All Mixed Up

WINNER, 2024 FOREWORD INDIES, HONORABLE MENTION, JUVENILE FICTION
CBC 2025 MIDDLE-GRADE & TEACHER FAVORITES
A DÍA READING LIST 2025 PICK
A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS 2024 PICK

From New York Times essayist Raj Tawney comes All Mixed Up, a powerful middle-grade novel that explores identity, friendship, and the challenges of growing up in a post 9/11 world.

Set in 2002, this compelling story follows Kamal Rao, a sixth grader navigating the complexities of life in a suburban town that is far from inclusive. Kamal, a multi-ethnic American boy, often feels out of place and isolated, spending his days creating mud pies or cooking traditional family recipes alongside his mother and grandmother, drawing from their diverse cultural heritage.

Kamal's life takes an unexpected turn when Jaz, a Pakistani immigrant, joins his school. Together, they bond over their love for the outdoors and delicious food, forming a friendship that pushes Kamal to reconsider what it means to be different. Through Jaz, Kamal discovers the strength and beauty in his unique identity.

But as their friendship deepens, the community's suspicion toward Jaz surfaces, putting their bond to the test. Kamal must decide whether to stand by his friend, risking his own safety and his family's trust, in a society that questions Jaz's presence and intentions.

All Mixed Up is an insightful, heartwarming novel based on the author's real-life experiences, offering a fresh voice in children's fiction.

Key Features:

• Timely Themes: Addresses identity, inclusion, and cultural diversity in a post 9/11 context.
• Relatable Protagonist: Kamal's internal struggles resonate with middle-grade readers facing similar challenges.
• Friendship and Growth: Highlights the power of friendship in overcoming prejudice and personal growth.
• Cultural Exploration: Showcases multi-ethnic traditions through food and family dynamics.
• Emotional Depth: Encourages discussions about belonging and empathy.
  

Benefits for Readers:

• Cultural Awareness: Helps readers appreciate different cultures and the richness they bring to communities.
• Empathy Building: Fosters understanding of the impact of discrimination and the value of standing up for friends.
• Self-Discovery: Inspires young readers to embrace their identities and find strength in their uniqueness.
• Critical Thinking: Promotes discussions about societal issues, encouraging readers to think critically about their own communities.
  

"Through Jaz's infectious bravado and his and Kamal's anchoring friendship, Tawney (Colorful Palate, for adults) presents an earnest depiction of two outcasts finding comfort in each other while navigating societal tension in this brief interrogation of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim attitudes. The narrative features ample nostalgic details of the time period, which are informed by the author's personal experiences, as addressed in an endnote." - Publishers Weekly

"In the touching novel All Mixed Up, a middle school student faces prejudice but also makes a friend with whom he feels understood. Plotted in gripping stages, the story culminates with hope." - Foreword Reviews

"Raj Tawney's books, including this one, are bite-sized treasures... All Mixed Up is a journey into bravery and I can say with certainty one thing: I'll want to read anything Raj Tawney writes because his writing is pure light." - Vanessa Garcia, author of What the Bread Says (@vanessagarciawriter)

"Textured and complex story. [All Mixed Up] deals with serious topics, but the tone remains sweet, the characters all drawn with love. And it's relevant if you want to process frustrating memories of the early 2000s or process what's going on today." - Surabhi Balachander (@surabhi.reading)

"A middle grade read about fitting in and being different that I know I'll be adding to my sixth grade classroom library." - Brynn Allison, ELA Teacher (@theliterarymaven)