Anna Staniszewski – författare

“A light fantasy with a powerful message of hope.” —Kirkus Reviews “A gentle yet empowering story.” —School Library Journal Ten-year-old Mira must balance the loyalty she feels towards her family with the desire to be accepted by her new classmates in this powerful coming-of-age story about identity, community, and finding a place to call home.I’m not like most of my classmates. At least not yet. My family came to this country when I was five years old, but we’re so close to becoming citizens now. This means we’ll finally be able to use Amber like everyone else. Then I will be as special as the rest of my classmates, the ones who were born here with magic already in their veins. But most of all, no one will compare me to Daniel anymore. Daniel who doesn’t even try to fit in, who actually seems proud of being an outsider. Once I take my first sip of Amber, I will be on the inside. I hope.

"A heartwarming and necessary story about building family connections across cultural divides." -- School Library JournalOn a vist to her cousin in Poland, young Natalia worries she's not "Polish enough" -- her aunt's fast Polish is tricky to understand, and she feels shy speaking it herself. But when she and her cousin bond over their love of fairy tales, they set off together on a magical adventure across Warsaw in search of Syrenka, the legendary Mermaid of Warsaw. Celebrates cross-cultural connections and family heritage Endnotes include Polish words, pronunciation guides, and fun facts on Polish history, fairy tales, and Warsaw landmarks Perfect for young readers curious about different cultures and family traditions