Nikki and Deja: Birthday Blues [Hardcover]

Karen English (Author), Laura Freeman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Nikki and Deja

The second book about Nikki and Deja, two African American third-grade girls who are best friends.

Deja's birthday is coming up, and she's been talking about it for weeks. But just before the big day, Auntie Dee gets called away on a business trip and Deja must stay with an elderly neighbor . . . who cooks turnips for dinner and doesn't even have a color TV! Worse, the machinations of spoiled Antonia, Deja's new nemesis, threaten to ruin Deja's birthday party plans. Like the first book, this story captures with subtlety and humor all the small betrayals and triumphs of young girls' relationships. Readers will get a wider view of the girls' diverse urban neighborhood, and will recognize themselves and their classmates in the colorful, deftly drawn school scenes. A more serious theme is also introduced (with a light touch) in a subplot concerning Deja's absent father.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–4—In this successor to Nikki & Deja (Clarion, 2008), Deja looks forward to her eighth birthday party. While her father's absence has taken its toll, she hopes that he will come to the celebration. A few days before the event, Auntie Dee unexpectedly leaves for a business trip, and Deja must stay with their neighbor Miss Ida, who serves turnips and has a black-and-white TV. At school, Deja learns that her "nemesis," as Miss Ida calls Antonia, intends to hold an extravagant "Just Because" bash that will coincide with Deja's more modest plans. Deja worries that their classmates will choose to go to Antonia's party. Thankfully, her friend Nikki provides constant support, and Auntie Dee's return results in clarity and perspective. The narrative is a bit contrived, although it is realistic that there is no resolution of Deja's longing for her father. Early chapter-book readers will relate to the protagonist's authentic emotions as English acknowledges the challenges and complexities of classroom life.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Deja can’t wait for her birthday party: the presents, the games, the hope that “this time my daddy might come for my birthday.” When Deja’s classroom nemesis tries to siphon off the guests to her own party, Deja’s high spirits fizzle, but her best friend Nikki, her guardian Auntie Dee, and an elderly neighbor keep her moving forward. The realistic view of Deja’s week and the sensitive yet never soppy portrayal of characters make this a fine entry in the Nikki & Deja series, one of the few early-chapter-book series featuring African American girls. Grades 2-4. --Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; 1 edition (January 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618977872
• ISBN-13: 978-0618977871
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,665,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great insight into how young girls think, July 10, 2009

By 

P. T. Nama "Bed-Time Reader" (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nikki and Deja: Birthday Blues (Hardcover)

My daughter (7) devours chapter books. There are some, however that we keep for our special before-bed reading. We bought this book and Nikki & Deja together. We read Nikki and Deja first, and we loved it. This book was equally good. The themes of friendship, missing parents, and good old "doing the right thing" are handled in a completely age-appropriate way. The young reader is left with an optimistic feeling despite the ommission of a fairy tale ending. The lesson in this particular story was that things can still be great even if they don't go as expected. My daughter and I both can't wait for the next Nikki & Deja book to be released.

4.0 out of 5 stars Nikki and Deja Birthday Blues, August 31, 2010

By 

Victoria L. Lawson "Well read" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nikki and Deja: Birthday Blues (Paperback)

My granddaughters and I found this book quite entertaining, It kept their attention and was not boring at all. They could relate to a lot all of the story line and therefore found it to be a "great book". The characters were very true to life.