A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan receives praise for its heartfelt storytelling and authentic representation of cultural diversity. Reviewers highlight its engaging characters and relatable themes of friendship and identity. Criticisms are rare, often noting a few predictable plot points. Overall, it's seen as a valuable and enjoyable read for middle-grade audiences.

Readers who enjoy A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan are typically middle-grade students who appreciate themes of friendship, cultural diversity, and identity. Fans of books like Front Desk by Kelly Yang or Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan will find this novel particularly engaging.

In A Place at the Table, sixth-graders Sara Hameed and Elizabeth Shainmark, children of immigrant families, navigate middle school, facing challenges of cultural identity, friendship, and racial discrimination. Through a shared cooking class, they form an unexpected bond and work together to support their mothers in studying for the US Citizenship test while preparing for an International Festival.

Heartwarming / Inspirational / Contemplative / Emotional / Hopeful

- A Place at the Table is a collaborative effort reflecting the authors' real-life friendship between Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan, which echoes the themes of connection in the book.
- The book draws inspiration from both authors' cultural backgrounds, intertwining elements from Pakistani and Jewish heritages to craft its narrative.
- Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan are both known for their prior works that emphasize diversity and multicultural experiences, bringing authentic voices from underrepresented communities to the forefront in children's literature.

**Sara Hameed**  
A Pakistani American middle school student with a talent for art, who uses her creativity to navigate personal and social challenges. She wears long black hair clipped with a silver barrette.

**Elizabeth Shainmark**  
A Jewish middle school student with a heritage linked to England, evident in her charm bracelet. She grapples with her cultural identity and fitting in among peers.

**Mrs. Hina Hameed**  
Sara's mother, a devoted caregiver who teaches a cooking club to support her family. She wears a green headscarf and is respected for her wisdom and strength.

**Maddy Montgomery**  
Elizabeth's best friend who struggles with her upbringing in a racist environment. Known for wearing name-brand clothes and her struggle to find her own voice.

**Stephanie Tolleson**  
A talented baker with a benevolent heart, known for donating her bake sale earnings to charity. Wears a signature T-shirt representing her baking business.

Saadia Faruqi

 Laura Shovan

Middle grade

Novel

Fiction

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Study Guide

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A Place at the Table Summary and Study Guide

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A Place at the Table Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-6

A Place at the Table Chapters 1-6 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 7-12

A Place at the Table Chapters 7-12 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 13-20

A Place at the Table Chapters 13-20 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 21-26

A Place at the Table Chapters 21-26 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 27-34

A Place at the Table Chapters 27-34 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

A Place at the Table Character Analysis

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Themes

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A Place at the Table Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

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A Place at the Table

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