A review by yapha
How to Find What You're Not Looking for by Veera Hiranandani

4.0

This was a phenomenal story of love and family and hope for the future set on the backdrop of the civil rights movement in 1967 and the Supreme Court case of Loving vs. Virginia. Ariel (Ari for short) looks up to her older sister Leah, who is everything she wishes she could be. They are living in Connecticut, one of the few Jewish families in their small town. When Leah first falls in love with Raj, Ari is excited to be trusted with their secret. But when Leah and Raj elope, Ari is devastated. Her parents cut Leah off from the family for marrying someone who is not only not Jewish but also from India. Ari is desperate to reunite her family and will go to extremes to do so. Her poetry as she works through her emotions is one of the best parts of the book.

It was an interesting choice to write the book in second person. I'm not sure that I have actually ever read a novel in second person before. It mostly worked, but once a while the "you" would be jarring.

Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss