Nikki and Deja: Birthday Blues

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.

• Nikki and Deja: Wedding Drama
• Nikki and Deja: Nikki and Deja, Book One (1)
• Nikki and Deja: Substitute Trouble (Nikki & Deja)
• Nikki and Deja: The Newsy News Newsletter: Nikki and Deja, Book Three (3)
• Nikki and Deja: Election Madness (Nikki & Deja)
• Keena Ford and the Field Trip Mix-Up
• Keena Ford and the Secret Journal Mix-Up
• Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up
• Brand New School, Brave New Ruby (Ruby and the Booker Boys #1)
• Dog Days: The Carver Chronicles, Book One