The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani
209 p. Delacorte Press/ Random House Children's Books, January, 2012. 978-0-385-74128-6. (Chosen to review for InfoLink/NJ)
Sonia Nadhamuni never thought about her dual racial heritage before her father lost his job and she had to move from a small, inclusive private school to a large public school. She’s thrown when she’s almost immediately asked to define herself racially. As an East Indian, she doesn’t identify as black, yet she’s not white. She’s half-Jewish, but her family is not religious. She makes a tentative friendship with introspective Alisha, but abandons her when she’s invited to sit with Kate at the popular table. She even tries out for cheering, much to her mother’s chagrin. During all this social upheaval, Sonia’s father slips deeper and deeper into clinical depression and finally disappears.
Told in the first-person and in present tense, there’s a lot to like about this debut. Sonia is likable and relatable. The dialogue is realistic. Tween readers will identify with Sonia’s desire to fit in and carve her own identity at the same time.