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couillac's review against another edition
3.0
The first part of this novel feels very rushed: Sonia's dad loses his job, the family adjusts, and then she has to start a new school. I think I missed connecting with Sonia as a character because of this accelerated pace. I would have appreciated seeing Sonia over the summer before school, waiting for the inevitable first day. Once it slows down, though, this is a thoughtful and distinctive exploration of a lot of powerful topics. Sonia realistically struggles to define herself after her new classmates start questioning her racial background. Meanwhile, her father struggles with depression and her mother begins takes on more work, distancing herself from Sonia when she needs her mom the most. In addition, Sonia falters between the possibility of life as a cheerleader and as part of a popular but predominantly white/mainstream crowd and the potential of friendship with a budding African-American writer with whom she feels more comfortable being her alternative self. Questions of class and wealth are also tackled, but all in an organic way that raises the book above the level of a simple problem novel. Though it starts out weak, the ending, with some threads still unresolved, is satisfyingly realistic and hopeful. Sonia's journey throughout is authentic and natural, and the characters, even the adults in her family, are complex and interesting. A solid slice of realistic fiction that covers a number of very relevant topics while still being a good read.
jackelz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
"I am half Indian, half Jewish, and now I'm half a cheerleader!"
After her father loses his job, Sonia Nadhamuni finds herself yanked out of private school and thrown into the unfamiliar world of public education. For the first time, Sonia's mixed heritage makes her classmates ask questions — questions she doesn't always know how to answer. She’s trying to make new friends, while also adjusting to having an out-of-work parent.
And she begins to wonder whether her two halves, no matter how different, can make her a whole.
Sonia was such relatable character. Everyone in her new school was separated by black or white, and she wasn’t sure where she fit in. She asked the burning question Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? (sn: Everyone needs to read that book!) Did you know Indians were considered Caucasians? I didn’t.
This story was definitely giving me Mean Girls vibes, but better. I thought the author did a fantastic job challenging microaggressions and having the tough conversations. I loved the themes of cultural identity, family, and friendship, and the discussion of mental health.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Racial slurs
chloesumner1317's review against another edition
2.0
I originally picked this up because I thought it would be great to have a book dealing with a mixed race teen, since I am of mixed race as well. However, a few things left me...unsettled, about it.
First, I didn't realize Sonia would be so young, she was only 11. The issues you face and how you talk about them differ drastically in middle school and high school, so I would have liked to see her a little bit older, in order to relate to her better.
Also, I didn't feel like the addition of the environment change from private to public school was necessary to propel the plot. You could have stuck Sonia into middle school from regular elementary school and it would have been easier for girls to relate to her. We have schools like that in my city, and I'm friends with people that go to them, and when they transferred to public schools it wasn't nearly as bad for them (I'm slightly biased, though, because IB is an international program so most people have more cultural sensitivity. Most people). So I feel like it was unnecessary drama.
And the ending was very frustrating for me. I felt like there was no bridge between who Sonia was and popular American culture, that the author was saying "It's not possible to be true to your roots and also be popular/a cheerleader." Which, in my opinion, is NOT the message this book should send. EMBRACE dual heritage, but do not let it be your defining characteristic in that way. I just really didn't agree with the value I gathered from the author.
I wanted to like this book. I really did.
First, I didn't realize Sonia would be so young, she was only 11. The issues you face and how you talk about them differ drastically in middle school and high school, so I would have liked to see her a little bit older, in order to relate to her better.
Also, I didn't feel like the addition of the environment change from private to public school was necessary to propel the plot. You could have stuck Sonia into middle school from regular elementary school and it would have been easier for girls to relate to her. We have schools like that in my city, and I'm friends with people that go to them, and when they transferred to public schools it wasn't nearly as bad for them (I'm slightly biased, though, because IB is an international program so most people have more cultural sensitivity. Most people). So I feel like it was unnecessary drama.
And the ending was very frustrating for me. I felt like there was no bridge between who Sonia was and popular American culture, that the author was saying "It's not possible to be true to your roots and also be popular/a cheerleader." Which, in my opinion, is NOT the message this book should send. EMBRACE dual heritage, but do not let it be your defining characteristic in that way. I just really didn't agree with the value I gathered from the author.
I wanted to like this book. I really did.
mixedreader25's review
5.0
3/21/21 (5) - I’ve been trying to reconnect with my inner child by reading middle grade books. This one packed quite a punch. I honestly don’t remember books being this way when I was younger. Or maybe I didn’t read books like this. Either way, this story emphasizes the importance of being accepted for who you are and how cultural diversity is viewed by society. Even as a young child. I felt for Sonia in many parts of this. I could’ve finished this in one sitting.
mikewomack's review against another edition
4.0
Three stars from me and one more for my Lily, who eagerly pushed this into my hands.
A solid novel for any early middle schooler. Good balance of consternation with friends and family; self-doubt and confidence. Glad I read it!
A solid novel for any early middle schooler. Good balance of consternation with friends and family; self-doubt and confidence. Glad I read it!
nadjatiktinsky's review against another edition
After her dad is fired from his job, Sonia has to leave her tiny, hippie private school, Community, and go to public school. For the first time, she's around people she hasn't known her whole life. For the first time, her name, the foods she brings in for lunch, the color of her skin, and the fact that she's half Indian and half Jewish are experienced by her classmates as new, strange, and lesser. As Sonia struggles to fit in at school, her home life begins to fracture when her father falls into a deep depression. Hiranandani is a master at emotional adventure stories - books where the highest and lowest swoops felt by the reader hinge on the deeply felt emotions of the characters, not the plot that causes them - and this novel is no different. Really, really fantastic.
iliketeaandcats's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this book, it was really sweet, she was half Indian, half Jewish, and didn't know where her place was. It was really good!
naomiha's review against another edition
3.0
Sonia Nadhamuni is a girl of the 21st century-- half Indian, half Jewish, and completely conflicted. The Whole Story of Half a Girl (Delacourt Books, 2012) is an excellent updated companion to Judy Bloom's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Like Margaret, Sonia inhabits the grey area between her parents' cultures. When her father loses his job, Sonia must leave the comfort of her progressive private school to face public school. There she is forced to choose a racial identify-- should she join the perky blond cheerleaders or align herself with the African-American students bussed from other neighborhoods? Sonia is neither blond nor black, and is frustrated at having to identify as Jewish because her family is not religion. Sonia faces the question that many young people face today-- with an over abundance of cultures, how can you pick and choose which to identify with? Author Veera Hiranandani gives Sonia an eloquent and empathetic voice, and addresses sensitive issues with grace. In addition to race and religion, Sonia reckons with her father's chronic depression, which tears him away from the family. Overall an excellent, entertaining, intellectually stimulating YA novel that would complement any library collection.