Minecraft: Battle of the Block

A young girl learns how to make a difference both in the real world and in the world of Minecraft in this exciting original novel! Ever since her family moved to the suburbs and Nzinga started middle school, she's been really lonely. Her only consolation has been working on Phantasy Philly, a special build she and her team will present at a huge Minecraft convention in just a few weeks. Nzinga, her brother Samir, and her cousin Jannah have decided to recreate and reimagine a blocky version of their old Philadelphia street. Now that summer is here, Nzinga can't wait to return to the old neighborhood and finish their build. But when Nzinga and Samir arrive at their grandmom's house, things aren't how she pictured. Jannah, usually a design whiz, seems distracted and unwilling to work on their project. Incessant drilling can be heard all hours of the day as new apartments are constructed, replacing beloved parts of their street. The constant noise makes it hard to think straight, let alone get anything done. Nzinga sees how noise pollution and redevelopment are hurting the street, but what can she do about it? And how is she supposed to fight that battle while also inspiring her team to build their ideal Minecraft neighborhood? As Nzinga struggles to answer these questions, she may just learn how even the quietest voices can have the biggest impact.

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is an award-winning children's book author. Before entering the literary world, she worked as an educator for more than fifteen years, teaching children and teens in schools and alternative settings and developing foundational curricula for the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC). This work continues to influence her writing. Her picture books and middle grade fiction, which center Black and Muslim protagonists, have been recognized as the best in children's literature by many educational institutions and reputable publications, including Time, Ebony, and NPR. She is a two-time winner of the Muslim Bookstagram picture book award and she has earned the prestigious Walter, Irma Black, and Golden Kite award honors for her work. In addition to producing children's literature, she invests her time in the mentorship of aspiring authors through We Need Diverse Books and the Highlights Foundation. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and their two sons.