If you like books where the main character struggles to fit in and make friends, then you should read The Best It by Maulik Panchloy. This book is about Rahul who is Indian, and many people make fun of him for being weak and not strong. Rahul’s grandpa Bhai, tells him a story about his wife (Rahul’s grandma) and this makes Rahul want to be the best at something. Rahul and his best friend Chelsea try many things to see what Rahul is the best at. He goes and auditions for a commercial. The people running the commercial don’t let him because he is black. This hurts him and his family because they think that this is not how he should be treated. Rahul also tries to be the best at football. He didn’t make the team because he sprained his ankle when trying to catch the ball. He was mad he didn’t make the team because he practiced really hard. When none of those work Chelsea tries to convince him to join the mathletes because math comes easy for him. Rahul thinks that he is going to get made fun of because everyone is now going to think that he is a geek. When he makes the team he realizes that this is what he is good at. The mathlete’s teacher hopes to make it to states and possibly advance into the next round. When Jenny asks him to the dance they feel awkward, and Jenny thinks Rahul would rather be with Chelsea. Chelsea notices that Rahul looks nervous. After the fight Chelsea and Rahul don’t talk for a while, and their parents get suspicious. Will Rahul advance into the next round, and make it to state? Will Rahul make sure that his friendship with Chelsea is better? To find out, read The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy.
If you like The Best At It you might also enjoy reading The Miscalculations of Lighting Girl, by Stacy McAnulty. These two books connect because the main characters in both books struggle to find friends and fit in. Lucy struggles to fit in because she was always homeschooled, and is not used to being at school with other people.The main character Lucy was struck by lightning when she was younger and is now really smart especially in math. When Lucy is nervous, the digits of Pi flood her brain. Lucy meets a girl named Windy, and they become friends. In school they have to do something for the community/economy, but there has to be three people and they only have two. Lucy and Windy decide to ask Levi to join them and their project is to make a website for a dog shelter. Lucy finds a dog and names it Pi, and falls in love with it. Lucy finds out that Pi has brain cancer and the shelter can’t put him up for adoption unless the owners really want the dog. Will Lucy survive one year of middle school? Will she be able to find a home for Pi? In order to find out, read The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty, but first read The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy.