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gmamartha's review
3.0
Bollywood anyone? This rollicking plot reads like an Indie movie gone wild. Good thing our heroine had a "take two" to finish in grand style.
roseleaf24's review
4.0
This fast-paced story is a Bollywood film in the guise of a children's book. Colorful characters, vivid setting, quick action, coincidence (or is it kismet?), and a lively dance to finish. Fun, fun, fun, but Dini is such a normal kid through it all that readers will have no problem relating.
bickie's review
3.0
Cute Bollywood-ish story that covers long-distance friendship (and attendant fears, misunderstandings) and making new friends. A little bit self-aware, as main character Dini makes some decisions about what to do based on what should happen next if her life were a movie script. There are many far-fetched coincidences, but they all contribute to the enjoyment of this sweet confection. Age 9+
hello_sunshine's review
1.0
I just didn't care for the story and I found the main character kind of annoying. Didn't seem believable at all. There are many better chapter books I would recommend before this one!
pkadams's review
4.0
A light book whose main character skips across the pages, continents, and cultures. Perfect for the middle reader who doesn't take life seriously but cares about friends and life. Set in India, The Grand Plan To Fix Everything tells the story of a Indian-American who leaves her best friend in the US to live in India for 2 years. Her obsession with a Bollywood Starlet is central and fun to the story and provides the cross-cultural bridge that readers need to find the setting and customs accessible. A fun book that I think young readers will enjoy as they start to explore worlds outside of their own.
brandypainter's review
3.0
Originally posted here.
Sometimes a book comes along that is a balance of quirky, enjoyable, and well written. When it happens to be a contemporary fiction novel about a culture many young readers are not familiar with, so much the better. If you are looking for such a book then Uma Krishnaswami's The Grand Plan to Fix Everything is one to check out.
This is a book many kids will be able to identify with even if they don't know anything about Bollywood or Indian culture. They will be able to sympathize with Dini feeling alone, like her parents don't always understand her, and the sadness she has at leaving her home and best friend Maddie behind. They will most likely be able to identify with her obsession with a pop icon and her feelings that if any fan is important to said icon, she is. The story comes complete with a host of quirky secondary characters to back Dini up.
The story itself is not unlike a Bollywood movie. It plays out in a similar way to a film. There are abrupt scene cuts, fade out, multiple angles viewed. There are places where the plot is a little zany and the characters overblown. That is part of the charm of the book and another thing I think will appeal to young readers.
Sometimes a book comes along that is a balance of quirky, enjoyable, and well written. When it happens to be a contemporary fiction novel about a culture many young readers are not familiar with, so much the better. If you are looking for such a book then Uma Krishnaswami's The Grand Plan to Fix Everything is one to check out.
This is a book many kids will be able to identify with even if they don't know anything about Bollywood or Indian culture. They will be able to sympathize with Dini feeling alone, like her parents don't always understand her, and the sadness she has at leaving her home and best friend Maddie behind. They will most likely be able to identify with her obsession with a pop icon and her feelings that if any fan is important to said icon, she is. The story comes complete with a host of quirky secondary characters to back Dini up.
The story itself is not unlike a Bollywood movie. It plays out in a similar way to a film. There are abrupt scene cuts, fade out, multiple angles viewed. There are places where the plot is a little zany and the characters overblown. That is part of the charm of the book and another thing I think will appeal to young readers.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
5.0
This was super fun. I read it in one sitting. I think I was more interested in it since I have been watching Bollywood movies lately, but I believe I would have liked it even without that connection. There is a feeling that it is a bit of a mystery as Dini is trying to track down her favorite Bollywood actress. It is also a bit slapstick at times. Though it is realistic, it is only as realistic as say a movie since things work out well even in the midst of funny missteps.
I think my students would find it funny and engaging.
I think my students would find it funny and engaging.
sandraagee's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting. This books has a very unique tone which will probably turn off some readers, but which I found to bee kind of soothing once I got used to it.
shighley's review against another edition
3.0
I will get this book for my libraries, because there are few contemporary books set in India. I think many of my students will enjoy it; it was just a little too contrived for me, but I think many of them will relate to Dini and her big dreams. I am ashamed to admit that I do not know more about India, and I was disappointed that there is not a real Swapnagiri. The font and illustrations are a lot of fun. Some of the transitions are a little abrupt, and the continual use of "blinking" bothered me a bit. But, I also decided I need to see some Bollywood movies!