NOT SO SHY

Shai is angry at her father for uprooting their family from Israel to the United States for his new job.

Her inadequate command of English makes her feel stupid. Even her name causes difficulties, for Americans pronounce it Shay, when it should be said like shy. Comparing her life in San Diego to Israel, Shai finds almost everything here less appealing. She is determined to devise a plan to return to Israel, perhaps by using her artistic talents to win an art competition—first prize is an international flight! Fortunately, Shai develops friendships with Korean American neighbor Kay-Lee, Iraqi American Muslim Hakim, and cute, nerdy, default White Chris. At school, however, bullies escalate antisemitic and Islamophobic remarks and incidents, causing deep pain and anguish, and the kids are afraid to speak out and report them, even to parents. A visit from Shai’s beloved maternal grandparents, Saba and Safta, provides some insights and advice but also provokes many more questions. When a terrorist bombing in Tel Aviv gravely injures Safta, everything changes, including Shai’s perspective on the meaning of home. Readers follow blue-eyed Shai’s every thought and emotion as she narrates her own tale in descriptive detail with great attention paid to holidays and wonderful food. The storyline occasionally features awkward, unexplained jumps in time, but Nimrodi tackles difficult subjects with a hopeful, uplifting outlook.

Touching, tender, and heartbreaking.