All Mixed Up

An adventurous and timely story of a young multiethnic American boy who forges a complex friendship with a Pakistani immigrant in the wake of 911. In 2002--less than one year after the September 11th attacks--sixth-grader Kamal Rao is tackling a brave new world of challenges, including figuring out who he is really is and how he fits in. Only an hour outside of New York City, the suburban town he lives in is anything but open-minded. He doesn't look like the rest of his classmates, and his "foreign" name doesn't help either. Being a mixed kid means never fitting in, constantly getting bullied, and feeling like a total outsider. When he's not getting picked on, he spends his time making mud pies in the backyard of his house or helping his mom and grandma in the kitchen as they cook meals and share stories from his family's three cultures. Then one day, Jaz, a Pakistani immigrant and a new student to the school, enters Kamal's life. As the two boys forge a friendship and bond over their love for exploring the great outdoors and eating tasty food, the newcomer shows Kamal how being different isn't a bad thing at all, even if others might have a problem with it. However, through a series of mishaps and adventures, the mystery of Jaz and his origins come into question, causing Kamal to find the strength within himself to protect his new friend. But will he risk his own safety and his family's trust in order to help someone he barely knows?