This seemed like it would be a cute story, but the kid characters were all really annoying. I know they're like, eight and nine, but still. There was also too much telling and not enough showing. It might be a good way to introduce kids to Ramadan and Bangladeshi culture, though.

The story was a little "tell don't show" and the author really overused exclamation marks; however, this was a cute chapter book overall and had some great themes, including: religious customs, visiting family in other countries, the importance of journalism, family relationships, food, family traditions and relationships, and climate change and climate refugees. The main character is a very smart and ambitious eight year old Bangladeshi-American girl who wants to be a journalist just like her favorite aunt. While visiting family in Bangladesh during Ramadan, Nadia helps her aunt interview a local family who has created a shelter for women and children displaced by climate change, which hits Bangladesh hard due to its lowland location. Readers will definitely be introduced to a lot of important ideas and this could work really well for a unit study.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book!! All opinions in this review are my own!!

I can sum up this book in one sentence: what a great read!!

Nadia Islam, On The Record is such an emotional and impactful novel. I can envision this being a great introduction to journalism, climate change, and Ramadan for the book's young audience!! Adiba Jaigirdar is such an incredible writer. She beautifully weaves in discussions of navigating fasting during Ramadan as a young person and what climate change is. The setting of this book being during Ramadan, is so fitting to the conversations surrounding standing up for what you believe in and community care. The audience will fall in love with these characters, especially Nadia, who is the protagonist of this novel.

I am very excited for the release of this book and to see what the final illustrations will look like after publication!!

This is a middle-grade book that should be on your radar!!