American as Paneer Pie
American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar is a middle grade novel published by Simon and Schuster on June 9, 2020. This 320-page book is written in English and explores the experiences of an Indian American girl, Lekha Divekar, as she navigates the challenges of prejudice in her small town. The story highlights her internal struggle between her cultural identity at home and the pressures she faces at school, where she often feels the need to hide her heritage.
In this narrative, Lekha’s life changes when a new neighbor, Avantika, moves in, offering her a glimpse of a shared cultural experience. However, their differing perspectives on identity and bullying lead Lekha to confront her own silence in the face of racism. As the community grapples with a racist incident, Lekha must decide whether to continue to suppress her voice or to embrace her identity and stand up for herself and others. The book addresses themes of friendship, social issues, and the importance of self-advocacy, making it a relevant read for young audiences.
Official synopsis Publisher
An 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’s Voice.
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.
When a girl Lekha’s age moves in across the street, Lekha is excited to hear that her name is Avantika and she’s 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’s new to this country, and not at all like Lekha.
To Lekha’s surprise, Avantika does not feel the same way as Lekha about having two separate lives or about the bullying at school. Avantika doesn’t take the bullying quietly. And she proudly displays her culture no matter where she is: at home or at school.
When a racist incident rocks Lekha’s community, Lekha realizes she must make a choice: continue to remain silent or find her voice before it’s too late.
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