I'm delighted to have more stories of the Saleem family, and it's kind of cool to meet a younger version of Zara -- she's a teen in the Zayd Saleem books. That said, while I know the point of the book is for Zara to get over herself, it was hard to warm up to her. I liked that the other kids staged a pretty cool intervention, and I loved the diversity of the neighborhood. Good stuff. ( )

New neighbors, old friends, a little jealousy, and tons of ideas come together to create a fun read.

The nicest man in the world has moved away, leaving Zara and her family wondering who will move into the house across the street next. When the moving van pulls up and two kids appear, Zara and her neighborhood friends are a bit nervous. Being the Queen of the Neighborhood, Zara forces courage and brings cookies to greet the newcomers. What she doesn't expect is that the new girl is gaining quite a bit of attention from everyone. Soon, Zara feels a little ignored, but it's nothing she can't handle. She has a new goal and plans to breaking a world record. She just has to figure out which one it will be...and keep her eye on that new neighbor so she doesn't steal her 'Queen' position completely.

Especially lower middle graders will effortlessly slide into this tale. The writing fits the age group very well, and the tale flows smoothly. Each character comes across naturally and could be the kid next door. The situations are familiar and readers will have no trouble identifying with the insecurities involved when a new person joins a group of friends. It's a wholesome read with tons of heart, circling around neighbors, family, and friendships.

The author allows various cultures and traditions to weave into an everyday neighborhood. Zara's family holds their traditions dear, especially when it comes to foods, and the other kids aren't any different. While the reader is introduced to the various details, these flow right into the story without an extra wink or blink. Even when the new family brings their own traditions with them, no true attention is given or comments made from the other characters. It just flows together naturally.

This is great for fans of real life stories with characters to befriend. There's a bit of tension, and a gentle message or two. It will be fun to see what Zara and her friends will experience next.

I received an ARC and found it to be an easy and fun read. ( )