Two Naomis

by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Audrey Vernick

Overview

A realistic contemporary story of two girls whose divorced parents begin to date—perfect for fans of Lisa Graff, Sara Pennypacker, and Rita Williams-Garcia. “A smart, endearing story about two girls who are blending families, growing up, and building a friendship.” (Kirkus starred review)

Other than their first names, Naomi Marie and Naomi Edith are sure they have nothing in common, and they wouldn’t mind keeping it that way.

Naomi Marie starts clubs at the library and adores being a big sister. Naomi Edith loves quiet Saturdays and hanging with her best friend in her backyard. And while Naomi Marie’s father lives a few blocks away, Naomi Edith wonders how she’s supposed to get through each day a whole country apart from her mother.

When Naomi Marie’s mom and Naomi Edith’s dad get serious about dating, each girl tries to cling to the life she knows and loves. Then their parents push them into attending a class together, where they might just have to find a way to work with each other—and maybe even join forces to find new ways to define family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062414250
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/13/2016
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	746,408
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	700L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is the author of the middle grade novels Two Naomis and Naomis Too, as well as 8th Grade Superzero. She has contributed to the website Brightly and the books Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices and Break These Rules: 35 YA Authors on Speaking Up, Standing Out, and Being Yourself. She enjoys showing her leadership skills to her younger sister and wishes you could eat cake in the library. She lives with her family in New York City, where she writes, makes things, and needs to get more sleep. Olugbemisola loves to visit with readers and writers like you; until then, find her online at www.olugbemisolabooks.com.

Audrey Vernick is the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including Is Your Buffalo Ready For Kindergarten? and She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story. She is also the coauthor of the middle grade novels Two Naomis and Naomis Too. Audrey enjoys visiting schools to speak with young readers and writers. She lives with her family near the ocean in New Jersey. Visit her online at www.audreyvernick.com.

Editorial Reviews

07/04/2016
Two 10-year-old girls with the same first name are forced to get to know each other when their divorced parents start dating. When the Naomis are introduced, they are less than thrilled, though Naomi Marie’s younger sister, Brianna, doesn’t mind as much, immediately starting to refer to Naomi E. as “White Naomi” (Naomi Marie and her family are black). Their parents, eager to help the girls connect, sign them up for a computer programming class and plan numerous family outings. Rhuday-Perkovich (8th Grade Superzero) and Vernick (Screaming at the Ump) realistically capture the challenges facing the girls, like arguing about whose favorite bakery to visit, the issue of their shared name, and their conflicted feelings regarding their other parents (Naomi Marie’s father lives nearby, while Naomi E.’s mother is out in California). While it’s clear that the girls will become friends—they are both too thoughtful and kind for any other outcome to feel possible—their worries about their shifting families resonate. Alternately narrated by both girls, this tale of a family blending together is warm, upbeat, and satisfying. Ages 8–12. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

★ “This story of two families coming together is grounded and sweet. Recommended for all children who appreciate realistic contemporary stories.

Booklist (starred review)

Will resonate with young readers who have experienced a change in family dynamics, particularly divorce.

The Horn Book

A gem of a novel about forging friendships and families, Two Naomis absolutely sparkles with humor and heart….Filled with good intentions and messy emotions, they show readers what it means to try and fail and forgive. I loved the Naomis so much!

Kate Messner

This book won my heart with its laughter, love, and achingly-beautiful longing. Rhuday-Perkovich and Vernick are masters of All The Feels.

Tracey Baptiste

This is a sweet, modern story about friendship, divorce, and blended families, told from alternating POVs by the two different authors.” The Most Exciting Middle Grade Reads of Fall 2016

Brightly

Score one for blended families where race and mean-girl attitudes are not the issues, and where humor, compassion, and a shared love for baked goods bring people together.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

08/01/2016
Gr 4–6—Naomi Marie is African American, hardworking, a big sister, and finally feeling adjusted to living with her mother since her parents' divorce. Naomi E. is white, quiet, an only child, and dealing with feelings of abandonment after her parents got divorced and her mom moved to California. When the two Naomis are forced to meet after their parents begin dating, they discover they may be more alike than they could have ever imagined. Told in alternating viewpoints, this novel allows readers to experience all the emotions these two 10-year-olds face as they deal with their parents' new relationships, best friends, school problems, and annoying little sisters. Children will identify with the characters, who confront realistic problems such as parents making decisions without consulting their kids. The girls' voices are authentically tweenlike. Frequent references to different cultural items (e.g., Rahul dolls) and books (including Rita Garcia Williams's One Crazy Summer) will likely prompt readers to seek additional information. The theme of family is prominent throughout, and this is an excellent pick for students who may be dealing with similar issues. This selection manages to present a sweet coming-of-age story without being preachy or overly dramatic. VERDICT Highly recommended for all middle grade collections looking for relatable realistic fiction.—Ashley Leffel, Griffin Middle School, Frisco, TX

School Library Journal

★ 2016-07-02
Two girls named Naomi build an unlikely friendship after their parents begin dating each other. Ten-year-olds Naomi Marie and Naomi Edith don’t seem to have much in common besides their names. Naomi Marie is black, active in extracurriculars, and a big sister to 4-year-old Brianna. Naomi Edith is white, more of a homebody, and an only child. Naomi Marie’s divorced parents live near each other. Naomi Edith is also co-parented, but she lives with her dad while her mom works temporarily across the country in California. When Naomi Edith’s dad and Naomi Marie’s mom take their dating relationship to the next level and introduce their daughters, both Naomis are overwhelmed. They chafe at their parents’ signing them up for a weekly video game–coding class for girls. Forced to spend time together—and to work together to design a game—the Naomis must face their differences and the changes happening in their families. The Naomis narrate their shared story in alternating chapters written by the book’s co-authors. The girls are funny and introspective, and their middle-class lives are rich with culture, creativity, and simple pleasures—day trips to the beach, bakery treats, imaginative games. Rhuday-Perkovich and Vernick offer young readers and their parents realistic, thoughtful insights into the emotional terrain of post-divorce family life and co-parenting. A smart, endearing story about two girls who are blending families, growing up, and building a friendship. (Fiction. 8-13)

Kirkus Reviews

Rhuday-Perkovich and Vernick hit all the right sister notes with hilarity and heart. Hopefully we have not heard the last of these two Naomis.

Rita Williams-Garcia

I could describe this book as suffused with empathy, intensely vulnerable, fall-out-of-your-chair funny, and much more, but instead I’ll just describe what it’s like to read it, which I can do with one word: joy. To read Two Naomis is to experience joy.

Mike Jung

This is a sweet, modern story about friendship, divorce, and blended families, told from alternating POVs by the two different authors.” The Most Exciting Middle Grade Reads of Fall 2016

Brightly.com

Read More