A book can tackle a serious topic and still be an exciting read. In The Sky At Our Feet, author Nadia Hashimi tackles immigration issues and takes readers on a chase through New York City as our protagonist tries to get to safety.
Publisher’s Summary: Jason has just learned that his Afghan mother has been living illegally in the United States since his father was killed in Afghanistan. Although Jason was born in the US, it’s hard to feel American now when he’s terrified that his mother will be discovered—and that they will be separated.
When he sees his mother being escorted from her workplace by two officers, Jason feels completely alone. He boards a train with the hope of finding his aunt in New York City, but as soon as he arrives in Penn Station, the bustling city makes him wonder if he’s overestimated what he can do.
After an accident lands him in the hospital, Jason finds an unlikely ally in a fellow patient. Max, a whip-smart girl who wants nothing more than to explore the world on her own terms, joins Jason in planning a daring escape out of the hospital and into the skyscraper jungle—even though they both know that no matter how big New York City is, they won’t be able to run forever.
The writing is tight and the story believable (except maybe for one part, but I willingly suspended my disbelief as I cheered for Jason D). This book will appeal to 10-14 year olds who like a fast paced story and those who love a book with heart.
As a side note, Jason and his mom are always asking and answering riddles. This so inspired me that I printed off a bunch of similar ones with numbers and letters, such as 26 L in the A – 26 Letters in the Alphabet. I gave them to my Enrichment class. At first they groaned, then they got competitive. I whistled hints. At the end of the period, one girl said, “I thought this was going to be lame, but it was really fun!: High praise indeed.
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