The Sunita Experiment

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PW applauded the ``fresh, unaffected prose'' of this ``disarming first novel'' about an eighth-grader trying to balance Indian traditions with an all-American social life. Ages 10-14. (Apr.)

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-- When her (Eastern) Indian grandparents arrive for a year-long visit, outgoing eighth grader Sunita Sen feels caught between two cultures. Her Westernized upbringing is threatened when her parents discourage visits from boys; her cosmopolitan mother dons traditional dress and takes a sabbatical from her college teaching job; and the aroma of curry fills the house each day. Embarrassed by her heritage, Sunita withdraws from her classmates. But her friends are admirably patient and tolerate her rebuffs, and gradually she begins to appreciate her grandparents' wisdom and values. In a cathartic moment, she discovers that her mother has been under pressure, too, and is also unhappy with the family's altered lifestyle. This novel realistically addresses numerous issues, including Sunita's temporary rejection of an African-American classmate when both girls are referred to as ``colored.'' Her adolescent angst over social acceptance, family discord, and personal identity will be familiar to readers; positive solutions and role models are presented for dealing with cultural differences, peer relationships, and domestic problems. --Gerry Larson, Chewning Junior High School, Durham, NC