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Overview
Aruna is an opinionated eleven-year-old girl who lives in Ohio, likes to collect rocks, and longs for a best friend at her new school. She is also-unfortunately, in her opinion-Indian-American.
ArunaÆs Journeys is an engaging, thoughtful and funny novel about ArunaÆs journey to self-acceptance. An unexpected summer-long trip to India helps Aruna appreciate Indian culture and clarifies for her that, even though she does not look like a ônormalö American, sheÆs not completely Indian either.
This novel is one of only a few available that deal with Indian-American children, a growing population in the United States.
Synopsis
Aruna is an opinionated eleven-year-old girl who lives in Ohio, likes to collect rocks, and longs for a best friend at her new school. She is also-unfortunately, in her opinion-Indian-American.
Aruna s Journeys is an engaging, thoughtful and funny novel about Aruna s journey to self-acceptance. An unexpected summer-long trip to India helps Aruna appreciate Indian culture and clarifies for her that, even though she does not look like a ônormalö American, she s not completely Indian either.
This novel is one of only a few available that deal with Indian-American children, a growing population in the United States.
Multicultural Review
Aruna longs to be an American and rejects her Indian culture and other Indian students she meets. Aruna then goes back to India with her parents and experiences reverse culture shock. She confronts all of the unfamiliar Indian languages, foods, customs, and environment.
An admired older cousin is struggling against her elders expectations of her in India, and she longs for the freedom Aruna has. As she returns to the United States, Aruna has begun to come to terms with her dual identity.
Books like this from alternative presses and by authors who share the cultural identity of their audience should be in every school and library, not only for the immigrant child who undergoes the process, but also for the American-born children who need to understand the hardships and dilemmas other children experience.
Editorials
India Currents
ArunaÆs Journeys is an outstanding novel about the struggles of an immigrant childÆs everyday life in American. Aruna, an 11-year-old girl who hails from the Indian state of Karnataka, is ashamed of her Indian background and culture. Problems worsen when summer is soon to begin and Darcy, ArunaÆs American best friend, offers to take Aruna to summer camp with her. Aruna runs home excitedly to ask her motherÆs permission and discovers the biggest surprise of her life - her parents had already planned a trip to India for the family for the whole summer.
ArunaÆs Journeys is a delightful novel that children as well as adults will enjoy, especially when reading it together.
Multicultural Review
Aruna longs to be an American and rejects her Indian culture and other Indian students she meets. Aruna then goes back to India with her parents and experiences reverse culture shock. She confronts all of the unfamiliar Indian languages, foods, customs, and environment.
An admired older cousin is struggling against her eldersÆ expectations of her in India, and she longs for the freedom Aruna has. As she returns to the United States, Aruna has begun to come to terms with her dual identity.
Books like this from alternative presses and by authors who share the cultural identity of their audience should be in every school and library, not only for the immigrant child who undergoes the process, but also for the American-born children who need to understand the hardships and dilemmas other children experience.