Book Uncle and Me

Nine-year-old Yasmin loves books and reading, making daily visits to Book Uncle's free lending library on her street corner in India. Book Uncle has the perfect book recommendation for every reader who stops by his stand, and Yasmin has set herself a goal to read a book per day. When Book Uncle's street library faces closure due to permit issues, Yasmin must find a way to save this neighborhood institution. She teams up with friends and neighbors to make their voices heard, learning about local government and community activism in the process. The story follows Yasmin's campaign to help Book Uncle while she simultaneously navigates typical experiences of school, friendship, and family life. Her efforts become entangled with a local election, pushing her to think about how individual citizens can create change. This middle-grade novel explores themes of literacy, civic engagement, and the power of community action through a child's perspective. The book demonstrates how seemingly small neighborhood issues connect to larger questions about public spaces, local government, and citizen participation.

Readers appreciate the book's authentic portrayal of community activism and child empowerment. Many highlight how it shows a young girl taking action rather than just complaining about problems. Parents note it works well for ages 7-10. Readers frequently mention: - Strong message about the power of reading - Relatable main character - Good representation of Indian culture - Clear writing style accessible to young readers Common criticisms: - Some find the plot resolution too neat - A few note the pacing drags in the middle Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (216 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (19 ratings) Kirkus Reviews: Starred review From reader reviews: "Perfect for kids starting to read chapter books" - Goodreads reviewer "Teaches civic engagement without being preachy" - Amazon reviewer "My 8-year-old related to Yasmin's determination" - Parent reviewer on Common Sense Media

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🌟 Uma Krishnaswami has written over 20 books for children and teaches Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. 📚 The book won the International Literacy Association's Social Justice Literature Award in 2017. 📖 The story is set in India and features a free lending library run by an elderly man (Book Uncle) who operates from a street corner. 🎯 The main character, Yasmin, sets a goal to read a book every day for the entire year, reflecting the author's belief in the power of daily reading. 🌍 Though set in India, the book tackles universal themes like civic engagement, the importance of literacy, and how even children can create positive change in their communities.