Huda and Me

Get ready for a daring, laugh-out-loud adventure with "Huda and Me"-a vibrant tale of sibling loyalty, cheeky determination, and a bold journey across the world. When Akeal and his six siblings are left in Melbourne under the care of the dreaded Aunt Amel, chaos soon follows. But Huda, the youngest and most mischievous of the lot, is not one to sit still. With a stolen credit card, a fierce will, and a plan in mind, she persuades her reluctant brother Akeal to help her escape to Lebanon. What follows is a wild, heartwarming, and humorous journey filled with love, culture, and courage. This fresh, fast-paced novel offers a unique window into multicultural Australian life, with strong themes of family, belonging and resilience. It's no surprise that this title was shortlisted for the 2022 CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers. A brilliant read for middle primary and early secondary students looking for humour, adventure and a whole lot of heart.

Educational Benefits:

• Explores themes of identity, family, and cultural heritage through an engaging storyline.
• Promotes empathy and understanding of diverse perspectives.
• Encourages critical thinking about rules, responsibility, and consequences.
• Supports literacy development through expressive, humorous narrative voice.

Classroom Ideas:

• Use as a literature circle text to explore character development and themes.
• Incorporate in lessons on persuasive writing by analysing Huda's methods.
• Discuss geographical and cultural aspects of Lebanon and Australia.
• Use for creative writing prompts inspired by Huda and Akeal's adventures.

Information:

• Ages: 9-12 years
• Format: Novel
• Recognition: CBCA Book of the Year (Younger Readers) Shortlist 2022