{"id":2536,"date":"2020-02-16T21:52:02","date_gmt":"2020-02-16T21:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patriciabaileyauthor.com\/?p=2536"},"modified":"2021-07-02T17:38:08","modified_gmt":"2021-07-02T17:38:08","slug":"middle-grade-book-love-american-as-paneer-pie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/patriciabaileyauthor.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/16\/middle-grade-book-love-american-as-paneer-pie\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle Grade Book Love: American as Paneer Pie"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC of Supriya Kelkar’s upcoming Middle Grade novel, AMERICAN AS PANEER PIE, this week.<\/p>\n

You may remember Supriya and her Middle Grade debut AHIMSA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Well, she’s back. This time with a contemporary novel set in the Midwest that’s sure to become a middle grade favorite.<\/p>\n

\"MiddleAn Indian American girl navigates prejudice in her small town and learns the power of her own voice in this brilliant gem of a middle grade novel full of humor and heart, perfect for fans of Front Desk and Amina\u2019s Voice.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

As the only Indian American kid in her small town, Lekha Divekar feels like she has two versions of herself: Home Lekha, who loves watching Bollywood movies and eating Indian food, and School Lekha, who pins her hair over her bindi birthmark and avoids confrontation at all costs, especially when someone teases her for being Indian.<\/em><\/p>\n

When a girl Lekha\u2019s age moves in across the street, Lekha is excited to hear that her name is Avantika and she\u2019s Desi, too! Finally, there will be someone else around who gets it. But as soon as Avantika speaks, Lekha realizes she has an accent. She\u2019s new to this country, and not at all like Lekha.<\/em><\/p>\n

To Lekha\u2019s surprise, Avantika does not feel the same way as Lekha about having two separate lives or about the bullying at school. Avantika doesn\u2019t take the bullying quietly. And she proudly displays her culture no matter where she is: at home or at school.<\/em><\/p>\n

When a racist incident rocks Lekha\u2019s community, Lekha realizes she must make a choice: continue to remain silent or find her voice before it\u2019s too late.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"American<\/a>American as Paneer Pie<\/a> by Supriya Kelkar<\/a>
\nMy rating: 5 of 5 stars<\/a><\/p>\n

A lovely, heart-felt story that does a brilliant job of looking at everything from friendship to racism from the very believable perspective of an eleven year old.<\/p>\n

Lekha is a great middle grade heroine. She’s smart, funny, and trying so hard to both be herself and to fit in – at home, at school, and at swim practice – that the reader is pulled right into her story and can’t help but cringe and cheer along side of her. Her pain is easy to connect with, her missteps are real and oh-s0-relatable, and her triumphs are just the right size to make any reader see that growth, change, and forgiveness is possible.<\/p>\n

Great supporting characters – including present and realistic parents – round out this story and make it one of my current favorites.<\/p>\n

A must read!<\/p>\n

View all my reviews<\/a><\/p>\n

For readers<\/span>
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