in the wake of October 2023 and ensuing events. The messaging ended up being a bit over-simplistic (very "can't we all just get along?" and "let's choose peace"), but I think acknowledging the Nakba in a MG book at all is still important. The rest of the story was a little crowded and some of the scenes (especially in the latter half) felt rushed, but overall this is a cute story featuring underrepresented identities.
TW: bullying, racism, xenophobia, anti-Arab sentiment, antisemitism, mention of occupation and displacement, mention of Nakba, mention of Holocaust
Wishing Upon the Same Stars is a sweet middle-grade book that deals with familiar topics like moving to a new place, bullying, and making new friends, with the additional factor of Palestinian-Israeli tensions. I'm glad to see this topic included in a book for young readers where it is not common, though perhaps more will be published in the wake of October 2023 and ensuing events. The messaging ended up being a bit over-simplistic (very "can't we all just get along?" and "let's choose peace"), but I think acknowledging the Nakba in a MG book at all is still important. The rest of the story was a little crowded and some of the scenes (especially in the latter half) felt rushed, but overall this is a cute story featuring underrepresented identities.
TW: bullying, racism, xenophobia, anti-Arab sentiment, antisemitism, mention of occupation and displacement, mention of Nakba, mention of Holocaust
November 22, 2021
There aren't many books set in my hometown of San Antonio, Texas. Reading Wishing Upon the Same Stars made me homesick for the city of my childhood -- and while I wish there had been more geographical references besides the Alamo and the Riverwalk, I know that in my middle school years, my world revolved around my neighborhood, my school, and my church... just like Yasmeen. (My knowledge of the city definitely grew once I was old enough to drive and explore neighborhoods for myself.)
I was just a little younger than Yasmeen when we moved to San Antonio. I also remember my parents remarking about how much more house we could get and how difficult it was to make new friends when they had all gone to school with each other since preK. I remember my own 7th grade bullies and making friends with kids from different cultures and religions. All of these things felt familiar to me -- I am so impressed this is Ms. Feldman's debut novel because it all felt so real.
Most of all, I really loved the myriad of perspectives and experiences included in the story. These kids have so much more empathy than I did when I was a young teenager, and they are dealing with issues that I didn't even know existed in the early 90s. I immediately handed Wishing Upon the Same Stars to my 8th grader when I finished because I know she will love the characters as much as I did.
(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
I was just a little younger than Yasmeen when we moved to San Antonio. I also remember my parents remarking about how much more house we could get and how difficult it was to make new friends when they had all gone to school with each other since preK. I remember my own 7th grade bullies and making friends with kids from different cultures and religions. All of these things felt familiar to me -- I am so impressed this is Ms. Feldman's debut novel because it all felt so real.
Most of all, I really loved the myriad of perspectives and experiences included in the story. These kids have so much more empathy than I did when I was a young teenager, and they are dealing with issues that I didn't even know existed in the early 90s. I immediately handed Wishing Upon the Same Stars to my 8th grader when I finished because I know she will love the characters as much as I did.
(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
August 30, 2025
My actual rating is more like 3 stars, but given what is currently happening in Gaza, books such as this are more relevant and important than ever.
The writing was not my style, but it is also a middle grade book.
I read this a few years ago (before Oct. 7) and it was my first introduction to the Israel/Palestine conflict. It helped me understand the basic ideas behind this latest outbreak of violence in Palestine. To be clear, the book was published before Oct. 7, but it gave me the context to understand what was happening when this most recent conflict began. We need reminders that Palestinians are people too, and deserve to live without constant fear of being killed by the Israeli government. It is unfortunate we have to be reminded of other people’s humanity, but it is important that we recognize everyone’s right to a happy and safe life.
I would also like to note that, as a Mexican, I had conflicting thoughts about the Mexican characters. I think the discussion about the Alamo is definitely important, but I also feel like it may have been given a little too much attention in a book about a young Palestinian. On the other hand, I did appreciate that attention was brought to a part of U.S. history we tend to ignore, and the ways that it was incorporated to Yasmeen’s growth.
With all that being said, I’m giving it 5 stars because we need more Palestinian stories.
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
The writing was not my style, but it is also a middle grade book.
I read this a few years ago (before Oct. 7) and it was my first introduction to the Israel/Palestine conflict. It helped me understand the basic ideas behind this latest outbreak of violence in Palestine. To be clear, the book was published before Oct. 7, but it gave me the context to understand what was happening when this most recent conflict began. We need reminders that Palestinians are people too, and deserve to live without constant fear of being killed by the Israeli government. It is unfortunate we have to be reminded of other people’s humanity, but it is important that we recognize everyone’s right to a happy and safe life.
I would also like to note that, as a Mexican, I had conflicting thoughts about the Mexican characters. I think the discussion about the Alamo is definitely important, but I also feel like it may have been given a little too much attention in a book about a young Palestinian. On the other hand, I did appreciate that attention was brought to a part of U.S. history we tend to ignore, and the ways that it was incorporated to Yasmeen’s growth.
With all that being said, I’m giving it 5 stars because we need more Palestinian stories.
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
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