Ravi and Joe would seem at first glance to be opposites. One is from India and new at school, small and smart; the other is a native New Jersey boy, tall and suffering from auditory processing disorder o much stimulation and noise unduly distracts him. But what Ravi and Joe have in common are caring families, moms who cook them special food, and an appreciation for the book Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis, which they are reading for class. They also share a bully, though Ravi doesn't know it yet. He thinks Dillon, an Indian American boy in his class, will automatically like him and be his friend. Joe, Ravi thinks, is slow and clumsy, and he resents it when their teacher thinks he needs remedial help like Joe. A humiliating experience brings the two together, and their mutual empathy as outsiders seems to bode well for a future friendship. The popular Weeks teams with new author Varadarajan for a book that features tandem chapters narrated alternately by Ravi and Joe. Readers will readily recognize the familiar world of school cliques and social problems, and be pleased with the story's outcome.

Used to being the top student, fifth grader Ravi ("fresh off the boat" from Bangalore) is furious when he's sent to the resource room with Joe (whose auditory processing disorder makes school challenging). Determined to prove his superiority, Ravi befriends bully Dillon, while Joe hopes to get through the day without humiliation at Dillon's hands. Short chapters alternate between Joe's and Ravi's distinctive, engaging voices. Glos.

Gr 3-6 The phrase "save me a seat" is a life preserver. Four words that can make a kid feel safe in a sea of strangers. The story is told from two different points of view: Ravi, who just moved from India, is adjusting to his new American life, and Joe, who has long been a student at Albert Einstein Elementary and is acclimating to a new grade without his best friends. Popular and cunning Dillon Samreen does not miss their vulnerabilities. As the only Indian students in the class, Ravi assumes that he and Dillon will be best friends, but Joe knows better. Like Joe, readers watch the slow, drawn-out torture in silence. That feeling of helplessness will be a powerful one for students to discuss. Through their struggles, Ravi and Joe will capture the hearts of readers and inspire fans to cheer for them just as loudly as they did for Auggie from R.J. Palacio's Wonder (Knopf, 2010) and Ally from Linda Mullaly Hunt's Fish in a Tree (Penguin, 2015). Exceptional extras include glossaries and recipes from both characters. A window for some readers and a mirror for others, this noteworthy book is highly recommended for middle grade collections. VERDICT Well-developed characters and original voices in this lunchroom drama will have readers devouring the book and begging for seconds. Beth Parmer, New Albany Elementary Library, OH