The Beauty of the Moment

November 15, 2018
Opposites attract in this teen romance shaped by immigration, grief, and loss.Susan Thomas and Malcolm Vakil could not be more different. Susan is a shy, bookish Malayali Christian perfectionist who grew up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before moving to Canada for her senior year of high school. Malcolm is a hell-raising Parsi Canadian still reeling from his mother's death, his father's abuse, and his ex-girlfriend's betrayal. Despite their better judgment, the two teens strike up a tentative romance, their feelings quickly deepening from infatuation to true love. But as Susan grapples with her parents' impending divorce and her desire to go to art school and Malcolm confronts his conflicted feelings for his ex-girlfriend and his damaged relationship with his father and stepmother, the two must learn to overcome their insecurities to support each other. The story is told from each of their points of view, and each perspective is nuanced and distinct. Susan's character arc is convincing and compelling, defying her initial characterization as a clichéd, overprotected Indian girl. But while the action is fast-paced and the characters refreshingly diverse, Bhathena's (A Girl Like That, 2018) clumsy prose and stilted dialogue limit the narrative's emotional impact. The Parsi elements of the book ring true, particularly refreshing considering how little Parsis are represented in Western YA literature. In contrast, the book is riddled with cultural inaccuracies and stereotypes about southern Indians that unfortunately render those characters less believable.A diverse, entertaining love story that falls just short of extraordinary. (Romance. 14-18)

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March 1, 2019

Gr 8 Up-Told in alternating viewpoints, this is the story of two teenagers who seemingly have nothing in common. For Susan, the new student in Canada from Jeddah, Saudia Arabia, failure is not an option. Make the highest grades. Marry a good Malayi Christian boy. Get a degree in engineering or medicine. Take advantages of the opportunities available in Canada. Art is a hobby not a career. These are the messages that are constantly drilled into Susan's head. The messages for Malcolm, who is Parsi Canadian and a known troublemaker, are different: Stop smoking. Get over your cheating ex-girlfriend. Stay out of detention. Give your stepmom a chance. Ignore your father's taunts. Despite their differences, they fall for each other. As they become closer, Susan yearns to spread her wings and Malcolm longs to trust someone. But when Susan's attempt to assimilate into her new home goes awry and Malcolm's bad boy reputation nearly shatters his hope at a new love, everything they have known to be true is turned upside down. While it has the trappings of the usual first love story tropes, the writing is by turns upbeat, mature, and complex. VERDICT Fans of Nicola Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star will enjoy this bicultural romance. A strong purchase for most YA collections, especially where contemporary romance is in demand.-Cicely Lewis, Meadowcreek High School

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2019
Grades 9-12 In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Susan attended an all-girls school where she excelled in her studies, striving to meet the high expectations of her parents. Now, however, Susan and her mother have moved to Mississauga, Ontario, for Susan's final year of high school. It's all joltingly strange, from the absence of Susan's father, who keeps pushing back his arrival date, to the presence of boys everywhere. One boy, Malcolm, manages to befriend Susan despite her resistance. Malcolm has his own demons, rendering him defiant and academically disengaged. The two make wary progress towards a relationship, with each teen narrating alternating chapters. Both of them are of East Indian heritage, as are many of their friends, and the portrayal of transplanted culture heightens the appeal of their story. Their struggles with expectations and traditions born in a faraway land will ring true for any reader with immigrant parents. At the same time, both Susan and Malcolm bear witness to their own parents' marital failings, in contrast with the stereotype of traditional families. A good recommendation for readers interested in romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

November 15, 2018
Opposites attract in this teen romance shaped by immigration, grief, and loss.Susan Thomas and Malcolm Vakil could not be more different. Susan is a shy, bookish Malayali Christian perfectionist who grew up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before moving to Canada for her senior year of high school. Malcolm is a hell-raising Parsi Canadian still reeling from his mother's death, his father's abuse, and his ex-girlfriend's betrayal. Despite their better judgment, the two teens strike up a tentative romance, their feelings quickly deepening from infatuation to true love. But as Susan grapples with her parents' impending divorce and her desire to go to art school and Malcolm confronts his conflicted feelings for his ex-girlfriend and his damaged relationship with his father and stepmother, the two must learn to overcome their insecurities to support each other. The story is told from each of their points of view, and each perspective is nuanced and distinct. Susan's character arc is convincing and compelling, defying her initial characterization as a clich�d, overprotected Indian girl. But while the action is fast-paced and the characters refreshingly diverse, Bhathena's (A Girl Like That, 2018) clumsy prose and stilted dialogue limit the narrative's emotional impact. The Parsi elements of the book ring true, particularly refreshing considering how little Parsis are represented in Western YA literature. In contrast, the book is riddled with cultural inaccuracies and stereotypes about southern Indians that unfortunately render those characters less believable.A diverse, entertaining love story that falls just short of extraordinary. (Romance. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.