"Shreya loves to paint with bright bold colors as lively and joyful as she is. Even her art teacher, Mr. Rao, thinks her work is marvelous, which makes Shreya beam.
So when he asks if he can paint her during recess when the other kids are outside, it seems like another honor. But she knows something feels wrong the moment she arrives for her portrait. Mr. Rao seems different, is acting different, and in the moment, she freezes.
The experience ruins her love of painting, makes her feel awful, and she feels she can’t even tell her mom why.
But another girl in the class knows what to do, and her example gives Shreya courage of her own.
This sensitive, powerful story may be one of the most important books you will read with your child."
"A powerful novel in verse set in India that follows a 12-year-old girl as she navigates new beginnings, difficult truths and a crush.
'A story that soars from quite literally the very first page. A book brimming with both humor and heart, Patel's debut is a remarkable tale of finding oneself among the imperfect rollercoaster of life.' -Shifa Safadi Saltagi, National Book Award-winning author of Kareem Between
For twelve-year-old Chandni, 1999 is the year everything must be perfect. And why shouldn't it be?
Her parents are well-respected doctors in the community, she's the leader of her friend group, and her crush is even hinting at liking her back. She also has her sights set high on a spot at India's most prestigious boarding school for girls. If she stays focused and works hard, the dream just may be within reach.
But as the boarding school selection deadline looms closer, Chandni is overwhelmed by a devastating secret that's threatening to tear her family apart. With life and relationships spiraling around her, Chandni will have to decide between pursuing her ambitions and protecting her family.
Set against the vibrant turn of the millennium in India, this debut middle grade novel in verse is a beautiful and vulnerable story about the seismic events that life throws at us and the love that helps us brave it all."
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