KidsLIVE! Author Talk with Raj Tawney

By Valerine Andujar, Children's Librarian, Washington Heights Library

October 24, 2024

Join us live at Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Library on Tuesday, November 12 at 3:30 PM for an author talk with Raj Tawney! In this program, we'll be discussing Raj’s new book, All Mixed Up. There will be a Q&A with the author and the audience followed by an activity together.

Can't make it to Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Library? You can join this program virtually via Zoom, or attend an in-person livestream at select NYPL locations. Visit the events page for in-person livestream locations.

Borrow All Mixed Up from the Library:

All Mixed Up
by Raj Tawney

It’s 2002 on Long Island, and Kamal—who is multiracial—is grappling with bullying and xenophobia. When he befriends Jaz, a recent Pakistani immigrant with a concerning home life, Kamal takes a new perspective on his own challenges.

Looking for more books like All Mixed Up? Check these out:

Little Wolf
by Teoni Spathelfer; illustrated by Natassia Davies

A young Indigenous girl moves to the big city and learns to find connections to her culture and the land wherever she goes, despite encountering bullies and feelings of isolation along the way.
The Whole Story of Half a Girl
by Veera Hiranandani

When Sonia's father loses his job and she must move from her small, supportive private school to a public middle school, the half-Jewish half-Indian sixth grader experiences culture shock as she tries to navigate the school's unfamiliar social scene, and after her father is diagnosed with clinical depression, she finds herself becoming even more confused about herself and her family.
Unhappy Camper
by Lily LaMotte; illustrated by Ann Xu and Sunmi

Would you rather blend in or stand out? Claire and Michelle used to be best friends, but now the two sisters couldn't be more different. Michelle will do anything to fit in, even if it means denying her Taiwanese culture, whereas Claire is proud of who she is. So much so that she decides to become a junior counselor at a Taiwanese American summer camp. Sensing a rift between the two, their parents decide to send them both off to camp, much to Michelle's dismay. As summer continues, both sisters learn more about their culture and each other. But Michelle must eventually decide to either embrace her culture and family or assimilate into the popular group at school. Which will she choose?

Here are some at-home activities inspired by All Mixed Up:

Ziplining
One of Kamal and Jaz’s favorite things to do is pretend they’re spies on far off adventures, one way to travel quickly as a spy is through ziplining! Create ziplines and learn about gravity by following this guide.
Windy Ferry
Kamal was curious about how long it would take to get from Sunken Meadow Beach to New London. If he harnesses the power of wind, it might be quicker than expected. Create a ferry and learn about the power of wind by following this guide.
Leaf Rubbing
Kamal likes to play a lot in the woods behind his house, finding sticks and leaves. You can use leaves to make nature-inspired art! Find out how by following this guide.