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beths0103's review
5.0
Mitali Perkins is an unsung author in the YA lit world. Monsoon Summer was my first experience reading her work, and after reading this book, I am convinced that her books need to be marketed more. Her goal is to make multicultural literature available, enjoyable, and accessible to young readers, and I'd say she succeeds on all accounts with this beautiful work of multicultural, modern-day fiction.
When Jasmine "Jazz" Gardener learns that she'll be spending the entire summer in India with her family, she is less than thrilled at the idea. Her mother, the exuberant do-gooder, wants to return to the orphanage where she was adopted to help set up a clinic for the poverty-stricken women and children in the area. Jazz, who still can't shake her own charitable failures, decides to stay as far away from the orphanage as possible. This plan backfires when she meets Danita, the young girl the Gardeners have hired to cook for the family during their stay. Danita has a dilemma that only Jazz can help her resolve, and she slowly begins to let herself be open to the beautiful people who are a part of the Asha Bari orphanage.
Despite the fact that the plot is predictable, there is so much more to love about the book than knowing what will happen next. The writing is full of so much sensory language that you can feel the rain falling on you, can taste the tantalizing flavors of the Indian cuisine, and you can feel the warmth of the people. It's a book that makes you realize, if you hadn't before, that despite the abject poverty, so much of India's beauty is its people.
The last few chapters of the book had me smiling, laughing, and crying all at the same time. This is the perfect summer read.
When Jasmine "Jazz" Gardener learns that she'll be spending the entire summer in India with her family, she is less than thrilled at the idea. Her mother, the exuberant do-gooder, wants to return to the orphanage where she was adopted to help set up a clinic for the poverty-stricken women and children in the area. Jazz, who still can't shake her own charitable failures, decides to stay as far away from the orphanage as possible. This plan backfires when she meets Danita, the young girl the Gardeners have hired to cook for the family during their stay. Danita has a dilemma that only Jazz can help her resolve, and she slowly begins to let herself be open to the beautiful people who are a part of the Asha Bari orphanage.
Despite the fact that the plot is predictable, there is so much more to love about the book than knowing what will happen next. The writing is full of so much sensory language that you can feel the rain falling on you, can taste the tantalizing flavors of the Indian cuisine, and you can feel the warmth of the people. It's a book that makes you realize, if you hadn't before, that despite the abject poverty, so much of India's beauty is its people.
The last few chapters of the book had me smiling, laughing, and crying all at the same time. This is the perfect summer read.
misajane79's review
4.0
Loved this story of a family finding themselves during a summer in India. I may have teared up while reading. And I desperately wanted to see some of the Nageena Designs. And eat some of Danita's food. Richly layered, I'm just going to have to check out the rest of Mitali's books. . .
kricketa's review
3.0
This is a really cute story- goodhearted without being too preachy, and lots of fascinating Indian culture. Writing wasn't standout, and there's a few loose ends left at the end, but I will definitely recommend this at work.
merperplerp's review
4.0
Teenage girl goes to India for the summer (monsoon season) with her do-gooder family. I really liked reading about the time she spent there. It may help that I have a minor obsession with India.
ifthebook's review
3.0
A nice little piece detailing the changes one family goes through during a summer in India and how they affect the people around them. I found Jazz's mindset at the beginning rather dramatic and unrealistic, but I suppose it was necessary to provide some conflict. Also, it had Kathak dancing.
starklinqs's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
I definitely wasn’t the age range for this so I think some qualms I have are just due to me being too old for the book. I was having a hard time sticking with the book at first, but eventually I felt like the book picked up and was much better.
I do feel like the author accidentally laid the groundwork to a queer love story though. Danita and Jazz’s relationship was 10x more interesting and had way more chemistry and spark than hers and Steve’s, whose only personality trait could be described as “nice”.
I do feel like the author accidentally laid the groundwork to a queer love story though. Danita and Jazz’s relationship was 10x more interesting and had way more chemistry and spark than hers and Steve’s, whose only personality trait could be described as “nice”.
shellys's review
3.0
So often I need a few weeks after reading a book to be able to write an adequate review. Here is a short one.
Monsoon Summer has powerful and beautiful descriptions of culture/climate shock and acclimation. Each member of the family is discovering new parts of who they are.
Monsoon Summer has powerful and beautiful descriptions of culture/climate shock and acclimation. Each member of the family is discovering new parts of who they are.
sarahbowman101's review
4.0
Jazz Gardner is the oldest daughter from an American-adopted Indian-born mother and a white bread dad. Her mother is a social activist in Berkley and decides to head back to the orphanage in India where she was abandoned to open a health clinic and take the whole family for the summer. Jazz is wary of social activism (which was the only odd sticking point for me) do-goodness of her mother, and instead is a young entrepreneur. She is also in love.
Obviously things change while they are in India for the whole family. And I don't think I am giving any spoilers here, but the tidiness of the end was a little too perfect - but overall, I enjoyed this book. Jazz is a typical teen, and her path isn't always easy, but she was a strong identifiable character. This was a fun read and could be recommended to young teens.
Obviously things change while they are in India for the whole family. And I don't think I am giving any spoilers here, but the tidiness of the end was a little too perfect - but overall, I enjoyed this book. Jazz is a typical teen, and her path isn't always easy, but she was a strong identifiable character. This was a fun read and could be recommended to young teens.
funfetti7's review
4.0
I'm not a huge YA chick lit fan, but I really enjoyed Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins. This novel is about a teenage girl from California named Jazz (short for Jasmine--she is half Indian) and her summer vacation at an orphanage in India. Jazz's mother was adopted at a very young age from the orphanage by American parents and wants to go back to find out more about her roots. Jazz is initially reluctant to travel to India because she has to leave behind her best-friend/crush Steve, but she eventually comes around. The story is sweet and the main character is likable from the get-go. The author does a great job of showing India from an American teenager's perspective (having gone to India myself as an American teenager). The ending was a little too optimistic to be believable but at least it was a happy one (phew!), which is almost essential in these kinds of books. I would highly recommend this as a fun summer read.
pussreboots's review
5.0
I met Mitali Perkins online via Twitter. One day she tweeted her frustration over getting her books into libraries. Curious, I went online to my library's catalog and saw that they had multiple copies of all but her newest book. They all sounded good so I asked her which book I should read first. She suggested Monsoon Summer.
Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins is about a family of four going to India for the summer (monsoon season). It's told from the first person point of view of fifteen year old Jasmine (Jazz) Gardner. They are returning to the orphanage where her mother lived before being adopted by a California couple. Jazz is reluctant to leave her business partner (and potential boyfriend) for the summer. She's nervous about the orphanage, about being in school during her vacation and about losing her friend to the more beautiful and popular girl at their school.
Jazz and her brother are ethnically mixed and by far the most believable pair of California siblings I've run across in fiction. I clicked with them immediately and felt as if I were there with Jazz as she went to school, struggled with writing letters to her would be boyfriend and her developing friendship with Danita, a girl at the orphanage who has a fantastic talent for fashion design.
I don't want to give away anything. Let's just say I loved the book. I tore through it in two days in between my homework and research. When things calm down with my classes I plan to go back and read more of her books.
Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins is about a family of four going to India for the summer (monsoon season). It's told from the first person point of view of fifteen year old Jasmine (Jazz) Gardner. They are returning to the orphanage where her mother lived before being adopted by a California couple. Jazz is reluctant to leave her business partner (and potential boyfriend) for the summer. She's nervous about the orphanage, about being in school during her vacation and about losing her friend to the more beautiful and popular girl at their school.
Jazz and her brother are ethnically mixed and by far the most believable pair of California siblings I've run across in fiction. I clicked with them immediately and felt as if I were there with Jazz as she went to school, struggled with writing letters to her would be boyfriend and her developing friendship with Danita, a girl at the orphanage who has a fantastic talent for fashion design.
I don't want to give away anything. Let's just say I loved the book. I tore through it in two days in between my homework and research. When things calm down with my classes I plan to go back and read more of her books.