south asian – The Rita Reads

Thirst

Thirst by Varsha Bajaj, Can be read in a 3-4 hours depending on your speed, Young Adult “Numbers they say don’t lie. But do they tell the story?” ~Minni p. 133 I actually finished reading this at the end of August, right about the time the story of Jackson, MS being without any clean water hitContinue reading “Thirst”

Lioness of Punjab

Lioness of Punjab by Anita Jari Kharbanda, Can be read in a few nights depending on your speed, Young Adult “I have learned to stay away from those who want to find fault with me, who try to extinguish the fire within me. I am afraid if I allow them to do it long enough, theyContinue reading “Lioness of Punjab”

Debating Darcy

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta, Can be read in a few nights depending on your speed, Young Adult “It’s not that guy’s hadn’t been jerks to be more in school or on the road, but this felt different, worse somehow, because it was so quiet…This felt like those same guys had come into the privacy ofContinue reading “Debating Darcy”

Aru Shah Series

The Aru Shah Series by Roshani Chokshi, Each book can be read in a few hours depending on your speed, Middle Grade “Even a monster isn’t the monster of their own story.” ~Aru, Book 5, p. 81 This series came into my life at the exact right moment. It was my first year at my new jobContinue reading “Aru Shah Series”

If I Tell You the Truth

If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur, 464 pages, Can be read in a few nights depending on your speed, Young Adult “this world is too heavy; can I put it down somewhere?” ~Kiran, p. 293 (Thanks to Gayatri Sethi for recommending this book! Also, please note the content warnings Kaur includes to ensureContinue reading “If I Tell You the Truth”

All My Rage

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, 384 pages, Can be read in a few nights depending on your speed, Young Adult “We plan. We dream. We hope.” ~Misbah, p. 213 If you aren’t feeling rage about 2/3 of the way through this book, you’re not human. That said, this was such a good book that IContinue reading “All My Rage”

My Basmati Bat Mitzvah

My Basmati Bat Mitzvah by Paula J. Freedman, 256 pages, Can be read in a few hours depending on your speed, Middle Grade (FYI, making a Star of David out of rice is much harder than it sounds!) “To be myself, on my own terms, and not have that be weird. To stand out and fitContinue reading “My Basmati Bat Mitzvah”

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Hillon, 294 pages, Can be read in a couple of evenings depending on your speed, Young Adult “We’re all great at pretending. Until we’re not.” ~Sunny, p. 159 (Thanks to 22Debuts for gifting me this book!) I don’t know what I expected when I picked up thisContinue reading “Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions”

Unsettled

Unsettled by Reem Faruqi, 322 pages, Can be read in about two hours depending on your speed, Middle Grade “When I get mad, I am not like the water in a rice pot simmering slow. I am calm calm calm and then I explode. I am a teakettle waiting to scream.” Nurah, p. 205 One ofContinue reading “Unsettled”

Golden Girl

Golden Girl by Reem Faruqi, 336 pages, Can be read in about two hours depending on your speed, Middle Grade “Irony. The doctor said to keep an eye on my hearing loss. Shouldn’t he have said ear?” Aafiyah, p. 40 (Thanks to Gayatri Sethi for putting this book on my radar!) Full disclosure: I don’t reallyContinue reading “Golden Girl”