Description

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Inspired by the author's real-life experiences, this second hilarious and sweet novel about sixth grade Egyptian immigrant Nadia has her battling school newspaper drama, controversy with the school mascot, and some magical mischief, too.

Nadia loves fun facts. Here are a few about her:

• There was a magical—and hilarious—ancient Egyptian teacher named Titi trapped in her hippo amulet until she freed him last fall.
• Her school is choosing a new mascot and her idea is totally going to win!
• She’s going to kick butt writing for the school newspaper this term...

...Maybe. A couple of weeks in, the newspaper is a big mess. The mascot contest is mayhem, too. (Who knew choosing a costumed character could cause such controversy?!)

Then Nadia and Titi discover that the hippo amulet holds a second secret, one that’s super powerful—and super scary. Too bad they have no idea how to stop it.

But Nadia is on the case! If she can solve the mystery of an ancient amulet, winning the mascot contest and acing her reporter assignments should be easy...right?

From The Daily Show comedian Bassem Youssef and author Catherine R. Daly comes a humorous and heartfelt story about integrity, empathy, power, and friendship.

Includes sections of black-and-white comics as well as black-and-white illustrations throughout, brought to life by Last Kids on Earth illustrator, Douglas Holgate.

About the Author

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Bassem Youssef, a.k.a. the Jon Stewart of the Arab World, was a heart surgeon in his home country of Egypt before becoming the host of AlBernameg, the first political satire show in the Middle East. He has appeared on The Daily Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and other late-night shows, and was also featured in TIME 100, Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world. He lives in Los Angeles with his family.
Douglas Holgate is the illustrator of Something's Amiss at the Zoo by Jen Breach. He is also the illustrator of The Last Kids on Earth series by Max Brallier and Wires and Nerve, Volume One by Marissa Meyer. Douglas lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his family. Visit him online at skullduggery.com.au.
A former editor at Disney, Harper, and Scholastic, Catherine Daly has written many books for young readers, including the Petal Pushers middle-grade series, the Disney Fairies chapter book Prilla and the Butterfly Lie, and popular paperback titles such as Whiskers, Knights, All Aboard Cars, and Daddy and Me. She lives in New York City with her family.

Praise For…

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Praise for The Magical Reality of Nadia:

“This lighthearted read bubbles with jokes, magic, comics, and the ever-persistent issues of friendship and personal identity. And yet, the cheerful tone belies deep messages of acceptance and understanding that are brought beautifully to life. Whimsically packaged into a relatable tale, the message to celebrate diversity and identity comes through loud and clear in this must-buy.” –School Library Journal, starred review

“Youssef based the novel on his daughter’s experience moving to the U.S. from Egypt, and the labor of love comes through, sweet and silly. The bullying on display isn’t the threatening kind; the new kid is popular and often terrifically funny, but his hurtful humor cuts down those around him. Nadia isn’t perfect, but she handles the hurdles with grace, making this a poignant ode to the American ideals of blended culture and community.” –Booklist

"In this heartfelt tale, Youseff and Daly strike a solid balance between magical worldbuilding, witty humor, and a unifying anti-xenophobic theme." –Publishers Weekly

"Readers will cheer for Nadia as she responds to prejudice and affirms her identity." –Kirkus Reviews

“Humorous black-and-white illustrations, including some comic pages, draw in even the nonbookworms.” –Parents Magazine