SAMIRA'S WORST BEST SUMMER Hardcover

Maddy Park's "Samira's Worst Best Summer" is a heartwarming and humorous middle-grade novel that navigates the complexities of family, friendship, and cultural identity. The story follows twelve-year-old Samira, whose carefully planned summer is thrown into disarray when her Korean immigrant grandmother, Halmoni, comes to stay. Samira's hopes for hanging out with her best friend, doing crafts, and avoiding embarrassment are quickly dashed by Halmoni's traditional ways, strong opinions, and her insistence on teaching Samira Korean. As Samira tries to balance her life with Halmoni's presence, she discovers unexpected connections, hidden family histories, and learns to embrace the richness of her heritage, ultimately realizing that this "worst" summer might just be the best one yet.