A Place at the Table, written by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan; Clarion, 2020.
Told in alternating viewpoints, A Place at the Table is a middle-grade contemporary novel that chronicles the growing friendship between 11 year-olds Sara and Elizabeth. As they grapple with family dynamics, school and friendship challenges, growing awareness of racism, and a cooking competition, they learn about themselves, the meaning of friendship, and claiming their space in the world.
“We’re all different here, you know. But we’re all American!”—Sara, A Place at the Table
Why this Book? Why will it matter to kids?
There are two main characters in A Place at the Table. Sara is Pakistani-American; Elizabeth is Jewish British American: her mom was born in England, immigrated to the United States, and converted to Judaism when she married Elizabeth’s father. The girls meet at an after-school South Asian cooking class led by Sara’s (pronounced Sa-ra) mom. Elizabeth has enrolled because of her interest in cooking and to learn more about preparing meals. Her mom has lost interest in family caretaking responsibilities including cooking and laundry as she deals with depression fueled by grief over the loss of her mother. Sara’s mom is facing financial problems as a result of her investment in a flagging catering business. Both moms are studying—on and off—for their US citizenship exam. Sara and Elizabeth are concerned about their changing relationships with lifelong friends as well as their moms’ sporadic efforts at achieving citizenship. How the girls grow into their relationship with each other and a deeper understanding of what friendship means is the crux of this timely contemporary middle-grade novel.
Levels and Layers of Learning
Grade level: Grades 4-6
Social-Emotional Learning Themes
Courage, empathy, compassion, tenacity, perseverance, persistence, creativity, inspiration, encouragement, acceptance, perspective, self-reliance, respect, effort, understanding, connection, self-assurance, dedication, resourcefulness, self-awareness, diligence, fortitude, integrity, justice, trustworthiness, loyalty , empowerment, generosity of spirit, humility, concern, effort, friendship, gratitude, helpfulness, hope, integrity, kindness, perspective, resilience, respect, self-reliance.
Content Area Connections
English Language Arts, Art, Home Sciences, Cultural Studies
Using This Book in the Classroom
Hit the Ground Running
Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents
An Educator’s Guide for A Place at the Table includes Discussion Questions and a variety of activities such as “Examining the Authors’ Craft with Similes,” and “Open Mind Portraits.”
A variety of teaching resources, interviews, and an audio excerpt of A Place at the Table can be found on TeachingBooks.
Saadia and Laura interview each other for Publishers Weekly.
Write Away!
Ideas to prompt writing
A Place at the Table is written in alternating points of view. Over the course of the novel, the two main characters, Sara and Elizabeth, come to realize important things about themselves, their thinking, and what friendships are made of. Their perspectives grow and change. Choose something one of the girls learned that caused you to think differently or consider more closely your behavior, your thinking, or a friendship. Write about it, beginning with a summary of the scene from the book and moving on to an explanation of how it affected your outlook or actions.
Secondary characters in A Place at the Table range from family members to school friends, to teachers. Choose one secondary character and write a reflection from his or her point of view.
Over the course of the novel, both main characters experience confusion, misunderstood words or actions, lack of understanding, and hurt feelings as a result of the other’s words or actions. Choose one incidence and write about an experience you have had that parallels the one in the story.
Sara and her mother both feel hurt or uncomfortable when their names are mispronounced. Sara feels frustration and anger, but later she learns a positive approach from observing her mother’s response to a similar situation. Write about a time when you have felt hurt, angry, or frustrated at another person’s misstep. How might you have handled the situation to correct the error in a positive, self-assured way? See the Related Books of Interest Regarding Names below for a list of recommended read-alouds to accompany this writing prompt.
Elizabeth relishes the new flavors she experiences in the food she learns to prepare in Mrs. Hameed’s after school cooking club. What is your favorite food? Are you an adventurous eater? What foods from other cultures have you tasted? Which are your favorites? Which dish from the novel would you most like to try? Why?
In Chapter 23 Sara and Elizabeth write food poems in Ms.Saintima’s English class. One of the classroom poetry workshops Laura Shovan has created centers on food.
Poetry Break
Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book
Poetry breaks fit perfectly into brief moments in the day—from opening or closing the day to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to transitioning from one subject to the next. Reading a poem typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, or summon a giggle. And, poetry soothes the spirit.
- Dictionary For A Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini
- I Am Loved by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Ashley Bryan
- I Remember: Poems and Pictures of Heritage compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins
- Let There Be Light: Poems and Prayers for Repairing the World compiled and illustrated by Jane Breskin Zalben
- Voices from Afar: Poems of Peace by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Susan Guevara
- What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms & Blessings by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
- Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Olivia Gatwood; illustrated by Theodore Taylor III
And Then There’s This…
Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study
In addition to the recipe found at the back of the book, see these printable recipe cards featuring foods from A Place at the Table.
A themed set of printable A Place at the Table Conversation Starters for Families: Starting a Conversation with Elders Who Moved Here from Another Country provides an excellent extension activity. See also, We Need Diverse Books blog post on this topic.
Read Laura’s discussion of her personal experiences with “Parental Depression and Finding One’s Place as a 1st-Gen Child” and how it informed Elizabeth’s character in A Place at the Table here.
Laura has developed a series of classroom poetry workshops.
Related Books of Interest:
Children’s books that center on the Muslim experience:
- The Day Saida Arrived written by Susana Gómez Redondo, illustrated by Sonja Wimmer, translated by Lawrence Schimel
- I’m Your Neighbor Books: Muslim-Americans
- Muslim Kids as Heroes Book List: Kitaab World
- Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Social Justice Books: Muslims
- TeachingBooks: Cultural Area: Muslims
Recommended Read-Alouds on the Topic of Names:
- How Alma Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
- My Name is Yoon by Helen Recovits
- Your Name Is a Song written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Professional Resources:
- Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed
- Bullying Hurts: Teaching Kindness Through Read Alouds and Guided Conversations by Lester L. Laminack and Reba M. Wadsworth See the Appendices for middle grade book suggestions, Activities for Community Building, and Resources for Educators.
- School Library Journal, “Teaching Compassion—not Empathy—and Critical Reading”
- TeachingBooks “Diverse Books Toolkit”
- What Do You Stand For? A Guide to Building Character by Barbara A. Lewis
- As an interfaith activist, Saadia Faruqi has written extensively.
- “Back-to-School Anti-Racist Panel Discussion with Indies UNITE!” is a free virtual event taking place on October 3, 2020 from 4-5:30pm EDT. The first in an anti-racist panel series comprised of authors, illustrators, librarians, and industry professionals focusing on anti-racism conversations, will feature Valerie Bolling, Sharon Draper, Cicely Lewis, and Cheryl + Wade Hudson. Topics of discussion include teaching anti-racism in the classroom, how to create a safe space for students of color, and talking about anti-racism with students. Questions for panelists can be emailed in advance.
Meet the Authors
Photo Credit: QZB Photography
Saadia Faruqi (SA-de a Fa ROO key) is a Pakistani American author, essayist and interfaith activist. She writes the children’s early reader series “Yasmin” published by Capstone and other books for children, including middle grade novels A Place At The Table (HMH/Clarion 2020) co-written with Laura Shovan, and A Thousand Questions (Harper Collins 2020). She has also written Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan, a short story collection for adults and teens. Saadia is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, a magazine for Muslim art, poetry and prose, and was featured in Oprah Magazine in 2017 as a woman making a difference in her community. She resides in Houston, TX with her husband and children.
Photo Credit: Linda Joy Burke
Laura Shovan (SHO-van) has over twenty-five years of experience as an educator, editor, author, and poet. Laura’s debut middle grade novel, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary, was an NCTE 2017 Notable Verse Novel, a Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the year, and won a Cybils Award for poetry. It was an Arnold Adoff Poetry Award for New Voices honor book. Laura’s novel Takedown was selected by Junior Library Guild and PJ Our Way, and was on the ALA’s 2019 Amelia Bloomer Project List. Her latest novel is A Place at the Table, written with author/activist Saadia Faruqi. Laura is a longtime poet-in-the-schools in her home state of Maryland.
Backstory: Q & A with Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
Judy Bradbury: How did you come to write A Place at the Table? What kernel seeded its creation?
Laura Shovan: I had an idea for a novel about a girl who helps her immigrant mother pursue U.S. citizenship. But it felt like a bigger story than I could tell alone. Saadia and I met through the Pitch Wars author mentoring program and she shared with me that she’d become a citizen fairly recently. I admired her writing and realized she’d be the perfect person to collaborate with on this topic. Together, we could give a broader view of what it’s like to be a first generation American kid. Because I’m first generation (on one side) and Saadia is an immigrant raising first generation kids, we were able to base the story on both of our families’ experiences. It was Saadia’s brilliant idea to add the food element to the novel.
JB: Tell about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of A Place at the Table or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the making of this book.
Saadia Faruqi: There were lots of hurdles along the way. One that stands out for me was when we were writing a scene on Halloween and I had to reach into my memories to channel all the times my children got upset or angry at me for not allowing them to celebrate this holiday. But it led to many important conversations with Laura so I think it was worth it.
LS: I am not religious, though I did attend Hebrew school, as Elizabeth does in the story. Saadia challenged me to include more details about Jewish traditions, prayers, and customs than I have done in previous books. I like the way that being from a marginalized faith is something that our characters have in common and connect through.
JB: At the heart of A Place at the Table is the developing friendship between Sara and Elizabeth. There are false starts and bumps along the way. How did you work together on this aspect of the novel? What aspects of friendship did you hope to bring home to middle school readers through the girls’ experiences with each other and with other characters in the story?
SF: I brought a lot of myself into this story, especially the way Sara is such a prickly and antisocial character. I was a lot like that in middle school, and it was very difficult for me to make friends. I also see this happening now with my own kids. Once you get into middle school, friendship becomes a lot more difficult. Relationships in general become like that.
JB: What did you learn from creating A Place at the Table?
SF: I learned a lot about writing, and working with someone else to create a finished product. I tend to work alone in most things, so this was quite an education to me. I also learned a lot about British culture from Laura, especially the yummy candies.
LS: Even though our book is narrated in two voices, we wanted it to feel cohesive. I don’t usually write an outline until after the first draft is done, but it was a necessary part of our collaboration. I learned that outlines are useful! Because I like to do hands-on research, I also learned to make the dishes that Sara and Elizabeth cook in their club. Tahari rice is my family’s favorite Pakistani food.
JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the creation of A Place at the Table?
SF: Upon reading A Place at the Table you may be inclined to think that I love cooking, or even eating Pakistani food. Nothing could be farther from the truth! I am a reluctant cook, and would rather eat out than make myself a meal. And my favorite food is probably pizza, rather than one of the delicious dishes Sara and Elizabeth make in their after-school cooking club.
LS: Elizabeth’s barky dog, Robin Hood, is 100 percent based on my Schnauzer, Sam. Sam has always been an anxious pup, making his voice heard (loudly) when he’s worried, sees a stranger, or thinks the humans are playing too roughly with each other. As a character in the story, Robin Hood’s anxious nature reflects Elizabeth’s anxiety about the stress in her family.
JB: What do you hope readers will take away from A Place at the Table?
SF: I hope readers will learn how to be true allies, how to stand up against injustice even if they feel that they can’t make a difference. I hope this book teaches readers what real friendship is. It’s not just talking on the phone or having the same interests, but also taking care of each other and having each other’s backs.
LS: I hope readers will gain a deeper understanding of the stresses many first generation American children face. Sometimes their families are struggling financially, like the Hameeds. Sometimes they are coping with feelings of isolation, missing their family and support system, as we see with Elizabeth’s mother. Even as we celebrate the immigrant experience, Saadia and I want to show readers there are challenges in moving to a new country.
JB: How do you see A Place at the Table connecting to curriculum?
LS: Two specific ways that our book connects to curriculum have to do with character.
First, if readers take a close look at the figurative language in the novel, they will notice that Elizabeth and Sara often include food within their similes. For example, Elizabeth says, “My mood is as light and sunny as a lemon meringue pie.” This supports the novel’s cooking theme, but also helps build the girls’ characters by showing their obsession with food.
Second, the book is written in two separate first-person points of view. This is a great opportunity to look at a scene in the story, such as the Halloween section, and analyze how Sara and Elizabeth experience the same event in different ways.
Our publisher created a great educator’s guide for A Place at the Table.
JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?
SF: I wish you’d asked me what I’m working on next. I have another middle grade novel A Thousand Questions this year, which is set in Pakistan. I’m very excited but also nervous to showcase my birthplace to American readers.
LS: This is my second prose novel for kids, but I am best known as a poet! The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary is my middle grade verse novel. In addition to the story, the book has a list of poetic forms to try and a section filled with poetry writing prompts.
About the Illustrator
A Place at the Table jacket art was created by Anoosha Syed. Visit her here. http://www.anooshasyed.com/
Book Giveaway!
Subscribers to Children’s Book Corner blog will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of A Place at the Table. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced in the next blog post. Click here to subscribe!
The winner of Gurple and Preen written by Linda Sue Park and illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi is ammoore. Congratulations! Please send along your address so a copy of the book and a signed bookplate can be mailed to you. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for kindly providing the book, and to Debbie for providing the signed bookplate!
Over to You…
Join the conversation! Offer your thoughts on the featured question related to this month’s post in the comments section below. You are also welcome to post a comment related to this month’s book.
What recently published middle-grade novel do you recommend?
Thanks for sharing!
News & Updates
School Library Journal has compiled a list of books for middle school readers that center on Black characters experiencing joy. For additional resources, refer to my June blog post.
Colby Sharp offers “5 Reasons to Read Picture Books to Older Readers” in a short video.
Final Thought
“The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs.” ~ Joan Didion
Welcome to the Children’s Book Corner! Thank you for your kind words. I am glad to know that you found something of value in this post. Happy reading!