Title: Nikki & Deja
Author: Karen English
Illustrator: Laura Freeman
Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval
Genre: Children’s fiction
Age level: 4-8
Themes: Relationships among friends & family, new classmates, changing relationships, girls clubs
Synopsis: Nikki and Deja are best friends- almost like sisters. They watch Saturday morning cartoons together, shop at the flea market, jump double dutch, and help each other with homework. One of their favorite things to do is sit on Nikki’s front porch and discuss the happenings on their block. But when new neighbors move in down the street and the girls decide to form an exclusive club, their friendship begins to change in ways neither of them expect. Every friendship has its ups and downs. But can Nikki and Deja’s survive the new drill team club and the new girl?
Synopsis: Nikki and Deja are best friends- almost like sisters. They watch Saturday morning cartoons together, shop at the flea market, jump double dutch, and help each other with homework. One of their favorite things to do is sit on Nikki’s front porch and discuss the happenings on their block. But when new neighbors move in down the street and the girls decide to form an exclusive club, their friendship begins to change in ways neither of them expect. Every friendship has its ups and downs. But can Nikki and Deja’s survive the new drill team club and the new girl?
About the author: Karen English is the author of several books for young readers, including the novel FRANCIE (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), which received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award. Her previous book for Clarion, HOT DAY ON ABBOTT AVENUE, was named an ALA Notable Children's Book and was praised by the Jane Addams Peace Association for its "nuanced portrait of the inner workings of young girls' relationships." This is her first chapter book. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
About the illustrator: Laura Freeman has illustrated many books for children, including A BRAVE SPACEBOY and its sequel, A WILD COWBOY, by Dana Kessimakis Smith (Jump at the Sun). Her work has appeared in publications such as THE NEW YORK TIMES and NEW YORK magazine. Laura lives with her husband and two children in Manhattan. This is her first book for Clarion.
Pre-reading activities: Since this story is about two best friends, Nikki & Deja and their new neighbor Antonia, the students can write about a friend they like to play with. They can also write about the people who live around them, since Nikki & Deja frequently watched their neighbors while they sat on the porch.
Post-reading activities: Lead a discussion about the book, asking the students why Nikki & Deja had a fight. One of the reasons is because of the Drill team club that Nikki & Deja wanted to start, but Nikki was having a hard time keeping up and then didn't want to be the club's secretary. Another time was because Deja's Bear was missing, and she thought Nikki misplaced him on purpose because of the problems with the club. The students can write about a time when they have had an argument with someone they were close to (a neighbor, a friend, or a family member), and draw a picture of the incident. Then they can come up with a solution to the problem if it hasn't already been solved.
Reflection: I thought this book was closely related to students in elementary school classrooms because they usually have fights about silly things and then they forget about what they were arguing about in the first place and go back to being friends. I thought the illustrations were very cute and they could show the students that even though Nikki & Deja were African American that they are similar to the students in the class and go through the same problems.
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