Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the digital advanced copy of this book.

Overall

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book, I absolutely knew I needed to read it! Have I mentioned lately how much I love diverse books? But diverse books that have a story to tell and that make me feel things. So of course The Button Box caught my eye, with two very different cousins who face the same modern problems have to work together to unravel their shared history and understand the beauty in the things they share as well as the things that make them different.

The Button Box is an adorable, heartwarming middle grade story about taking pride in your history. It celebrates family bonds, the differences that exist between us, and all the wonderful things that bring us together.

The story combines Judaism and Islam appreciation and history into one family in a way that is easy for middle graders to dive in and understand. It’s a great introduction for young readers who may not know much about either religion, and the authors weave a lot of history and culture in a way that not only teaches readers but will absolutely grab their attention.

My Thoughts

- Ava and Nadeem are utterly relatable middle grade characters: two kids just trying to live their best life, faced with bullying at school, who don’t entirely understand their history. I both love and don’t love the fact that a lot of middle grade readers will likely see themselves in Ava and Nadeem. Because bullying is bad, obviously. Unfortunately, it’s such a common thing that of course a lot of readers will relate to it, even if their bullying isn’t related to their religion, like it is for the cousins.

Part of what I love about how the authors approach this in The Button Box is that they’re not trying to change anyone’s minds about the bullying. Instead, the whole point is to change the protagonists’ perspectives. Bullying happens. It’s an unfortunate facet of life. Instead, Ava and Nadeem are taught the history of their family and why they should be proud in who they are and where they come from. It’s such a powerful message that I don’t see often in middle grade books that involve bullying. Most of those books talk about changing the bully’s mind or pit the bully as the villain, but in The Button Box, the bully is inconsequential and not given the time of day. Ava and Nadeem and the way they respond to the bullying is the most important thing, and that’s a narrative that I’m very fond of.

- The Button Box is filled with delightful tidbits of wisdom and snippets of culture that are as fun as they are unique. First, the children’s grandmother is absolutely full of wise sayings, which I love (even if the children roll their eyes at them, which okay, that’s fair, because don’t we all when our grandparents say weird things). I thought these were super fun, though. And maybe just a teensy bit trick kids into thinking about big concepts in ways they can easily digest and understand? Which I’m also a fan of.

Readers will also learn little bits of other religions and cultures while reading this, which I’m always a fan of! Kids (and adults . . . I speak for myself here, too!) tend to be fascinated with aspects of cultures they aren’t familiar with. I found it really interesting to see the different practices of faith and the different food and such!

- This book is an interesting mix of contemporary and historical fiction, as Ava and Nadeem are pulled into the past by a button (because what harm can come from a button, right?!). Readers will be introduced to ancient Morocco and some bits of culture, both religious and in general, which was very interesting. The authors really transport you to the past and paint a picture of ancient Morocco that was vivid and interesting. It’s a rather interesting time in Morocco, too. Prince Prince Abd al-Rahman (a.k.a. Prince Abdur Rahman) was a real man who brought Islam to Spain and established a kingdom that was safe for Jewish, Muslims, and Christians to live together and prosper.

That’s how the story ends, of course, but where Ava and Nadeem find themselves is in a tumultuous time in the past where the future of Prince Abdur Rahman is in question. He’s currently on the run from those who wish him harm. If he never makes it to Spain, the peaceful era he ushers in will never exist, but if any citizens of Morocco help him, it comes at a great threat to them and their families.

- The morals in this are utterly important ones: of history, of belonging, of working together, of doing what’s wrong, and of family. In short, this book has so many good messages packed into a historical adventure shell. I love when books have powerful messages without sounding preachy, and The Button Box definitely qualifies in that regard. It’s a book that would fit perfectly in classroom shelves and libraries, as it promotes acceptance and understanding, harmony, coexistence . . . and it’s just plain fun. What more could you really ask for?

It has potential to be a good book but it didn’t grab my interest after the first chapter. The story line wasn’t what I typically read and I went out on a limb because the cover art is so cute.

This was a super cute middle grade novel that infuses culture, family, and the trials of growing up perfectly. I'd definitely recommend it to students looking for a novel about navigating changing interpersonal dynamics and shifting friendships.

Thanks to Books Forward PR for the free book.

This short time-travel middle grade tale has major Magic Treehouse vibes. It features two cousins, one Jewish and one Muslim, and their grandmother sneakily sends them back in time to meet some of their Sephardic Jewish ancestors and make sure that Prince Abdur Rahman can reach Spain where they know that he is supposed to reign and usher in a time of religious tolerance. I liked that this was a quick story that had so much in it. It covered themes of adventure, family, faith, kindness, acceptance, and tradition.

Best friends, Ava and Nadeem, have been confronted numerous times by a bully at their school due to their race and heritage. Ava is Sephardic Jewish and her cousin Nadeem is Muslim. Their different religions and cultures have never kept them from being best friends and they don’t understand why others treat them so harshly. A visit to Granny Buena offers them a chance to right the wrongs laid out many years before their time.

Fans of the Magic Tree House series of books will love THE BUTTON BOX for its magic and time travel. Two kids and a cat with a mysterious gem on her collar have to travel back in time to help save a Muslim Prince from his enemies. When Ava and Nadeem find a special button in Granny Buena’s button box and it causes the gem on Sheba the cat’s collar to glow, they find themselves in a hypnotic trance and are soon transported back 1,000 years ago in time. There they meet ancestors who were pivotal in the prince’s escape to Spain.

This story is based on actual historic events but also touches on the current climate of racism and hatred toward Muslims and Jewish people. The authors hope writing this story will inspire our younger generation to make changes in the way we think and treat others and stop this cycle of hate. THE BUTTON BOX would make for a great classroom read-along or literature circle for older-elementary-aged readers. There are a few illustrations throughout the book to bridge the gap for children new to chapter books.

A unique plot with diverse main characters, ones you don’t find very often as protagonists in MG lit. It’s a fast pace read through 14 chapters. Abdur Rahmna was an actual prince as history tells us, who did escape to the safety of Spain. It’s a fun, fictional twist to have children help him make the trip. Yes, different faiths can work together toward a common goal.

Having a button be the unique portal to the past was a never before used device in time travel books. Although the book could have been longer, the shorter length is much appreciated in this day of 300 + page middle grade books.

Extended discussion could take place from a classroom or at-home read aloud of THE BUTTON BOX. In particular, how the world today could learn from the kindness and peace loving cultures portrayed.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE BUTTON BOX

1. I learned about Morocco and it’s culture along with tidbits from Spain’s history.
2. Ava and Nadeem were likeable and their companionship became a necessary link to the climatic ending.
3. The many unfamiliar words were all defined in the 3-page back-pages glossary.
4. Not to be missed are the author notes about who are Muslim and Sephardic Jews along with more background on Prince Abdur Rahman. Historical photos are also added in.
5. It’s certainly sequel worthy with many directions these characters could take with the plot.

Cousins, Ava and Nadeem are being ridiculed by their 5th grade classmate for being Jewish and Muslim. As they are wondering what to do about the issue, their Granny Buena shows them a special button passed down from their ancestors who helped to save Prince Abdur Rahmann. Granny Buena begins to tell them the story of Ester, who aided Prince Abdur Rahmann in escaping ancient Morocco and finding his way to Spain to create a safe haven for Muslims, Jews and Christians. However, before Granny Buena can finish the story, Ava and Nadeem find out firsthand just how Prince Abdur Rahmann made his escape.

The Button Box is a middle grade historical adventure that is a lot of fun and incorporates the heritage of Muslim and Jewish culture. Ava and Nadeem face a common problem that Muslim and Jewish kids often face and come up with a very creative way to solve it once they experience life during Prince Abdur Rahmann's time. I loved the button and the cousin's cat, Sheba as time travel mechanisms and how Ava and Nadeem were able to integrate into ancient Morocco and learn about their history as well as their cultures through experiences in the past. Prince Abdul Rahmann was in fact a real person who helped to usher in the Golden Age for Muslims, Jews and Christians in Spain and I was glad to learn of his story. Ava and Nadeem learn valuable lessons from their journey to the past and are able to apply them to their present day in useful ways once they return. The Button Box is a fast-paced magical story tying together the shared Muslim and Jewish heritage and history.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

This was okay. Interesting story about 2 cousins, one Jewish and the other Islamic. They travel back in time to medieval Morocco to save a prince. It was a quick read, almost like a young reader. But I don't think it has mass appeal.

The Button Box was a fun and adventurous time travel fantasy. I thought this was a middle-grade novel, but it's more of a chapter book. I think it was a short, but satisfying story. It had character development, world-building, and a fast-paced plot. I would definitely buy this for any chapter book readers in my life. It shared knowledge about Ava being Jewish and Nadeem being Muslim in an easy-to-understand way that felt like a part of the story instead of info-dumping.

This is a fun, short adventure for the lower end of the middle grade range, which packs adventure, addresses bullying and even hits upon history.

After being bullied for their religions, Ava, a Jew, and her cousin Nadeem, a Muslim, decide to ask Granny for advice. When she pulls out a button box and explains that the buttons inside have been collected for hundreds and hundreds of years, that's already amazing. But when they hear one hum, their curiosity shoots through the roof. When Granny lays down for a nap, they open the box and are soon zipped back into time.

The first pages dive right into the first issue, meeting Ava and Nadeem as they hesitate to tell their Granny what happened at school. Both come across as every day kids, and the Granny is one with quirks to love. While I did, at first, fear this might be a bit cliche on the bullying message, it quickly steers into a very unique and exciting direction. The tension and plot build steadily and smoothly, allowing the reader to sink into Ava and Nadeem in modern times before they are whisked away to the past. This makes sure there's a familiarity, which then keeps readers grounded and makes the past more natural.

This was an interesting way to glimpse back into history and an event, which most readers have probably never heard about. It takes a quick peek at Prince Abdur Rahman during a short section of his flight from the attempt to erase his entire family/bloodline, and that before he lands in Spain. Only a quick summary is given as to what is going on, and yet, it's enough to make the historic figure take root in readers' minds. Of course, the surrounding scenes and world do a great job at displaying how life might have been at that time, and it did this in a way, which made the historic characters come across as naturally as the modern ones. For those, who want a little more depth on the historic figure, there is a slightly more in-depth look at the end of the book.

The last purpose of this read surrounds the two religions: Muslim and Jews. Especially in modern times, it isn't unheard of to have mixed families, and this tale takes a look at that. It works well with the historical angle, too, since Abdur Rahman is known for supporting religious tolerance during his rule in Spain. The two authors have each put a section at the end of the book, which gives different glimpses into the two religions and offers some explanations as well as a little added history. It does emphasis that the two religions worship the same god...however, parents/guardians/caretakers might want to read through this themselves first, since it does offer an over-simplified view and explanation on what is actually a much more complex topic.

I definitely enjoyed how this tale flows and found it very well done, especially in how it presented so many themes in such an entertaining (and never preachy) manner.

The Button Box is an interfaith historical fantasy in the vein of The Magic Treehouse Series. Ava is Jewish and her cousin Nadeem is Muslim, but they’ve never seen that as a problem. Unfortunately, some of the kids at school disagree, and those kids have made life difficult for both of them. But when Ava and Nadeem find a mysterious button, they are transported back in time to ancient Morocco. There they live out a historical adventure where Jews and Muslims work together, and they learn help the famed Prince Abdur Rahman so that he’s able to fulfill his destiny. Like I said, this book will definitely appeal to kids who enjoyed the Magic Treehouse books because it has the same feel, but it explores a more diverse history. I learned a lot about the language and culture of a group that I honestly didn’t even know existed, the Judeo-Spanish people. Hopefully kids will read this book and be inspired to learn even more!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

Because of a button box Ava and Nadeem find themself transported a thousand years back to help a prince run from his enemies.

This book is really insightful to the Jewish and Muslim customs and overall a really informative read. The story is really captivating and will make you can't stop reading it though i wasn't really satisfied on how it ended but overall a really great read.

Cousins Ava and Nadeem are fifth graders and best friends. Ava is Jewish, from Sephardic descent, and Nadeem is Muslim; this opens them up to comments from bullies at school. After a particularly tough day, the two confide in their Granny Buena, who tells them a story of a legendary ancestor, Ester ibn Evram, and her role in saving a famous Muslim prince, Abdur Rahman, in Medieval Spain. As they look through Nanny Buena's button box, which holds one of Ester's buttons, the two discover that have traveled through time and landed back in Medieval Spain, just in time to witness - and maybe assist! - Ester ibn Avram on her quest, and help create a "legendary Golden Age for Muslims, Jews and Christians". The story is exciting and the relationship between Ava and Nadeem is wonderfully supportive. Granny Buena speaks with a sprinkling of the Judeo-Spanish language Ladino, which leans closely to Spanish, giving readers some exposure to a new language. Back matter includes a glossary and an author's note about Sephardic Jews, Muslims, and the actual Prince Adur-Rahman (Ester ibn Avram is fictional). An excellent choice for readers who enjoy the Magic Tree House series, and very similar to Marcia Berneger's A Dreidel in Time (2021).

The Button Box is cute as a button! It's vibrant writing explores family, adventure, and so much more. The main characters were also very likable. Overall, this was an impactful and short read, perfect for young readers!

The Button Box was a pretty quick read and a lovely own voices story. I enjoyed learning about Sephardic Jews and how much their culture is intertwined with Muslim culture. Not only does the story highlight the cross cultural, interfaith friendship between Ava and Nadeem, it equally represented both cultures, focusing on the commonalities they shared. There were references to daily life, preparing of food and customs for both. I also really love a story where I feel like I'm learning something new and especially one that incorporates another language, in this case the various Islamic phrases. There's even a nice glossary at the end of the book, as well as an author's note explaining Muslim faith, Judaism and specifically where Sephardic Jews descended from. The historical significance of Prince Abdur Rahman's reign is also explained. Overall, this was a wonderful story with positive messaging, and interesting characters. Granny Buena sounds wonderful, and I enjoyed her sayings and expressions, my favorite was that "everything in life needs an anchor." I hope to see more stories featuring Ava and Nadeem in the future. **A huge thank you to Books Forward, and the publisher for my E-ARC via Netgalley**

This fantastic adventure story for readers aged 9+ is highly original and thoroughly enjoyable. The positive representation of different religious beliefs, the intriguing time travelling plot and the inclusion of factual information on the historical events this fictional tale is based on, all make this an excellent option for reading aloud to a group of children as it is sure to spark many rich and varied conversations! The short chapters and length of the book also allow it to be enjoyed by children with a broad range of reading abilities which I appreciate as a teacher.
Thank you to NetGalley.co.uk and Kar-Ben publishing for the free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an enchanting and magical story. This one reminds me so much of the Magic Treehouse series and I simply fell in love with it.

I LOVE Ava and Nadeem and how their Granny Buena teaches, blends together and honors the different heritages and cultures.

The journey back in time and the adventure Ava, Nadeem and Ester get mixed up in is fun to read. Their courage and determination is inspiring. I cannot wait to share this with my grandbabies. They are going to love this one.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Books Forward for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

This book was so cute and told a great story in a way accessible for younger readers. I am absolutely loving reading more YA and middle-grade, recently. Authors have a tremendous way of making important topics digestible for younger readers.

I really appreciated how the author blends the importance of this social issue (bullying, accepting yourself) within a fantasy adventure that is intriguing and captivates you from the moment we hold the Button box. The story has so much more to tell and I cannot wait for a sequel!