“Marya Khan and the Disastrous Class Project” Book Review and Lesson Ideas
- Jamie Garity
- Oct 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 19
Early Chapter Book • Friendship • Family • Trying Your Be
Author: Saadia Faruqi
Illustrator: Ani Bushry
Series: Marya Khan, Book
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Recommended Ages: 6 - 9
Grades: 1–3
Summary:
Marya Khan is thrilled when her class begins a big country project — until she learns her partner is Waleed, a quiet new student who recently moved to the United States from Pakistan. While Marya can’t wait to dive in, Waleed seems shy and homesick for his old home.
Marya decides that this project is the perfect chance to help Waleed feel welcome and show off her creativity. She launches “Operation Make a Friend,” determined to create the best project in class. But as the deadline nears, Marya’s big ideas turn messy, and her well-meant efforts sometimes make things worse. Through trial, teamwork, and laughter, Marya learns that true friendship means listening, understanding, and letting others shine too.
Themes:
Friendship & Empathy: Learning to see from another person’s point of view and helping them feel included.
Cultural Identity & Belonging: Celebrating heritage while adjusting to a new home.
Perseverance & Growth: Discovering that good intentions still require patience and teamwork.
Global Awareness: Encouraging curiosity about countries, traditions, and diverse perspectives.
My Thoughts:
Marya Khan and the Disastrous Class Project is exactly the kind of story I wish my children had when they were in school. It’s funny, heartfelt, and full of everyday lessons about friendship, courage, and understanding others — but it’s also something even more special: a mirror.
Saadia Faruqi gives readers a joyful, authentic story that reflects the lives of children who don’t always see themselves in books. Marya’s energy, her big ideas, and her Pakistani American background come together naturally, showing that every classroom — and every bookshelf — should hold stories that reflect all kinds of families, cultures, and voices.
What I love most about this book is how it weaves humor, culture, and empathy into something every child can relate to: wanting to do well, make friends, and belong. It reminds us that good intentions, even when they go sideways, can still lead to connection and growth. Books like this make a classroom feel more inclusive — and give young readers the powerful message that their stories matter. 🌏💛
Classroom Integration: Marya Khan and the Disastrous Class Project Lesson Ideas
1. “Where in the World?” Map Activity
After reading, show a simple world map.
Find Pakistan and talk about where it is compared to the United States.
Point out oceans, mountains, and other nearby countries.
Say: “This is where Waleed lived before he came to Marya’s school!”
Let students place stickers on countries they’d like to learn about.
🗺️ Introduces geography and builds curiosity about the world.
2. “Our Classroom World” Display
Make a big paper globe or map on a bulletin board titled, “Our Classroom World”
Have students add their names on small paper flags.
If they know where their family comes from, they can place their flag there.
If not, they can choose a country they’d like to visit one day.
🌍 Encourages cultural sharing and celebrates classroom diversity.
3. Writing & Drawing Connection: “If I Visited Pakistan…”
Ask students: What do you think it would be like to visit Waleed’s old home in Pakistan?
Younger students can draw pictures of what they might see — colorful buses, busy streets, markets, mosques, animals, mountains or colorful clothes.
Older students can write a few sentences starting with, “If I visited Pakistan, I would…”
✏️ Builds imagination and cultural empathy.
4. Story Time & Comparison
Read Marya Khan and the Disastrous Class Project alongside another story from a different country — such as Anni Loves Biryani or Lubna and Pebble.
Talk about what’s similar and what’s different in the stories.
Ask: “How do these characters show kindness or friendship?”
📚 Promotes multicultural understanding and comparing texts.
5. “Welcome to Our School” Project
Talk about how Marya helps Waleed feel welcome.
Have the class brainstorm what a new student might need to feel comfortable.
Create a “Welcome to Our School” booklet or poster with messages like “You can sit with us!” or “We’ll show you the playground!”
💛 Builds empathy and encourages helping behaviors.
6. Art & Flags
Show Pakistan’s flag (green with a white crescent moon and star). Then, let students design a flag for their own classroom — with colors or symbols that represent kindness, friendship, and learning.
🎨 Combines art, symbolism, and cultural learning.
7. Around the World Celebration
End the week with an “Around the World” classroom celebration.
Play gentle world music, share photos of different countries, and display students’ art or map projects.
Invite families to share traditions, food, or stories from their heritage.
🎉 Encourages inclusion and connects home culture with school learning.
8. SEL Reflection: How Does Waleed Feel?
Create a simple feelings chart with pictures and ask…
How did Waleed feel at the beginning of the story?
How did he feel at the end?
What helped him feel better?
💬 Supports emotional literacy and social understanding.
Librarian Reflection:
This story beautifully blends empathy and global awareness. Through Marya and Waleed’s friendship, students learn that our classrooms are full of connections that stretch across the world. By exploring Pakistan and other countries, children gain a sense of curiosity, belonging, and appreciation for the many cultures that make our world—and our schools—so special. 🌏💛
Why this book is important for Diversity and Inclusion:
This book is a standout early chapter book for inclusive representation. Written by Pakistani American author Saadia Faruqi, Marya Khan and the Disastrous Class Project offers a joyful, everyday portrayal of a Muslim American family—representation that is still rare in early elementary literature.
For young Muslim and South Asian readers, Marya is an affirming mirror: she celebrates holidays like Eid, eats familiar foods, and navigates relatable family dynamics with humor and heart. For all readers, the book provides a friendly, accessible window into cultural traditions and daily life—showing that diverse families share the same hopes, challenges, and silliness as any other.
Representation in early chapter books matters tremendously because this is where children begin seeing themselves—or not seeing themselves—consistently in stories. Marya’s presence signals to young readers that their families belong on the page, their voices matter, and their everyday experiences deserve to be celebrated.
*Marya Khan and the Disastrous Class Project: Book Review and Lesson Ideas