Pashmina

I saw Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani recommended when I was working on a school assignment last semester (gathering top books for children). It is a graphic novel about teenager Priyanka Das. The inside of the cover reads, "Priyanka Das has so many unanswered questions: Why did her mother abandon her home in India years ago? What was it like there? And most importantly, who is her father, and why did her mom leave him behind? But Pri’s mom avoids these questions―the topic of India is permanently closed. For Pri, her mother's homeland can only exist in her imagination. That is, until she find a mysterious pashmina tucked away in a forgotten suitcase. When she wraps herself in it, she is transported to a place more vivid and colorful than any guidebook or Bollywood film. But is this the real India? And what is that shadow lurking in the background? To learn the truth, Pri must travel farther than she’s ever dared and find the family she never knew."

This was a fun read. I was able to get through the book in like 20 minutes (an advantage of graphic novels!), but it was still a deep story with a lot to it. The illustrations were great, the characters were relatable, and the story was engaging. I also love that this is an Indian-American author/illustrator creating a book about that same culture, making the book very authentic and giving a diverse voice that's not often represented in children's literature (especially graphic novels).

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)